The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-11
WESTMORELAND
Effects Of thelDrought-T The Dog Tax-oystsr
Interests Death Notes, Etc, Etc,
Correspondence Of The Free Lance. }

Correspondence Of The Free Lance.
Montross, Va, Aug. S.h.
We are in the midst Of another
drought. This section has suffered So
riously for the want Of rain during the
months Of June and July. No hope for
either early or late crops All the grist
mills in the county are locked up
and idle for want Of water. and the CIT
izsns are put to much inconvenience In
obtaining meal and -four.
The roof Of the new courthouse at
Montross is now on and some idea can
be had Of its appearance when finished.
The workmen expect to complete the
job by the 10th Of September. Is is
proposed when the building is com.
pleted to celebrate the occasion with
proper ceremonies and an unveiling Of
the pictures Of clerks, judges and other
public officials that have rendered hon.
orable service in the old building for
the past one hundred years Talented
speakers are expected TO visit the old
historical county and be present.
Among recent losses 10 Westmoreland
we note that Of Miss Bessie Muse, who
recently allowed herself 10 be stolen oy
one Of your FEedericksburgbo boys and was
married in Washington 20 Mr. Hayes
Beckwith on the 3lst Of July Ii was
a great surprise TO the Montross COM
munity the matter seems to have been
q well-kept secret-somethingnot char.
aoteristic Of the feminine sex. Well.
it's our loss and FrederiokburR' gain,
and we feel If we are to lose we rather
Fredericksburg should have the gain
than San Antonio, Tex. as was the
case when Mobtross was called on to
give up popular Miss L. B.
August Fad Mr.. o. L. Porter, formerly
Of Montross and for the last three years
in the employment Of the Capital
Traction Company Of Washington. died
Of fever. His remains were brought TO
Nomini by steamer Thursday last and
deposited In the cemetery at Andrew
Chapel, NJ E. Church, in the presence
Of q large concourse Of people.
It is likely that when the tax books OK
our county for 1900 are completed the
dog tax will exceed thousand dollars.
In some cases the returns made by the
Commissioner of Revenue show an as.
sessment of SO or $50 on dogs. ~
given in by one owner One party
gives in guns. $500; dogs, $500, and no
other property.
The neighborhood Of Ourioman bay is
very much exercised over the oyster In.
terest, Parties who propose to rent and
take up oyster ground for the purpose
of planting, have agitated the minds Of
the tongmen who have made their liv-
ing by the oyster industry in this bay.
IL is said that when the survey was
made valuable natural oyster bottoms
were left out, which it Is now proposed
TO rent out.
A protracted religious service is Ia
pLORISSS az hoDoAOu IL A. OH~ao-5
conducted by the pastor, Rev. Mr..
Smith. Also at Rappahannock by Rev.
A. Rennolds, assisted by Rev. Mr..
Edwards, Of Farnham, Va. These
meetings are largely attended and much
interest is manifested.
Messrs VIM. Mat. Hail. Jessie Dixon.
Daniel Parker and r. o McKenney, OF
Washington, are visiting relatives
here.
Mr.. Parker, of Baltimore, is visiting
Mrs. W. Y. McKinnis.
Mr.. James Walker and wife, OF same
place, are visiting Mr. Wm. NJ.
Walker. at Montross.
Many speak Of attending the popular
Marvin Grove Camp. which is now In
progress.