The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-09

+, suffering, II not starvation to Chinco-
league.
Captain ]. T. Rowley, who deals more
extensively in CLAIMS than any other man
| on the island, sold seven million clans
| last winter a year ago, and last winter
he sold between five million and six mil
| lion. He is rich. and growing richer
The hundreds of men and women who
sell him clans are making good livings
They could not do so II the Legislature
throws OPEN the State oyster beds to pre-
cmption by individuals. 1t Is the constant
fear of such action that makes the aver
age Chincoteaguer grow old before his
time.
But 7 was talking OF the prosperity OF
the people of Chlncoteague.
There Is not another place OF three
thousand Inhabitants in the United States
where more than ninety per cent. OF the
people own their own homes" said Cap
tain Rowley the other afternoon, as we
were driving over the island behind his
fast horse. There are very few renters
on the island, though. Of course, there
are no large landholders."
Just about that time Captain Rowley
stopped in front of tiny house In the
Pine grove n few yards away. 1t was a
frame structure, one story high, and not
an inch over twelve feet square. adj
| r1itted that ] hardly thought person
could live in so small q house
"a man and his wife and five children
live there" said the Captain. as he start
ed up his horse. THE oldest child Is a
boy twelve years of age, and he works
with his father every day, making good
money
MANY CHILDREN.
An evidence of the prosperity Of Chin
cotaguc, or possibly another form OF it.
may be found in the number Of children
one sees on the street. Where two or
three men and women are gathered to-
gether, there are sure to BIO found twice
as many boys and girls. At the pony
penning on Chacotague there We're three
hundred people at the least. and at least
half the number We're boys from I'VE
years to fifteen. Early marriages are the
rule There Is living here now young
woman who was a grandmother at thir-
ty-one years of age. She was mother
at thirteen. Her daughter became n
mother at fourteen.S The population OF
| Chincotaguc was only 1,luO In 1870, and Is
| now over 5000,
The people of Chincotague appear to be
more generally church members than are
| the inhabitants of other towns. But
| there are five saloons here. and did not
sec evidences of threatened insolvency for
| any of them, While drinking Is more or
less general. drunkenness is extremely
| rare. The sergeant, or constable, told mo
| last night he had not made an arrest In
| Il year.
| The majority of the church people are
| probably Bapt!sts, or have leanings In
| that direction, This sect has beautiful
| church and parsonage on the Island.
| There are also Protestant Methodist and
Methodist Episcopal churches and par
| sonages.
There are three public schools In Chin-
| colleague including the graded school.
But the schools only continue five months
and half and was informed that the
average number of pupils to a room IN
the primary grade was from rs to 40.
Better school facilities are badly needed.
But Chincoteague is not an Incorporated
| town, a few years ago, Mr. S, Wilkins
Matthews, member of the House from
Accomac, In response to petition signed
| by many of the leading men of the island.
went to work and had the Legislature
| pass an act Incorporating the island into a
| town, But so many of the people were
opposed to the measure that vote was
taken on It. and the charter was rejected.
| The act was repealed.
There are no street lights. There are no
| water mains Insurance rates run from
| five to six per cent, On nearly every
house. stores and dwellings,. one sees over
the door tin placard bearing the name
of the company In which the building Is
Insured And some day there are going
to be numerous policies to pay unless
| Chincoteague gets CHARGER and water
system, There Is only ono brick building
| on the island,
BANK DEPOSITS.
The deposits in the bank OF the Banking
Company of L. H. Dirlckson, Jr., at Chm,