Democratic messenger., 1894-06-09
FRANKLIN CITY.
Oysters. CLAIMS, Crabs, Turtles
and MatrimOny.


\ number of people at various times
when alighting at Franklin City, Va.
have looked around for a moment and
then inquired where the city was at. -
But though the place is desidedly un-
city like i'll appearance we must not
criticise il to severely on that account,
particularly as it is exactly suited to
its purpose. Just as Pittsburg is fit
ted by nature for furnace work of all
kind and Fall River for mills, so is
Franklin City fitted for the oyster and
clam and crab business. 1t is half
mile from the main land at Green
backville and perched on piles at the
outer edge of salt marsh facing Chin.
colleague Bay. 1t has about 800 in
habiiants, one street. no mayor, or any
one in authority, no street illumina-
ton, no lawyer, no doctor, zone tried
it once and came near starving) and,
perhaps the greatest perculiarity, no
negro residents. At the sides of the
ten or fifteen wharves there is sufficient
depth of water for the clam and oys-
ter tongers to unload right into the
floats, o: the dealers. Everything is
therefore handled with the greatest
economy of labor and within few
fee. Of thc railroad in every case. For
the past three years there has been
depression in the clam and oyster brsi-
ness but nevertheless the average num-
ber of barrels shipped has been annual
" between 10000 and 10000. 1t
can be readily understood that for its
size there is at times more ready cash
floating around per eapita than in any
Esimilar small spot. Brawn young
tongers who during the week knock
about the bay come out on Sunday
resplendent in good suits and patent
leather shoes. The taste in trousers
seems 10 run to delicate lavender
tint. The convenience Of Franklin
City as shipping point is being in.
creasingly understood by the farmer,
down the bay. In few years the
Irish and sweet potato business pass
ing through here has assumed emor
nous proportions. Last year between
30 and 40 thousand barrels were han
died and this year it is confidently eX
pected the business will closely pres.
the $4,000 mark. There were ais,
shipped from here las! year 5000 bar
rels Of crabs, all caught in nearby
waters. These statistics leave out o
consideration the oysters, CLANS anG
crabs shipped through here from Chin
colleague.
The first new potatoes were ship
ped on Thursday.
On Saturday last Tom Hill hauled
up in a seine. monster sea-turtle
weighing $50 odd pounds. 1t was
shipped to Richard Sanford, commits
sion merchant OF New York.
The cooperage of S. II. Stebbins &
Son was exceedingly busy for while
DacK, preparing Tor the potato rush
The output of their factory will b,
SO, 900 barrels at the least.
On Sunday evening Lemuel Penne
will and Carrie lngersoll were mar.
ried by Rev. Mr.. Price in the wood.
just north of the Maryland line. Ioul
correspondent learning that several
other couples had been united in the
past in the same strange way, finds an
excellent reason for it. 1t is more
convenient for the humble folk here
to get marriage license at Snow Hill
than at Drummondtown. Va. The
license being obtained IN Maryland
the ceremony must also take place
there, few steps carries them over the
line and the minister drives down tc
meet them by appointment. The wall.
of the church are the straight, tai
pines, the roof is the sky. the music i:
the gentle breeze rs it sings through
the pines, and the birds are the wit
neSses.