The Day Book

Mr. Marshall Parks, Esq. of this city, has written a letter to J. G. Paxton, Esq., Chairman of the Oyster Tax Committee of the House of Delegates, in answer to a request from that gentleman for some suggestion as to the number, size, cost and equipment of steam police boats to aid in the execution of the proposed Law. Mr. Parks advises the construction of these boats of the capacity of sixty to eighty tons, to be made of iron, as more durable and requiring less repairs than wood, and as being consequently much cheaper for so extended a period as 30 years or upwards. He remarks that he sees no difficulty in blending the officers of inspection, slave law and collection of the oyster revenue together so as to make the same officers and boats answer for both, and suggests that the objection that the contemplated boats might form the nucleus of a Virginia navy, is, in fact, a recommendation, from the valuable addition to our river and harbor defences which would be made thereby. He mentions as an important point the service which these cutters or police boats, being on the spot, might render to our commerce by affording relief to vessels in distress, which those vessels might look for in vain from any other quarter.