Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-05-11
Friday, May IL, 1900.
Nor DRIFTING WITH TIE TIDE.

~ together. VIII not cur contemporary,
the Vtrginsd Citizen, help US to accom-
plish these needed improvements
Waterman.
That we will. Before us is an un-
finished article, begun two weeks
since, in which we applaud the efforts
Of our contemporary in its indefati-
gable appeals for improvements
throughout our section. For years
the CITIZEN has been appealing to
our people to rub off the moss and
scrape off the barnacles that may
have chung to some who had weight or
authority, and when it shall have been
accomplished in all its fullness we
will be content to echo the senti-
meut of Simeon, and depart in peace
And our labors have not been in
vain. One by one have the sold TO-
gies" dropped to the rear and new
blood has been infused into county
affairs. One by one suggested i'm
proyements have beer adopted, and
within the past few years, aided by
the Wdtchman'S vigilant care, the
county has taken a vigorous leap.
Postoflices have been established,
better mail facilities granted and
steamboat schedules have been
improved upon; telephone, which
though sadly in need of better
management connects us with
the outside world; roads have
been improved, and will continue
to be improved, If public clamor
as needed; newspapers and schools
the indexes of civilization and
knowledge-have been established,
while churches aud camp-grounds
become the direct products of this
evolution. Improved hotels have
attracted the outside public, and
the town halls have afforded oppor-
tunity for the organization of liter
AIRY societies aud the enjoyment of
the play. County Fairs have brought
to light from hidden recesses pro-
ducts IN which this favored land ex-
GELS Our courthouse is now the
handsomest in this section of Vir-
ginia, and its walls will display to
coming generations the faces of those
who have helped make history or
have, as worthily, advanced the inter
ests of their circumscribed spheres.
The past decade has seen that relic
of the Dark and Middle ages-the
fence-swept away, and every mans
nome Is as safe from marauders as
were the turreted castles of the past.
"king" Carriers Church has. il a
measure, been reclaimed and protec-
ted against the hand of vandalism.
while Lancastrians look no longer to
outside contractors to build their
handsome tenements. The face of
our waters is teeming with indus
trious people and swift win ged craft.
which bring to our shores wealth
from the depths of the greatest and
richest body of water on the globe
and thousands upon thousands are
fed from the oyster-shucking houses
and the fish factories. Handsome
steamers, too, the property of our own
citizens, add largely to the material
wealth of State and county, and they
need no longer go away from home to
be repaired and embellished, for at
the mouth of the county's GREAT
waterway is the marine railway for
their accommodation. The bosom of
our fair fields yield the milk and
honey of holy Writ, which, at times
majestic steamers are unable to carry
to the marts; but not to be circum-
vented, at home are springing up
for accommodation of the SURPLUS
fruit and vegetable canneries which
Will In time be reckoned factor
upon the now consolidated markets
of northern cities. A prosperous
home fire association has breasted
the storms of incredulity and the
of foreign corporations
and today has gotten within the
limits of absolute safety and pros
perity. And last, but probably the
greatest acquisitions, are banks for
the accommodation of the increasing
trade, to be owned and controlled by
Lancastrians; and hand-in- hand with
these come electricity-All, all by the
energy of our people and the awaken
ing from lethargy wonderful re-
sources. \
Surely it is well TO live in such a
and and to know that You have had
\ hand i'll its material development.
But the end is not yet; there is