Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-20
Commissioner Lee and Sur
veyor Ruediger Come to
James River Today,
SENSATIONAL RUMORS
OF PROBABLE TROUBLE
Reports Say Tonsers Are IncenseL
Because Planters Continue TO Wor,
On Disputed Territory-Planteo
Demand Protection from Governor
and Commissioner.

Accompanied by State Surveyor
Ruediger, Chairman w. Mcdonnell
Lee, of the State commission of
fisheries, will go up James river this
morning on his flagship, The Commo-
dore Maury, to begin a resurvey OF
the Baylor lines in the river in ac.
cordance with the provisions OF the
written agreement which was drawn
up between the commissioner and rep
pesentatives of the TOngers' Protec-
tive Association last week at Rescue
surveyor Ruediger arrived at Hamp-
ton yesterday ready to begin his work
and Chairman Lee left Irvington yes
terday morning for Hampton on the
commodore Maury. He stopped on
the way down the bay to attend TO
some business, but is expected to
reach Hampton early this morning
While he does not anticipate any
further trouble with the tongars.
Chairman Lee, it is said. fears trou-
BILE from some of the big planters who
have leased grounds in James liver
These planters have refused TO abide
by the terms of the agreement De-
tween the tongers and the commits
siOner and have continued to work
their grounds, though requested by
the commissioner last week to dIscOn-
tinue work on them until the resur-
vey cen be made.
Wild Rumors Afloat.
The refusal of the planters TO dis
continue operations on their grounds
is said to have incensed the tonsers
and as result all kinds of wiz ru-
mors about war and blcodshed in the
James today were circulated through
out this section yesterday. One rumor
had it that many of the tongers at
work On the rocks just beyond this
city had purchased revOlvers and
rifles here during the past few days
and that they would start out this
morning to clean up the river of all
oyster stakes. Some of the planters
heard the rumors and they immedia g
ly prepared to protect their prope.'V
and it is said that armed forces are
stationed on some of the leased
ground with orders to shoot if The
tongers disturb the stakes.
It was reported in Richmond YES
terday that Chairman Lee had asked
Governor Mann fer militia to Susrc
the oyster rocks, but no credence IS
given this report here and state cvs-
ter officials who were seen last Iignt
knew nothing of any such reque";.
II Is possible that Chairman Lee ad-
vised the governor that il might be
necessary 10 call out troops to queil
the threatened disturbance near pa
gan creek early alst week and that
this gave rise to yesterdays wild re
port from the State capitol.
Planters Demand Protection.
Following the announcement that
Commissioner Lee had drawn up an
agreement with the tongers last week.
the large planters OPERA ing in James
river prepared a communication al
dressed to Governor Mann and Tom
missioner Lee notifying them that the
planters would hold the state liable
for all damage that has accrued %
them and that might accrIc 70 them
from the failure OF the state oyster
police to protect their leased oyster
grounds. Practically all Of the plant
ers have signed this communication
and II Is 10 be mailed to the governor
today,
The following Is a copy Of the com
munication:
~Scpgcmbcr T.. 1910.
TO The COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA
Ills Excellcncy. VIM Hodges Mann.
Governor. Richmond; and
Hon. W. Mcdonald lee. Comuis-
sioncr Of Fisheries. irvington;
The undersigned oyster planters
who have complied with the require
rents Of Law. authorizing them 10
hold and occupy their respective as
slxnmcnts ~ oyster planting ground
IN James River. hereby respectfully
but urgently. represent 70 the Com
monwcalih Of Virginia. and IFS agents.
the necessity for immediate action n
protect ~ IN tho undistuFbcd use and
occupancy 81 the planting grounds.
duly assigi.cd and guaranteed 10 us.
respectively. under and pursuant TO