The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-03
.CAPECHARLES,,H0W
IT BECAME GREAT
The "Nyp and N. "Road
Got in There on
Three Feet.
MANY POTATOES
AND MUCH FRUIT
What the Men at Home Think of
Their Sandy Town, Where the
Atlantic Ocean and the Great
Bay Get Together-Vari-
Gus News Items of
Interest.
BY FRANK $. wooDsoN.

BY FRANK s. wOoDsON.
The industrial editor of The Times.
Dispatch has been trying for long
time to get down on the Eastern
Shore and find out for himself what
the people down there are doing to
make old Virginia great. Right we'll
do know that they have been doing
great things. for who is there in
all Virginia who has not heard OF
the big potatoes and the big melons
and the big cucumbers and all the
other kinds of big things they grow
down there?
Well. Just have not had the cnance
to go, and SO 1 wrote to some fellows
down there to tell me about things on
the Eastern Shore. I. j. Burbage. the
secretary of the Cape Charles Board
of Trade. promised me whole lot
OF data. but Burbage is modest kind
OF fellow. too modest in fact. in
that he does not like to blow his own
horn. i could not persuade him to
come right out in the open and talk
about Cape Charles and the Eastern
Shore as thought he ought to DO. L
then took hold of J. F. Burk the spe-
cial correspondent of The Times Dis
patch. Burk is not so awful modest.
but he is thoroughly accurate, and
what he says on any subject can BIO
implicitly relied upon.
What Burk Says.
He has written me a right good
story of Cape Charles and the sur
rounding country. and II he has not
got 1t down fine just according as the
actual facts justify will catch up
with him. for before the summer shall
be gone am going down on the East
ern Shore to see for myself. Here is
what Burk says:
OF the Pennsylvania Railroad system,
a prosperous and thriving shipping
point and retail trade centre, is sit
uated at distance of about thirteen
miles from the southern extremity o.
the Virginia Peninsula, and is distant
thtrty-eight miles north and east OF
Norfolk across the Chesapeake Bay
Cape Charles has population to-
day Of nearly 1000 persons. and it is
experiencing an era of development
along all lines which is Of the most
permanent and progressive character,
because 1t springs from, and is the re-
suit OF, superior natural advantages
derived from the towns bayside loca-
ton and transportation facilities, and
from its being surrounded by one Of the
most resourceful truck farming sec
lions OF the entire country.
"A Terminal Point.
AT the terminus of the New York,
Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad.
Cape Charles Is the headquarters for
all the executive officers of this di-
vision of the Pennsylvania system. ana
the home location Of a large number
of persons who are employed in the
various departments OF the service. 1t
is also one of the most important
ferry or transfer points OF the coun-
try. hundreds of carloads of freight
being transferred from barges to the
q, d
all points throughout the North and
South. Hundreds OF passengers ara
also daily being transferred from tho
and departing boats and
trains. so that the depot, wharf and
railroad yards are busy places all the
Year round
Few points In the United States
excel Cape Charles as market for
sweet and Irish potatoes. The best
OF market conditions are maintained
by buyers, whose alertness and pro-
combined with their re-
liability, give to the grower the top
Of the market" shipments being made
to all territory North and South and
as far West as the Rocky Mountains.
Figures That Tell.
Some idea OF Cape Charles's Import
ance as transfer and shipping point
for potatoes may be arrived at when
1t is stated that during the trucking
season 1t is not an unusual experience
to handle on the wharves In one day
over $4,000 barrels. besides carloads
of other kinds of farm produce
AS the chief source Of supply for the
celebrated Cherrystone oysters. de-
mand for which comes constantly from,
all parts OF the country. a great deal
of capital and labor Is employed in
this industry in Cape Charles. and its
activities are a contributing factor to
local economic conditions.
Cape Charles being the largest town
and leading trade centre of North
ampton county. is the source of supply
for all the people of this section for
all their needs for personal use or
and for household and
farm equipment; and the energy, en-
,erprise and business ability OF Its
merchants have made it popular
market and one which for all ordi-
nary demands cannot be excelled any
where. not even excepting any OF the
arge cities.
Trading at Home.
AS retail centre Cape Charlss has
Turing the recent past grown steadily
n popularity and prestige. This fact
S realized when the stock equipments
II to-day are compared with those OF
! few years ago in the new enterprises
hat have been established. and which
lave been successful, and in the efforts
II the business people to Introduce
conditions whose convenience, variety
II assortment. and low prices have
reated an established preference for
rading at home.
AS home location. Cape charles's
advantages are ideal, presenting
ong stretch OF water front along tha
Chesapeake Bay, with abundant OPP
for the enjoyment of all
quatic sports. the exhilaratings ir,hl-
noes of the constant breezes from say
nd ocean. and other such economies
3 are always to be found in pro-
,ressive community
Municipal Advantages, H.
There is an organized volunteer ars