Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-30
CORRESPONDENCE.
LOWER SUSSEX.
BALTIMORE HUNDRED-THE CYPRESS SWAMP
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Rs ETC.. ETC

The Peninsula remote from railroad facilities, 10
which the spirit Of observation-disclosures Is not yet
near fully developed. Baltimore hundred, in the
extreme Southeastern section of the State, is one
of those localities still stranger to the shrill
whistle of the iron horse and whose birds and
beasts rest uudisturbcd from his encroachmeats.
DESTROYS of visiting this part of the State, we
found ourself after ride of over u hundred
miles ut Salisbury, a town Of 5000 inhabitants, In
wicomico county. Here the Delaware Ruiltoad
is lntcrsected by the new Wicomico and roco-
moke road which runs to Berlin, in Worcester
county, distance OF 80 mill, 8. Securing ticket
for St. Martins Station we passed, not at light
ming speed, up the road till we reached the first
town Of importance, called Plttsvllle. The
place we should Judge contains about
800 inhabitants Three fine, commodious houses
were In course Of erection, taking the place Of
those which were Struggled all over, from comb to
cellar. These new houses were handsomely
weather-boarded, pillastered and coruiced, and
added much to the general appearance Of the
place.
this Railroad, is Whaleyvile, with about the
same number of inhabitants as Pittsville. Here
we noticed several new buildings in course Of
erection.
There arc several other smaller stations, from
which large amount of ship timber and other
lumber is shipped, which constitutes the priuci-
pie business Of the road. We have been Informed
that this has been paying road from the start
yet we caunot help but think that a mistake was
made in not running 1t to Georgetown a.d con-
Meeting 1t with the Junction q Breakwater Road,
instead Of with the Delaware Road, at Salisbury.
This would have been made an outlet for the
heavy timber lands of the cypress swamp and the
rich corn bottoms of Southeastern Sussex, which
would have certainly proved very rcmuucratye
to the road.
We noticed in passing up this road that fire
was raging On both sides, extending IRON Pitts
willie 10 near St. Martins Station, d distance OF
marshes had all been burnt over, aud great part
OF tho higher tilber land was much Injured by
the devoufing element. II had broken out In the
cypress swamp, Ia the lower part OF Sussex
county, and owing TO the spongy fungus nature
OF tue soil, It's ravlges could not be stayed until
thousands of acres were burnt over, running
vast amount Of choice timber, and totally de-
stroying the whortlebtrry bushes In its course,
which is great loss to this section Of county,
where they are gathered by hundreds oil thou
sands OF buckets. The people In some sections
Of this burnt region gathered lie companies and
dug trenches 10 stop the onward progress Of the
flames, but the streams having all dried up, aud
the dry uUderbrnsh become feeder for The
flames, all their efforts proved useless, and thu
fire was allowed to die out of It's own accord,
which we were afterwards informed 1t did, after
a fne shower Of rain, which fell on Friday, the
18th Of September. Notwithstanding The vast
| amount of acres burnt over, and injury done 10
the timber, we have yet to hear Of any buildings
being consumed or life endangered. 0ccasion-
ally fodder stack or lot of curu on the borders
of marsh or woods would fall u prey 10 the
| flames. but these instances were very rare.
AT ST. Martins Station we left the railroad,
| started towards Baltimore Hundred, in Sussex
county, passing ON our way the residence Of
Lemuel Showell, ESQ.,, said 10 be the largest aud
| finest residence on the Eastern Shore Mr.Showell
| Is reputed 10 be one Of the wealthiest men and
| the largest land owner east of the Chesapeake.
Bishopve, about five miles north OF st. Martins,
| is u long struggling town Of about three hundred
| inhabitants. 1t Is situated at the head OF ST.
Martins River, aud has grist and saw mill, with
a couple of stores. The intelligence OF the penplt
may be Judged from the fact that there is no posi-
office in the place, and no need Of any.
| Another tramp OF about seven miles brings u.
| to Centrcville, in Baltimore Hundred, where
although come hours after wearied nature gener-
ally had sought repose wa were sheltered under
the hOspitublc roof Of our old friend Rev William
X. TubDs, whose latch string Is always found on
the outside. This Is little village containing
about twenty houses, store, steam saw mill ,tiu.
| smith shop, wheewright aud blacksmith Shops
| church and drinking saloon which is sometime.
