Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-26
STATISTICAL REPORT
Of WORCESTER COUNTY
Extracts From Annual Report
Of Mr.. Thomas A.
Smith.


of Statistics and Information. Hon.
Thomas a. Smith. Chief, is now before
us 1t is the best repott ever issued
from the Department aud evidences that
Mr.. Smith is Il most competent official
and has set pace which will keep his
successor on the hustle to maintain.
The report contains review of the
counties of the State 1t says of Wor
cester:
Worcester County was formed from
Somerset County in lsl2. Its area is
iS7 square miles, of which Synepuxent.
Chincoteague. Isle of Wight. Assowo-
man and Newport Bays form about one
quarter part. The whole eastern bound
AIRY of the county is the Atlantic Ocean
4 narrow strip of beach, ranging from
one quarter of mile to one mile in
width, forms the coast and is separated
from the mainland by the bays above
mentioned. The narrowest part of the
water is at Ocean City. .Maryland.a pros
porous seaside resort, where il Is span
ned by bridge about one-quarter of a
mile in length. The widest part of the
bay is Just below Snow Hill. where it
is about eight miles from the east shore
of the mainland to the western shore of
the beach. Delaware is the northern,
and Virginia the southern boundary.
The population of the county is now
over 81 200 and the assessed valuation
of property for the county Is 81, 169, 1913.
while the tax rate for 1903 is $l.00.
Snow Hill is the county seat, and for
the past two or three years has been
forging rapidly ahead. due largely to the
growth of its manufacturing industry.
Pocomoke City is fourteen miles south
of Snow Hill, and is connected there
with bv the local packet line. also by the
boats of the b. C. & 4. X. Il. Company.
Berlin. sixteen miles north of Snow Hill
and eight miles west of Ocean City, is
at the junction of the Delaware, Mary
land and Virginia branch of the p. b..
& w. r. r., and the b G. & 4. Rail
way.
Thriving villages are Stockton and
Girdletree, from each Of which are ship
ped annually about 10000 barrels of
oysters, and each of which contains a
thriving bank. canning factory and bar
rel factory. and also good schools and
churches. Other growing villages are
Newark. Bishopville, Whaieyvillc and
Show,lls. each of which contains facto-
rics which are adding rapidly to the
prosperity uf the people.
The steady growth of Ocean City as IA
summer resort has made an excellent
local market for truck. and the farm RS
on the mainland derive "A large revenue
therefrom.
The soil Of Worcester County varies
from light sand tn heavy clay. the
majority being splendid loam with
some clay. The proximity "f the Allan
tic Ocean and the Gulf Stream makes
he climate temperate.
There are 1887 farms in the county,
according To the last census. Agrlcul-
ture is one of the important industries
Of the county. which abounds in the
production of small fruits. The princi
pal products of the farms are grain,
wheat and truck.
There are TWO large and prosperous
nurseries III the county, those OF j. u
Harrison d Sons, near Berlin, and w
NJ. Peters 81 Sons, near Wesley and Iron
shire From "A modest beginning few
years ago they have grown To large
proportions, and their goods are shipped
all over the United States aud To many
foreign countries.
OYSTERS AND FISH.
From the bays of the county are taken
quantities of the finest oysters and tho
revenue from these add materially tC
the prosperity of the county. Fish are
also plentiful in th, bays and the activity
. If the present Fish Commissioner for
the Eastern Shore has done much fol
, tn. future of the fishing interests
|, throughout the county. AT Ocean City
. deep SEA fishing is an extensive md istry
The following firms are engaged in the
i business: Ocean City Cold Storage
Company. l.. p. Ayres & Company
Ocean City Fish Company. Thomas &
Mumford The total capital invested
in this business amounts to $5 900. EN-
ploying So men, to whom wages ar,
annually paid amounting to $3i.2 200.
Besides these there are great many
individual fishermen who make theil
living by that means.
In the report is a list of the fiuancia
institutions aud manufacturing estab
lishments of Worcester County. Th'
report is well worth preserving as ;
book of reference.