National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-04
MARY WASHINGT0N'S TOMB
Hlsrr OF THE coNGREssIoNAL SUB
COMMITTEE.

VISIT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL 6CO-
COMMITrEE.
THE ANCIENT TOWN OF FREDERICKSBURG
THE SCENES, INCIDENTS AND PkoChE ID
INGs OF THE DAY-THE SPEECHES oS
THE oCCAsIoN-THEP PRESENT CohDITloN
OF THE MONUMENT. -,
In the month of February last the House OF
p.1,s.sntotiyea Of the United States, at the In
,tance OF Hon. ]. B. Sener, the able and EN- sient
Ren-esentatfye OF the First Congressional dis
:rset on virginia adopted aresolution instrueting
ne select committee appointed to inquire into the
eracttcabIlity Of completing the Washington
Monument TO inquire also into the feasibility OF
a1ishing the monument to Mary, the mother Of
Washington, At Fredericksburg, Va.
To carry out the commendable purpose Of this
patriotic resolution, o subcommittee was ap-
pointed, consisting Of Hon Charles Pelham OF
Alabama, chairman Hon. Horace Maynard OF
Tennessee; Hon. Fernando Wood, OF New York;
Hon. ]. B. Storm, OF Pennsylvania, and Hon.
Jasper d. Ward, of Illinois.
Since the passage Of the resolution, several Gays
were fixed for the excursion OF the suo-eommiIsee
TO Fredericksburg: but rom time to time II was
postponed in consequence Of the more urgent
legislative duties Of some Of its memoers II was
not untH Saturday last that the honorable gentle
nen comprising the subcommittee found u prac.
teable 70 take the initiatory step in fulllment Of
ifbe resolution Of the House, by visiting Frede-
ricksburg and examining the present condition oil
the monument
HAs early as o'clock on the morning Of that day
the members above named with the exception Of
Hon. Fernando Wood, who was Unexpectedly
called to New York, took passage on the beauti-
Gal steamer Keyport, commanded by the cour-
teous Capt. H. A. Warren. Accompanying the
party were Hon. J. B. Sener, Of Va.i Lieut. w.
L Marshall, Of the Corps Of United States 'Engl-
neers, who, by Invitation Of the committee, had
been detailed by the War Department to take
Measurements OF the monument and prepare an
estimate Of the probable cost Of completing It for
the use Of the committee; Mr.. O. W. Clisoee,
Reading CLERK of the House Of Representatives
Mr.. E @. Rowe clerk to the Committee on Elk
penditures In the Department Of Justice; Mr.. ].
@. Stokes clerk to the Committee on Agricul-
ture; Mr.. s. H. Nealy, of HGrper's Weekley; Mr..
O. K. Harris, of the Baltimore Sun, and repre-
sentative Of The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
ON THE POTOMAC. ~.
SO soon as the steamer had gracefully swung
from her mooriDgs, the genial company, with ap-
petites sharpened by the crisp morning air, par
took Of q sumptuous breakfast, the tables being
enriched with all the delicacies Of our own boun-
teous Potomac, and adorned with bright and beau
tIful flowers. After ample justice had been done
TO the elegant repast the party took seats on the
upper deck, and, under the soothing influence OF
fragrant HayanaS, held pleasant converse while
looking out upon the picturesque scenery that
skirts the shores of the river. It was the first
time that some OF the company had seen our lovely
Potomac even for the short distance Of thirty
miles, over which the Keyport passed on her trip
to Qnantieo, and many were the expressions Of
admiration at the bright and broad expanse Of
waters, ard the charming landscapes which, in
all the beauty OF the vernal season, that are seen
both on the Maryland and Virginia shores. When
the toIlfng bell Of the steamer announced that
Ne were abreast OF Mount Vernon all eyes were
turned in that direction, and glmpses Of the man.
sion and the tomb reminded the party of the great
and good man to. whose Yenerated mothers tomb
they were then vending their way at the bidding
OIthe representatives OF the nation.
on THE RAILWAY.
Arcr pleasant ride Of nearly three hours, the
company d.sembarked at Quantico, and there en-
tered the train OF the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad Company, OF which the ae-
cSnspllshed Col, John NJ, Robson Is the Worthy
president The most noticeable featufl It Guam
tco is the fine brick hotel recently erected there
by Mr.. Arson Bangs, Of New York, at cost OF
aeout 10000 Whirling over tho railroad, as it
courses along the river shore, and through the
green hills and smiling valleys of Stafford and
Prince William counties, the residence of Gen.