nlck-numed u hotel. The name Of this little vii
lage was changed, by an act Of the Legislature
last winter, to ina. of ROxanna but ii is not gen
Is called Audy," In honor of certain obscure
individual Of the name of Andrew johnson, wht
was ut one time q loyal man and suid 10 hav
been President OF the United States, but which
name the people Of that vicinity would be glut
to change TO any other naiDe
Baltimore hundred contains tho lest coru Ian,
in the State Of Delaware, and though In som
sections of the State the crop is partial failur
on account oil the dry weather, yet hUre there /
on an average u full DIS crop of corn
| Ia tharE ind -
even grass, the stock being fed on the tops aut
blades Of corn. Fully one half the land here i
yet heavily wooded with variety of timber
white oak, riue and black gum prevailing, th
latter m.kiDg the best cora bottoms. The quite
for this section Is by the ludlin river, which /
accessible for vessels drawing three lect OF water
Railroad facilities are much needed and ncvu
will the Resources OF TIL part of the State be full
developed until the advent of the steam cngln
and railroad car. The people here are indepeu
dent, nearly all living IN their own farms which
are generally small, many of the most productiv
not exceeding 40 acres They are very huspitl
bic and kind To strangers, very few but whn
will extcnd u cordial invitation To purtike q
their Inequalities, aud feel offended ii recon
prnsc is offered
General Intelligence aud education Is sadly nc
elected The old prevailing idea is still cx,ai
that II a person eau read and write nothing NOR
Is requited; but there are u large number VIII
never learned 10 read. Some idea may BIZ iorme
VI tIt gcu'Tul iubslAtItc prevailing from Ill
, number OF newspnpc's taken at the different po,
Offices IN Baltimore hundred. At Andy pu
Office We found the follow iHg papers there taken
New York Trihunc, !; North American, ]
Methodist liomc journal, ]; Frank Lcsie's |
, Illustrated Newspaper, New York Sun, /
Cincinnati Times. / Delaware Gazette, l
New York Methodist, Weekly Age, L; Della
, ware Tribune, 10.
= AT Blackwatci post Office: Delaware Gazette,
4 Christian Advocate, ! Delawarean, Week
60. N...t V.rl. Antl At l.,
5 2; Home journal, Sussex journal, A DEL
' wARE TRiBuNE, 16
AT Halls store post Office: Weekly Press 4
Home Journal, ] ; Sussex Journal. 2; N1ri
American, Presbyterian, 2; UEr. TRIBUNE.
G There is another post Office in the western al
a of the Hundred to which VT were Informed apo,
a half dozen papers were sent.
The schools are but seldom kept open but thr
l. or iuur months in the year, 10 consequence
IS which many children are seUt abroad u rrcri
h an edncatinn and IN large maj irity OF instanc
never return To stay in the home oi their uatvt
The Methodist IS the prevailing religious d
nomination, but Presbyterian church Is ",
sustained near Halls Store. We had the pleasu
of accompanying Rev. MIR. Tnbbs 10 church
- Centreviile during oui So ,urn with him al
% were surprised Ut tho plaiuness and simplici
III with which tue people dressed. The WON,
nearly all wore sun-bunntts, and hoops were co
re sidurcd outandlshi the men were dressed wi
Il equal plainness, the whole presenting u see
" carly days of Melhodism.
"A The roaring of the ocean Is heard for ma
of miles inland, and owing to the proximity Of |
people to the ocean shore they are very fond
/, fishing. which furnishes them al all times with
y, abundance If fish, of which more are consuln
u as an article Of fuod than ui all kinds Of meat
u together.
AZ charter WAS granted by the last Legisatu
to company 10 cut canal from the head
d. Assawuman Bay, which is a part Of the Chine
Il teaquc Sound, 10 the head Of White Greek, viii
OF ipws into Indian river, but which canal We lea
BE- has suce been abandoned aud another one
from Assawumnn Bay to the Salt and Fresh v
of Ter ponds, near the Ocean shore, thereby oby
q. ting the necessity Of the former course and {
RS ttining the same advantages with much less co
xt This will be of great Advantage u this section
the drainage o, the low swamp lands In that
=, entity, rs well rs letting the salt water Of
ny, Ocean into the fresh water ponds and there
" facilitate the growth Of fish, oysters and clnr
hs he building OF a railroad from st. Martins {
NJ tion to Georgetown Is considerably agitated, O
we hope at no distaut day to sec ii accomplish
us and then will tile lower part oi the State vic W
les New Castle county In the variety and amount
ld, lis productions, then will peach orchards blol
&c, grass be rastd and the owing of filtened ca
he be heard where now Is nought but wildern,
speed the time says RAMBLEr
he
n Milford.
tp-
~. RAIS--l'EAtflIS- TiIIEyING -KESTIS, unt'sl