The Cecil Whig., 1885-12-26
STORY OF A COUNTRY TOWN.

STORY OF A COUNTRY TOWN.
A Thrifty Village Built on shells-An About
One of Maryland's Interesting Indus
trial Features.
a correspondent of the Baltimore Sun
writing from Crisfield on Monday last
said: Those who hear so much talk
about the oyster interest of Maryland,
and think that its Importance is exagger-
ated, can find no better evidence of it's
magnitude and profit than is afforded by
a glance at the town of Crisfield and It's
history There is, perhaps, no town in
the state that owes its existence and pro-
gress to one enterprise, and yet has
spread in area and increased in wealth
under such adverse circumstances as
Crisfield. Its rise and growth is due al
most entirely to the products of the wa
ter, and yet where large oyster houses,
handsome stores, and even residences are
now located, less than a score of years
ago were boggy marsh land and water.
Oysters are truly the foundation of the
town in more than one sense; for while
the profit derived from the oyster proper
has served to encourage enterprise and
enhance business, the shells have been
almost as profitably utilized in making
the foundation of the structure. In
speaking of the comparative increase in
the wealth and enterprise of Crisfeld,
the idea is not intended to be conveyed
that it is wealthy town. There is Lot
man in it who has become wealthy
enough to retire from active business and
live on his income.
Everybody works out his own liveli-
hood. No one is ever idle in Crisfield
save the merchant, when trade is dull
and customers are few. The activity of
business depends almost solely upon tho
success of the oyster trade, and hence
the Improbable oyster season of last
winter, brought about chiefly by bad
railroad facilities and exorbitant freight
rates, has caused a greater depression in
business in Crisfeld than has been known
for many years. Iu the meantime, how
ever, improvement has not ceased or sub
sided; but, on the contrary, building and
repairing are constantly going on, espe-
cially in that part of the town which was
swept by fire about year ago, where
Messrs. VIM. IL. Roach and Thomas J.
Dixon have erected block of brick
buildings that does great credit to the
town and its enterprising citizens. In
the same locality foundations have been
laid for several other buildings of the
same character. Mr. Daniel Collins, ST..
has purchased lot from VIM. II. Roach
adjoining the lot of Roach and Dixon,
and is making preparation to construct
three story brick building. All of these
| improvements are on Broad street, which
promises in the near future to be tho
business street of the town. Several
other buildings of superior quality have
been erected during the summer, among
which are the double oyster houses and
packing rooms of Crockette & Riggln and
Long, Coulbourue & Co., made of solid
brick, and the large front addition to the
| hardware store of Geo. W. Long s Co.
The numerous fires which have occur
red in Crstield have taught the people
that it pays to invest in brick or stone
buildings, instead of wood, which ha,
been the practice heretofore. Crisfield
has in all about sixty stores, the contents
of some of which will challenge those of
any country town in the state, both in
point of style and quality of goods. In
winter, when the oyster season is at it's
height, the town presents busy appear
| ance. Eirly in the morning and late at
| evening men, women and children may
be seen going to and from the oyster
houses to pursue their daily vocations.
| The women work as well as the men, and
| the stranger is often amazed on visiting
| the oyster-houses to see some of the
dainty fingers that are graced with gloves
and parasol upon the street handling the
knife and muddy bivalve with masculine
skill and dexterity. Crisfeld is local.
option town. There are different views
as to the effect of the local-option law
upon the moneyed interest of the town,
but all agree as to its good moral effect.
In addition to the oyster trade, there are
two marine railways here, which, to-
gether with the crab business, which has
grown to be quite extensive, gives en-
ployment to a great many people in sum-
mer. From the steady improvement
which is constantly going Oh, the high
valuation of land within the corporation,
and the prosperity of its people, it is evil
dent that Crisfeld has not yet reached
its zenith, AID with the advantage of a
most excellent harbor, its close proxim-
ity and easy access to the oyster rocks,
its facilities of transportation to Balti-
more by lines of steamers, and 80 the
northern cities by railroad, it is not i'm
probable that, with judicious and pru-
dent legislation on the oyster question,
Cristield will soon become enc of the
leading towns on tile Eastern Shore