The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-18
THURSDAY. OCTOBER IS. 1900
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Y%IfSg
Fair and Co5%y4y
north TO east aoiRdS.
THE COMMITTEE AND STEAM.
BOATS.

BOATS.
Another subject of great impor-
lance to our city, and for which a
committee has also been appointed,
is that of better steamboat facilities
between this city and the lower Rap
pahsnnock. Messrs. Biseoe, Carter
and Jones are the gentlemen who
have this matter in hand. They are
good team, and we look for results
from their efforts.
There is large proportion of the
trade of the rich Rsppahsnnoek
region that properly belongs to Fred.
ericksburg. Upon this we believe sll
here are agreed, certainly those who
may have had dealings or intercourse
with that prosperous people. The
lower Rappahannock people them
selves also recognize this fact. All
that is lacking are proper transport
tation facilities and little industri.
GUS canvassing. If We are correct
and We think it will be conceded that
we sre-the way to achieve the OBJ
ject desired does not appear to be a
difficult one.
Several methods have been pro-
posed-one for an independent river
line, to make three round-trips
week from either Tappahsnnoek or
Irvington; another is proposition
that the Weems line run a small boat
daily between here and Tsppshsn-
mock, connecting there with its Bal.
timore and Norfolk lines, while still
another is for the Weems line to add
one or two more boats to its present
schedule for this city. As to the first,
we think it a good idea only in. case
efforts in the other direction should
fail. 1t can be readily seen that the
expense and trouble in launching and
running an independent line would
be considerable. with the whsrves
and their agents under the control of
sn opposition line. AS we understand
il, this plan has been looked into to
some extent, and while it presents
feasibility the inducements were
hardly sufficient to warrant action
upon the part of private boat owners.
So, as we say, this plan should be
the dernier resort. Let US, then,
view the other phase of this question.
In the absence of sufficient appro-
priations for our river work the diff.
Guilty Of the larger steamers making
expeditions trips to this place will
continue. Nevertheless, the Weems
Company has been doing very we'll
with its limited schedule, particular
ly during the past summer when we
had three boats q week. If such a
schedule could be put into permanent
operation, and to run upon alternate,
days, We think that material advan.
tages would result. On the other
hand, if the condition of the river
will not admit of such schedule the
year around the Weems Company
might be induced to put one Of its
smaller boats upon this end to run
three or more times a week between
this city and Tsppahannock, making
transfers of passengers and freight
at that end.
With the proper assurances upon
the part of our business men we be
lieve the Weems people can be
induced to establish one or the other
of the two schedules. Certainly the
first idea laid downfall of an indie
pendent line-should not, in our
opinion, be resorted to until the
others shall have failed.
To the end that the Weems people
may become interested we do not
doubt,the committee will work. We
are not unmindful through it all that
great deal depends upon the mer-
chants of this city. We have before
limited that we do not believe our
merchants have given the present
steam boat line all the patronage they
might have done. Also that they
have not properly canvassed the Rap
pshsnnock section for custom. These
things must be looked into, and If
they exist as we have recited, q re-
solve must be made to remedy them.
Such an earnest must go hand in
hand with the negotiations when
entered into.
We take it for granted that the
special committee has reviewed all
these points and if they labor jealous
" for the object desired We are not
dubious of satisfactory consumma'
ton. When the end is achieved they
willdeserve and receive the thanks of
this people,