National Republican., 1883-08-11
THE LOWER POTOMAC.
An Interesting Letter from CoIton's, One
OF the PlessRntest Points ON the River
Improved Facilities OF Travel.

OF the PleesRntest Points ON the River
Improved Facilities OF Travel.
Speefdi Letter.
LoNGswoRTH POINT, (CoLToNs) ST.. MA
RVS COUNTY, MD, Aug. S.-The time is not
distant when the business, as well as the
pleasure-seeking, portion Of our community
will be devoting more attention to the devel-
opment of the vast resources of the Lower
Potomac which have lain almost dormant for
so many years. In fact, itappears that many
people in this portion of the country are
slower to realize the difference between now
and ante-bellum days than those of other
portions who were active participants in the
great conflict. This may be partly owing to
their somewhat isolated position, occupying
peninsula with but limited means of COM
munication with the cities of Baltimore and
Washington, but doubtless more to the fact
that the soil is owned and controlled
by the descendants of families who
have occupied it for generations, for this sec
tion is, next to jamestown, the oldest settled
portion of tho union, and who are slow to
imbbe the new ideas and customs that have
obtained in other sections. When the now
idle lands here are divided into farms of such
sizs that there will be some probability of
their thorough cultivation, st. Mary's county
alone will be enabled to supply produce
for half dozen cities the size of Washing
ton. And then there is the oyster business.
1t is estimated that during the oystering
season there are $4,000 bushels of oysters
taken daily from the Potomac, from Lower
Cedar Point to Brittan's bay, opposite the
lower end of Bakiston's island, q distance of
about twenty miles Most of these are taken
by dredgers, who take them to Baltimore to
supply the immense canning establishments
of that city. and this has suggested the FEAST
/ n
| the oyster lives, and TO this end company
has been formed, and is now erecting wharves,
canning and shuckng houses, and providing
other necessary appliances at Lancaster's
| wharf, in WicomiCo river Contracts have
already been made for supplying immense
| quantities of shucked oysters that with one
| firm alone being for the supply of 5000 gall
Ions daily. This plan saves greatly in trans
portation, as it avoids the shipment of tho
| shells, which are useless in citios, but here
can be made into lime, and used for fertili2-
ing purposes. This is but the commence
ment of business which in the end will OK
ercise a vast influence on the cost Of living
in Washington, for it is a noticeable fact that
tho cost of oysters, fish, and vegetables, as
well as the cost of meats, is getting higher
every year.
But there are other thinge here that attract
the attention of many Washingtonians to q
greater extent than those mentioned. The
facilities afforded by the Moseley for visiting
u these waters is like a revelation to those who
have been compelled to spend at least two
days making the trip. Now it is but a
pleasant ride of five hours on splendidly
appointed boat to reach Blakiston's island,
and the number who avail themselves of this
privilege is the best evidence of tho popu.
larity of the enterprise. 1t also affords q
cheap and convenient means for persons to
visit families who are stopping at Colton's
and other places in the vicinity. Ono can
meet almost rs many acquaintance
while sailing over tho waters
of this beautiful harbor as il
strolling on the avenue, and this is now the
great resort for yachting parties from the city
, who generally vie with each other in tho hos
pitalities they so bountfully dispense tC
friends who visit them. But few days since
the Blue Wing anchored here with Messrs
Otterbach, Snyder, and Bully on a pleasure
trip, and handsomely entertained a party
consisting of NJ. II. Combs and Miss Emmt
Combs, Mrs. d. O'Brien and sister. Mr.. Viii
Ellis, and number of other guests. Bol
} Dobbyns enlivened the occasion by som'
: choice vocal selections. A trip to the Lowe
Potomac will convince any one that the pleas
ATTEST resorts are but few hours ride from
our own city. t.