Peninsula Enterprise, April 27, 1882
Untitled
Transportation -- Water - Steamboats
Messrs. Huggins and Stony, capitalists from New York, who made a prospecting tour to our county early in the spring in the interest of a proposed new steamboat line from New York to Smith's Wharf, in Accomac, and Thomas's Wharf, in Northampton, are in Accomac again. Their visit at this time is for the purpose, it is reported, of engaging wharves, which looks, certainly, as if that steamboat project was assuming a tangible shape.
Untitled
Transportation -- Road - Personal injury
CUSTIS REVEL, a colored man, was thrown from his cart on Bacon Hill, in Northampton county, and received injuries which terminated fatally in a few hours. His spinal column was borken or dislocated by the fall, with the result of a thorough paralysis of every part of him except the head. But while the body and limbs were limp and feelingless, strange to say, the brain for hours was not affected, his powers of speech were unchanged, and food was even taken by him with apparent relish only an hour or so before his death.
Untitled
Transportation -- Water - Steamboats
The following from the Richmond Whig will give about as accurate information as we are in possession of in regard to the two steamboat companies. The stockholders of the Accomac Steamboat Co. had a meeting at this place on Wednesday, 19th inst., the object of which, reports says, was to consider the proposition of the Eastern Shore Steamboat Co. to sell out to them. Their meeting was a secret one, however, and we cannot say what its object was. The sum asked by the Eastern Shore Steamboat Co. for steamers, wharves, &c, &c., is $221,000 instead of $210,000 as reported in the Whig:
"Negotiations are being made by a syndicate headed by Mr. Cornelius Taylor, formerly of Baltimore, now living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, to purchase the Eastern Shore Steamboat Co., plying between Baltimore and Virginia via Crisfield, Md. The stock of the steamboat company is owned principally by the Harland & Hollingsworth Co., of Wilmington, Del.; Mr. Willard Thomson, superintendent of the Eastern Shore Steamboat Co. The amount asked for the steamboat property, including the steamers Maggie, Helen and Tangier, landings along the route and wharf in Baltimore is $210,000."
A POTATO REVERIE.
Transportation -- Water - Steamboats
MR. EDITOR;
My potato patches wait me, but the creeks, the woods, the air, the newspapers and the people are so full of steamboats that I, too, am sick with that same deliriousness which causes friend "Accomac" to a quote a little Latin, and makes the "genial purser" give advice to business men. But I must work my potatoes, for somebody must put one "tater" on some of those boats. It is a fact, whether steamboat writers say so or not, that honest labor is remunerative, so I sing a while, whistle a little, and talk a great deal to folks passing along the road about steamboats, and the balance of my time, night and day, wife Betsy and I chat; and she invariably says: "Why, Don, you must be a steamboat captain now." I tell her I guess not, but there is a good time coming. Then I think I am a captain, and every other man on the Eastern Shore that wants to be a steamboat captain, or clerk, or steward, or engineer, or fireman, or cook, except friEnds "Accomac" and "genial purser," and they are the inspectors in rival companies, and come on board of my boat to learn the news. Well, I tell them hard times, strange times, blowing times since the people stopped raising potatoes and gone to raising steamboats.
For some reason, we three become friends, and luckily for me, I always rather listen than talk. I gain what I don't lose by listening to the inspectors; so I sell my imaginary boat and go again to my potato patches, for they need me; and my friends make me many visits, of which you shall hear.
Well, time glides on, and my potatoes convalesce as my steamboat zeal subsides, and fortunately, I make a fine crop. I dig 100 barrels and start to the wharf, when the air rings with the whistle of steamboats, the banging of wheels, the cluck and roar of enginery, the striking of message bells and the hiss of steam. My horses are frightened almost beyond control, but I manage to get them to the wharf, and keep watch down the creek to see what is coming. Look! There they come; two steamers, one just ahead of other, speeding to the wharf. One is named Tangier and the other Tangent. Tangier is in splendid order -- painted, varnished, rubbed. Stewart's engine room in perfect whack and as bright as polished steel. General Superintendent is on board; General Agent and a man from Wilmington are talking with him. Captain Wilson is in the pilot-house. Man from Wilmington remarks on the quantity of produce on the wharf; General Superintendent guesses what portion is for his boat; General Agent brushes back the hair on his forehead, looks over his spectacles and knocks the present freight rates into a "cocked hat."
