Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-24
GLOUCESTER COUNTY IS
ONE OF THE OLD TIMERS
Settled Nearly 800 Years Ago and
became County With Brit
iSh Name Later On.
LAND SURROUNDED BY WATER

Transportation by All Kinds oi
| Craft, but No Railroads-Watcr
melons and Truck Grow in Perfec.
tion-Population Increasing.
| The early settlers OF Gloucester
County came from Worcestershire
England. nearly 500 years ago, and
that is why. when the county was
formed in ltG1 from York County. il
was given the name it has borne for
c57 years.
Gloucester is good county to live
IN. especially in these days OF the high
cost of living. fer Il man can gc;
from the waters that surround IL All
the cheap meat he wants and from
The ground Inc can grow anything else
he may need in the cating line on
the water courses the lands are low
and level: further back they arc high 81
and gently undulating; but no portion
Of the county is very far from dccn
water. The proportion OF cultivated
land Ia thc area is fror, onc-rourth
to onc-thrd. The soil is generally IL
sandy loan. with rich a!luvial lands
along its many streams.
Farm products are hay. corn, oats.
rye and wheat; but tobacco aud pea
nuts can be p-ofitahly grown. The soil
and climate are admirably adapted 20
trucking. tho principal crops Of which
are Irish and sweet potatoes peas.
cantaloupes. watcrmelcns. etc. Fruit
culture is receiving more attention,
and will prove very profitable with
intelligent care. All the fruits ar.
grown TO some extent. blu, the most
profitable are pc.rs. grapes and straw
berries.
The market advantages are good.
Produce shipped in the evening is on
tho Baltimore market next morning;
also Norfolk and Richmond are good
markets for this section.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
ALL BY WATER
Water TRANSPORTATION is depended
upon altogether. and the county has
tho benefits OF that 10 perfection
The nearest railroad point is West
FONT. the eastern terminus OF tho York
River division &C the Southern Rail-
way sixteen miles distant. Any de-
hciency in this respect is amply sup
piled By the extensive water trans
nortation that reaches every portion OF
the county. Steamers and sail vessels
daily ply the York and Pasquotank
Rivers. and Chesapeake and Mobjack
EaTs. a1ordinE cheap, convenient and
dircc; communication with tho cities
of Baltimore. Norfolk ard Richmond.
also with Philadelphia. New York and
Boston. by connections ut Old Point
The water courses above named. to-
Ec;hcr with Ware. Severn and North
Rivers. and numerous creeks. afford
not only a magnificent water supply.
but are turned 20 valuable account fer
their productions. and for their trans
portation facilities.
Tho county is fairly we'll tirnbcred:
principally p!nc. while some oak hick-
DRY and cypress are found. Several
sawmil,s are successfully employed:
lumber, cordwood, poplar wood and
railroad ties are shipped TO consid-
cradle extent: Marl is found through
out the county a few face below the
surface. and has beer extensively and
successfully used as 4 fertilizer
PROFITABLE OYSTER PLANTING
AND OTHER GOOD THINGS
Because OF the great extern; Of water
front. Gloucester is probably more
any OF the counties Of the oyster sec
;ion. and the quality OF her oysters
ranks with the best. The fisheries Of
the county arc also very extensive aud
valua bic. employing large capital ard
labor. and bringing 10 its citizens ana
the State large revenue. 4 very large
proportion Of the people derive a live
!ihood almos, entirely from the water:
IA III
most important and profitable indus
:riks o: the county
Increased attention j, being given TO
:hc raising OF stool; and tho cultivation
OF .he grasses. for which the low
grounds are well adapted: and they also
succeed very well on the uplands
owing TO the proximity OF the county
20 numerous bodies OF salt water. and
the sea. the climate is mild in winter.
ana tempered By the sea breeze in sum
aiso has the effect 20 render it very
hcalthful. water is supplied by artc.
sian weli., easily bored. and by nnm-
croua springs. ana Is abundant and
good. There is also excellent lithia wa
,"r In the courty. Churches Of the
various denominations Episcopal, Ban
'i-t. Methods. and rrosby,orian-are
".ll located Educational advantaucs
-" good: win one academy. ana ono
young iadica school aud with public
schools IA -'ery ucishborhood Tho
county is well supplied win telephone
service. local aud long dislance. ,wo
HANKS. and has excellent mali facilities.
MANY NEW CONIRs
~ LAST FEW YEARS
In progress and genera! advancement
there rs "a decided upward tendency in
,his county. The farmers use improved
implements and methods. ana financial
conditions are better imam for vcars
past. y very good Indication Of thIg
as ii desirable section IS ,hc incrcaged
population. which mas been constantly
growing since about twenty y,arg ago
4 %SgNE8sR