The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-03
YORK RIVER RAILROAD.


nv reference to the map. 1t viii be seen
that the proposed Railroad to York River win
command the trade of New Kent Gloucester,
York. James City, King William, King anu
Queen. and other neighboring counties. Ac-
cording to the census of 1910, I'VE have not
heen able to obtain access to the last CEN
sus, the production OF wheat in gloucester
was 1895 bushels, oats 6l,793, corn 5oe,oos
bushels value of the products of the dairy.
sl7,as7 New Kent, wheat las,47s bushels )
oats. ee,s77 bushels corn, l39,fs4 bushels;
james City, wheat, 1924 bushels oats, a.
.6s; corn, So, 500; King William. wheat, So.
ss4 bushels oats, 1919; corn, 350,3'o. Va
lue of productions of dairy. si7,l73. King
and Queen, wheat, 4ol, $50 bushels; oats, 90
ola; corn, 343,3si value of productions OF
dairy. sl2.o5l. OF course these productions
have greatly increased since ls40, and, Ii
They make so respectable show even when
deprived OF the stimulus to production which
railroads afford, what may We not expect
when a convenient and speedy avenue to
market is brought to their own doors At
this time, the trade of this region of country
goes to Baltimore. But who can doubt that,
If railroad is built to the York, the farmers
OF that region will seek market where they
can get better prices, and market within
two hours ride of them, in preference to the
present leng and circuitous route down the
York and up the stormy waters ofthe Chesa-
peske Bay to Baltimore.
The whole region bordering on the York,
its tributaries, and the Chesapeake, would
feel the stimulating influences of the pro-
posed Improvement, and new life and activi-
ty be awakenedon sea and shore. The beau.
tiful waters of the York, now so silent and
almost solitary, would be disturbed by the
prows of busy feet of sailing vessels and
steamers. Indeed, it is more than probable
that we should soon have line of steamers
between the Eastern shore of Virginia and
the terminus of the York River Railroad, Sc
curing to this city the valuable trade ofthose
productive counties. This portion of Virgil
MIA, though but little known, is in reality one
of the most thriving and productive Agricul-
tursl regions of the whole State. Few of our
citizens have any idea of the amount of trade
that is carried on there at the present time
According to late statement of the Re
gister Of the U. s. Treasury, the permanent
tonnage of Northampton and Accomac
amounted to $685. tons, nearly as great as the
tonnage of Richmond. 1t must be a large
amount of trade which requires so large an
amount of tonnage for its accommodation
An intelligent gentleman of Accomac, who
has had access to the last census returns, and
is well acquainted with the resources and ca
paeities of his region, informs us that Acco
mac, though falling far below many Other
counties in arabic area, produces more corr
than any other county in Virginia, with the
single exception Of Albemarle;-the number
Of bushels annually produced in Accomat
being 76l, 1856, and in Albemarle, 79s, 355-
The quantity of acres of land in farms il
Accomac, is only 223, 7s33; in Albemarle, 3s9
62l. The aggregate annual production G
corn, adds our informant in Accomac an
Northampton, (which together contain les
quantity of land in farms than does the cour
els. The oat crop of Accomac, according t
the census of 1910, was 453,137, larger tina
any county of the State.) Tie annual o.
crop Of Accomac and Northampton is upwar
of6oo,000 bushels. According to the same Ger
sus, the annual production of sweet potatot
in AccOmac was 1889 bus'ls. Great success
has attended the culture of the sweet potat,
of late years. and the annual average vaIu
Of the product is now estimated at abol
$500 per acre. We cannot see why tn
whole of the valuable trade of the Easter
Shore should be carried to cities beyond til
limits Of Virginia, and far more distant tina
our OWN. We can at least command yer
considerable portion of it by the construc
ton of the Improvement which we advo
cate
another result, which to many may seen
OF little importance, but to which We canno
-out attach great value, would follow the con
sTueuon OF the York River Railroad. |
would bring us into direct proximity with tn
great tsh and oyster region of Virginia. |,
The high price Of living in our city, the intro
duetion, upon an extensive scale and at low
price, OF the most delightful fish in the wcrld
fresh from their native element. is a beside
raium not to be overlooked. The presen
mode Of supplying our fish and oyster mar
ket is tedious and unsatisfactory. The fish
after being caught, and sometimes kent over
night, come up in the steamer from Norfolk
and after being kept here another night, ar
exposed for sale the next morning. It's tru
that they are kept in ice but were the rail
road constructed to the York, our peopl
would be able to use fish Of all kinds, will
out the necessity of ice for preserving then
as freely as if the York river flowed at GU
own doors. Two hours ride from the sea
board would fill our markets to overaowine
l.. yyith the best fish and oysters in the worlt
Just taken from the briny food
We earnestly hope that our commumt
will, one and all, give helping hand to tn
York River Railroad 1t is a railroad whic
ought to be constructed, and that at once.-
There is no other railroad in the State
more importance to our city. There is non
which can SO effectually as this protect i
interests from unfriendly efforts to overtime
\ "a