Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-01-30
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Progress, Push and Enterprise
as Seen by a Newspaper Trav-
RIar


as Seen by Newspaper Trav-
eler.
(From the Potomac Proeress)
Last week a representative of the
Potomac Progress made q business
trip through Lancaster county, vis-
iting the towns of Lancaster, Kill
marnock and other places of in
terest, which towns were found to
be in a very prosperous and growing
condition and the people proved
most hospitable aud entertaining.
Irvington, the largest town in the
county, We found an interesting and
progressive little city of 1000 in
habitants, bustling over with prep
arations for new businesses for 1908.
This picturesque town is located on
Carter's Greek, about one mile from
the Rappahannock river and situ-
ated about 100 miles from Balti-
more, 100 miles from Fredericks-
burg and 60 miles from Norfolk,
with daily steamer line to Balti-
more and good connections with
other cities.
Irvington as a business centre is
one that is becoming each year more
important as new industries are
added to those already operated
there. At the present time the
principal source of revenue to the
people of that section is the fish
and oyster business, which is han
died in an up-to-date manner and
means many hundreds of dollars to
the residents of Irvington and those
living in that section. One of the best
equipped fish fertilizing plants in
this part of the country is located at
Irvington, and the annual business
done by this plant amounts to about
800, 900, which is distributed among
the fishermen and laborers of the
territory surrounding. The plant is
operated by an independent electric
lighting and power outfit and employs
about 200 people. The next feature
of Importance is the oyster industry.
There are $50 oyster canoes operated
from Irvington daily during the seas
on supplying something like thirty
large oyster vessels per week, which
operate from Baltimore and other
important markets. This business
alone will amount to about $75,
per season, which results directly to
the benefit of the people. In addi-
ton to this IrviLgton boasts of two
substantial oyster shuckiug houses,
which open between ten and fif-
teen thousand gallons of oysters
each during the season, mean
ing revenue of about $4,000.
lrvington's prosperity is noticeable
from the fact that she has a na-
tional bank with capital of $25, 1000
carrying deposits amounting to $780,
600. A Mutural Fire Insurance
Company carrying $4O0, 900 worth of
insurance policies and operating only
in the counties of Lancaster, Nor
thumberland, Richmond and West
moreland. This company is owned
and conducted by Virginia capital
and by Virginia people. Eight busi-
ness houses doing general mercan-
tile business are conspicuous features
of the city and do large trade. The
Chesapeake Male and Female Acad-
emy with about 20 pupils and six
teachers add to the Importance of the.
town as an educational centre, and
last, but by no means least we notice
that bright and interesting weekly
newspaper, The VIRGINIA CITIZEN
which is owned and operated by Mr..
w. Mcdonald Lee one of the best
posted journalists in the field. This
paper is ably edited and has from the
day of its inception used every effort
to advance and upbuild the town,
and through the good work of its
owner and editor has demonstrated
that the people made no mistake
when they gave this paper the benefit
OF their support and influence, for
through the work of Mr.. Lee many
new enterprises have been fostered
and are now doing business at Iry-
ington. Mr.. Lee personally is a
charming gentleman who makes a
close study of the wants of the peo-
pie of his section and his ability is
demonstrated often in q way that
results to the advantage and growth
of his town.
lrvington has a private telephone
line and is connected with all points
of interest throughout the country
by public telephones which give quick
connection to busy patrons.