The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-13
TRIP THRoUGH EASTERN SHORE.
BY John B. Alsop, of AIsop Motor
Company.

Company.
On account of the interest shown BY
the business men OF Richmond In the
Tidewater Counties OF Virginia,
thought It would probably be interest
Ing to give you idea OF a recent
trip which have just taken through
the counties of the Eastern Shore.
z. R Bittner and myself left Rich
mond on Friday about 1890 o'clock In
ve-passenger K-R-IT car for
Mathews County. After leaving Seven
Pines We found the trip uneventful.
and very hot. until we reached Bar
Evansville. In New Kent County. forty
miles below Richmond. We stopped
at this place for a few minutes, called
on Mr.. Potts. who runs a very nice
store. and who Is an automobile
owner.
We inquired OF Mr.. Potts regarding
the roads between Barhamsville and
Williamsburg, and TO our surprise he
stated that We would have to take
by-road between Barhamsville and
Toano on account OF the, very bad
condition OF the road between these
two points. He stated that there were
several places that We're extremely bad
on account of the shade surrounding
these spots. which kept them from dry
ing up rapidly. Mr.. Potts stated to
me that he and some of the ne!ghbors
these bad places by cutting down some
OF the trees. and throwing brush into
some OF the small holes. but as fast as
this was done some OF the people liv-
Ing In the Immediate vicinity OF these
bad spots would take out the brush
and trees which they had put In.
Their reasons for doing this. he stated,
was that one man had been able to
make SIS or $50 q week by pulling
automobiles out Of these holes. and
naturally they did not want to see
them fixed up. The people reaplng
the benefit of the bad roads would let
an automobile ownor go into this road
without any warning. and consequent
ly, they could not pull through. We
were very thankful to Nh Potts for
his advice. and had no trouble In pass
Ing this spot on the road through the
woods.
We arrived in Williamsburg In very
good time. only stopped there few
minutes-long enough to get three gal
Ions Of gasolene. We went from Will
liamsburg to yorktown. Arriving at
Yorktown we inquired OF two men at
the wharf as to how we could get
across the river. We were told to
hoist a white flag on the right hand
side ce the wharf. After doing this we
were told by one of these men that on
account Of the ferryman having but
one eye that we would have to walt
until he got his good eye on the flag
before he would come across.
After arriving at Gloucester Point.
and staying there flfteen or twenty
minutes, we started for Mathews Court
house. a distance of thirty-five or forty
miles. We found the country between
Gloucester Point and Mathews Court
house the most prosperous in appear
ance of any through which we passed.
The houses were at intervals of every
half mile or mile. and also had the APP
pearance of prosperity Practically all
Of them were painted nicely, and the
fences were all kept up In good style,
making a most favorable impression on
any one passing over these roads. We
found the road from Gloucester Point
to Mathews Courthouse very good. with
the exception OF six miles outside of
Gloucester Point, which we found to
be very sandy, and in some places being
from four to six inches deep. This is
recognized by the people around this
section as being the worst part Of the
road in Gloucester County--a road
muohly travelled. We received very
hearty welcome on our arrival at
Z.