Norfolk Landmark, August 30, 1874

The Eastern Shore Railroad

Transportation -- Railroad - ConstructionTransportation -- Water - SteamboatsSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Markets

A Herald correspondent writing from Chincoteague, Accomac county, Va., under date of August 25th, says:

The other day there was an informal conference of a few railroad men here, Amos Y. Smith, John Hickman and Jacob Moore, of Delaware, and W. T. Fitchett, of Eastville, Va. The road from Georgetown, Del., to Berlin, Md., will be completed by the 1st of September. Thence it is proposed to finish it to Cherrystone, passing through Snow Hill and Horntown. Horntown is the postoffice directly communicating by water with Chincoteague and the completion of the railroad to that point will give it daily mail facilities. The object of the conference was to quicken measures for filling up the gap from the line of Accomac county, Va., to Snow Hill, Md., which cannot be done under the charter granting the Frankfort Railroad, but it can be under the charter of the New York and Norfolk Railroad. On the 12th of September next A GENERAL ELECTION will be held in the counties of Accomac and Northampton to vote on the proposition of a donation of $20,000 from Accomac and $10,000 from Northampton for purchase of right of way. It is quite apparent that the vote will be overwhelmingly in favor of the donation. The completion of the road will give a great stimulus to local trade and freightage to the larger markets further north. It will also make this terra incognita, almost, accessible to travelers, and every way more valuable.

CONNECTIONS WITH CIVILIZATION

It may also be stated as a fact that the Old Dominion Steamship Company will place a steamer this fall on the Chincoteague Bay to gather oysters and impart a new impulse to this branch of commerce. The Old Dominion Company have completed the purchase of the railroad from the Junction and Breakwater Railroad, and they propose to put on a new line of steamers from Lewes to New York. It is very easy to see the advantages to the New York market in this arrangement, and much enlargement to the fish and oyster commerce of this section.