FItEhugh Lee, near Richmond station, attracted
-''--''-- 49," 81 --"s nnticnnhle that n"-- o" -
farms. although apparently pretty well under
cultivation, were wholly unprotected by fencing
one Of the lingering consequences Of the red tide
of war that swept over that beautiful region.
AT FREDERICKSBURG.
Reaching Fredericksburg about eleven o'clock
q NJ, the members ofthe committee and the gen.
tIemen who accompanied them, were received at
the railroad depot by q delegation Of the promi-
nent officials and citizens, who had been deputed
tsE the PgfES0FfHS . S JfGees t II rscepton
consisted Of Hon. R. B. BerTey, mayor; Patrick
MeCrackch, L C. Fr11eett, 2 95Werlng, Major W.
u. Mason, and Captain H. ). Doggett. Among
other leading citizens present were Judge Cool
rick, William A. Little, Judge Jett, John G.
Mason, Thomas N. Welch, and Hon. Z. NJ. Black
stone Of the Fredericksburg bar; also, J. W.
Sener ESQ.,, GeneralSIbley (Of SIbley tent fame,)
Or. L. B. Rose. Dr.W. s. Alsop, Major. Williams,
Thomas Grimm, and Charles E. Hunter. The
newspaper press of the town was ably represented
by r. B. Merchant, ESQ.,, editor of the STAR Major
Kelly, editor Of tho Herald, and Captain S. ].
Quinn, editor Of the Ledger. All these gentlemen
united in extending to the distinguished visitors
the most cordial civilities.
Upon alighting from the cars the members OF
The House committee we're presented, in few
Gell-ehosen words, TO the committee Of reception
and citiEens. by Hon J. B. Sener, and were briefly
and portinently welcomed by Mayor Berrcy, who
warmly expressed the pleasure he felt in extend
ing to them, In behalf OF the people Of Freder-
Ecksburg, the Inequalities of the town. Entering
the carriages which were in waiting, the visitors
were escorted to ti1e-Exchange hotel, where they
were personally introduced TO a large number Of
citizens, partook OF bountIIul lunch and passed
pleasant half hour in the interchange OF friendly
sentiments. "--
BIRDsEYE VIEW OF THE TOWN. -
Fredericksburg is located on the banks Of the
Rsppahannock, and is one Of the Oldest towns in
the State Its streets were laid out in I72 and 1t
was Incorporated in 1919. Many OF the houses are
OF the most antique style, and their roofs moss
grown with age. With the beautiful hills of
Stafford on one side and Mayre's commanding
heights the other, the ancient town quietly re-
poses beside the bright waters of the Rappahan-
mock, and now bears few OF the vestiges OF the
terrible carnage which but o decade Of years ago
Redeemed hill and plain with some OF the best
blood Of the country. Tho present population is
about Ave thousand. There arc seven churches
one Episcopal, one Presbyterian, two Methodist,
one Catholic and two Baptist, one OF the latter
being eolored- a
Promising enterprises, developing considerable
trade and commerce, have been recently inaugu-
rated, and the old town begins TO wear something
Of the business aspect Of Gnte-bellum days. There
are now in successful operation the BrIdgewater
flour mills of J. B. Ficklln & Sons; the sumac
mill of Knox & Bro; the Germania -four mill Of
Myers s. Brill; the woollen mill OF Tackett & Co.:
the extensive ir \ foundry OF Hunter s. Frost, in
which are manufactured large numbers Of plows
and stoves for the Southern trade; the paper mill
OF the Virginia Fibre Company, IN which are
made large quantities Of Telling, much Of which
1s-surrSssd North the sSEsc. tsnnsss and ar:
mills OF John G. Hurkamp, large quantiticS o
the bark being shipped to Europe; the Touring
mill Of Slaughter 4 Sons; the ssss-tfas mill Of
Tlcklh / Hirst; and the plsninnS and spoke mill
OF Braxton & Berry.
The mere inensiCGa o. these extensive mills ant
workshops, which employ several hundred men
Will afford some idea of.the present business en-
terprises of the town. A railroad has been com
meneed TO connect fredericksburg with Char
1ottesville, via GordonsTille, distance OF abou
90 miles, and II miles Of the road have been com
pIeted. When the entire work is constructed {
very rich agricultural region Will be opened VI
for the Fredericksburg market, and will give
pew impetus to the business of the place. Their
are now two fine steamers plying between Fred
ericksburg and Baltimore, the Winona and tho
Matilda.
Poplar spring supplies the town OF Fredericks
burg with an abundance of pure and delightful