But steamer Tangent, of the Accomac Company, takes the attention -- very large, two smoke stacks, with red stripes painted around them, clean white hull, a striking contrast to the stained and gilded pan work of a saloon with its exquisite Brussels carpet, and other things in keeping. Board of directors on board with their families, stockholders all on board with their families, and the crowd that that makes on one boat is "mirabile dictu," as friend Accomac says.
But both boats have pushed their gang boards on the same wharf, and it is fun when we imagine Inspector "Accomac" and Inspector "Genial Purser," properly equipped and duly authorized to be on that wharf soliciting freight and passengers.
I can imagine Inspector "Accomac" off on one side, with his arm around the shipper's shoulder, pointing to the steamer Tangent, saying, "This is our boat, owned by our people, keeping the money on the shore; freight only 20 cents per barrel, and round trip tickets only $5 and every Eastern Shoreman ought to patronize us." On the other side of the wharf Inspector "Genial Purser" stands on the side of the gangway, and with a bland smile is crying, "Oh, yes, oh, yes! farmers! oh, yes! Here is your cheap boat; only 5 cents per barrel freight and round trip tickets to Baltimore only 25 cents and staterooms furnished." I get that 100 barrels out of my carts and tell Hopkins to manifest them with the others on the 5-cent boat, the Tangier, and then I walk round the place to admire the beauty and elegance of the new steamer Tangent. But I hear strange voices about the decrease in stock, and merchants grumbling because their customers go to Baltimore to buy. Time flies, so I must go to my potato patches, for more of them want to travel while freight is a mere trifle.
The scribes, friends "Accomac" and "Genial Purser," in discussing this steamboat topic, may pitch pure metaphors and good English sentences into each other's literary tent until the Capulet monument of reconciliation is completed, and after that they must, as they will, see that the true business philosophy in this case depends on which way the black man runs with the barrel of produce after he gets it on his truck.
DON.
Untitled
Transportation -- Railroad - Construction
There is a growing conviction that this railroad will be built. We certainly hope so. Additions to the gift of right-of-way are constantly being made and a greater interest developed. At the rate of increase of the gift of the way now going on, those who fail to do so will soon be in a small minority. The truE slogans now are "fall in," and "close up the ranks," and let the glad tidings go forth that the last obstruction to the building of a direct line to New York has been removed. We are assured that the company is now getting into such trim as will, when this consummation is reached, enable them to begin at once to grade and tie. This done, a few weeks only would elapse before the laying of the rails, when the shrill whistle of the locomotive will waken the echoes, and an all-rail route to New York be an accomplished fact. That this may be so before the first of October depends almost entirely upon the landowners through whose lands the road passes, and it is to them we chiefly appeal. No man can conceive the incalculable benefit to be derived from this road. Once fully in operation, the development of the whole Peninsula will be so great and so rapid as to repay ten-fold the landowner for the sacrifice of a very few hundreds of feet. We hope our people will act promptly.
G. WELLY COARD, Architect and Carpenter, ACCOMAC C. H., VA.
Professionals -- Builders
will contract to build houses of every kind and description at fair rates and with dispatch. All materials will be furnished when desired. Boats built upon application after resonable notice. Brick Wells, warranted to stand 25 years, built at 20 cents a foot. Shop work of every kind promptly attended to and satisfaction guaranteed in every line of business.
PONIES FOR SALE.
Fields -- Livestock - Horses
I have for sale at private contract ten Chincoteague Ponies, among which are pairs of sorrel and black well matched. Several of them are models of beauty, and will make fine farm and road horses. They can be purchased at fair prices. Wm. J. Matthews, Chincoteague Island, April 27, '82.
A. S. KELLAM, POWELLTON, ACCOMAC COUNTY, VIRGINIA,
Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - ResortsTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - lodgesInfrastructure -- Commercial - Hotels
Has opened a first-class Hotel for the accommodation of the public. Board furnished by the day, month or year at reasonable rates.
Travelers conveyed to any part of the Peninsula with comfort and dispatch.
Powellton as a sea side resort has many attractions for lovers of gunning and fishing, and the proprietor of the Hotel, in soliciting their patronage, desires to say he will furnish them with every means to gratify their tastes in these respects.
Bathing unsurpassed in a short distance of the Hotel.