Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1920-08-20
AN INTERESTING LETTER.
Mr.. Shaw Tells Of His Enjoyable Visit
to Parts in Old Dominion.

Editor Of Md. INDEPENDENT;
SIR The writer came out of
his shell on Saturday, the 7th
inst, when he left White Plains
with his friend, E. S. Stephens,
Esq, for Westmoreland County,
Va, to which he had several
times before been invited.
Taking the Semmes bus at
Waldorf about 9 a. m, we landed
safely at Leonardtown before me-
ridian time, and surveyed the
place which overlooks Breton's
Bay, 32 miles S. E. of Waldorf,
and SO miles from old Port To
bacco, according to Davenport's
Gazetteer. Leaving that enviable
little hamlet of Colonial reminis-
cences, we took shipping for
Nomini Creek, on the Virginia
side of the Potomac, about 3 p.
m. At the wharf we were
promptly met by Mr.. John Ste
phens ibrother of my said com
panion) and wife, who carried us
ten miles farther south to their
comfortable home near Montross,
the capital seat of Westmoreland
county, arriving there a little be-
fore sunset.
/ enjoyed the wide-w water seen
cry, the historical points and
places along the way very much;
but much more, if possible, the
rich and crop-laden lands on
every side beyond, which pre-
scented more the appearance of a
continuance garden than coun-
try of independent farm divis-
ions.
While crossing the kindly tide
flor the evening was ideal, and
the breeze refreshing) l recalled
to mind the spirit of our Fathers,
how the Calverts, Leonard and
George, and others before them,
braved its strange enyirons in
search of q tolerant footing; and
/ felt that such immortal heroes
of humanity and right could not,
even now, be very far away from
us, nor from their creations
which they fostered and estab-
lished.
There are twelve canneries
within a radius of six or eight
miles alone; and l was told that
the four adjoining counties,
which lie between the Potomac
and the Pappahannock rivers,
are, alike, rivals in grain, hay,
tomatoes, apples and other prod
ucts that the farm and garden
are everywhere yielding in abun-
dance this season. In short, it
is no exageration to say what is
true, that l have never seen in
our own county here a tobacco
field as large as the average to-
mato acreages in Westmoreland.
And as to the corn, as well as to
the fields of clover, being cut and
gathered a second time for the
seed machine and for provender,
there is hardly the possibility of
an adequate description.
During the afternoon of our de-
parture for home, on Thursday,
a tomato-growers meeting was
being held with the Gamers, to
consider their offer of 30 cents
per box this season, while the
growers were holding out against
them for 80 cents. The crop is
late, so that but one factory only
had started work, a few yielding
to the said offer of 30 cents per
box.
The tax rate of Westmoreland,
if remember rightly, is 96 cents,
which, however, is enormous
when the great wealth of the
county is taken into considera-
ton. The corn crop is said to be
the finest, so far, that has been
grown there for years.
Farmers are allowed cider
mills for domestic and market
able vinegar, but their use by
others not owning them, and the
amount pressed and barreled re-
spectively. are subject to the laws
of the State by formal guarantee
in each individual case. l guess
much vinegar will be used there
this season.
| was respectfully invited by
some representative people there
to speak at little village called
Acorn, where a hall was offered
me free of charge (as there was
no collection or admission feel;
and on Wednesday. from 3 to 10
O'Clock p. m, about IS persons
responded to few posters and
phone calls, to hear me on no
particular subject, or subjects,
but those that were selected by
the audience at the conclusion OF
my preliminary remarks After
the said meeting Q proposition