The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-01-06
The Experiences Of Enterprise" and
Others, With Bad Roads Last Winter.

The Experiences of Enterprise" and
Others, with Bad Reads Last Winter.
According to promise made tC
many readers Of The Free Lance to
write some OF the facts and iDeldenti
as they came in our observation last
year II will state that thero as We
found them during the first four
months Of 1899 were at times imDas-
sable. la one OF our trips coming
home from Port Royal, as we came
along the main road at the intersec-
ton Of Hsmiton's Crossing road, We
noticed cOlored man standing on
an empty wagon, the two horses
being stuck fast in mud up almost TO
their necks and wagon nearly out OF
sight. "Whst is the matter, ,J JacksonF'
| call, d. "Why, Boss, can't you see
that the left hand horse is lost
nearly out of sight" Part of bis
head snd back could only be seen.
a hungry hound, of which he was
the lucky or uulucky possessor, was
sticking fast in the mud barking
Justify. "What is the matter with
your dog barking so fearfully," we
asked Jackson. II 'spect be is bark.
ing at the Chinese pulling him by
his feet" We laughed at the idea
that be should think of such a ride
ulous thing as this, but we agreed
with the old man, that unless the
70 sd at that point WAS put iu better
condition the Chinese would surely
pull the feet of his dog, for the bot.
tom OF the road seemed to be entirely
gone.
a one Of our trips in upper Sts ford
coming from above HARDWOOD church
on the marsh road between Jacobs
store and B3rea church we passed q
light spring wagon stuck fast in
about three to four feet of red clay,
the wagon body nearly sunk out OF
sight aud we could not distinguish
whether the horse WAS black or gray
for he was mud f.om his neck to his
tail. We said TO ourself this is a
clear case of cruel treatment TO the
animsl-oue for the humane society
10 look after. A half mile down the
road near Bere4 church We met a
strapping young curly headei fel
low lugging Finger sewing ma
chine on his shoulders. "Hello," ,"
We said, "where is your team9"
Team, what's of it, is stuck fast a
half mile above Bsres church.
Tnis afternoon if help can be found
and if horse and wagon are not en-
tirely out of sight, will try and get
horse out. Tne wagon can go to the
d where the road commissioners
ought to CO." be said.
A trip to King George Curt House,
in March, ,lwhen the famous Killers
vs Thornton case was being tried in
Circuit Court, we met one OF Hay
don's expert drivers aud splendid
double team. In the drag were
seated one of the brightest circuit
Judges in the State ofVlrginia and two
lawyers, one of them from this city,
but, 10! snd behold just 81 the foot Of
the long hill, before reaching
Comorn, it stuck tight 10 the mud
Judge aud lawyers had TO get out 10
the mud and walk that long and ter
rible hill in order to get to King
George court at all. AS luck would
have it, John Minor farm team from
Comorn came along, aud was hitched
in front of Hsydon's team, and with
pair of good drivers and some whip
cracking and coaxing the teams pull
ed up the hill. AS result the Judge
saw to it thst that part Of the rosd
was polled before many days.
At the sale of the Cherry Hill
farm, in Spotsylvsnia county, We
took friend Of ours from New York,
in a donble vehicle, to attend the sale
with a view Of buying, but after 60.
ing few miles be asked me to take
him back, for fear we might never
reach Fredericksburg again.
Oae man we met, on horse back,
when his horse stuck fast, had 10
jump in mud up to bis waist and lead
the horse out.
Our friend, Lsrkin W. Lsndram,
says if you want any more proof ask
s Sidney Bradford, Marion G. Willis.
Messrs. FIcklin, Wise aud others. !
have only given the readers Of The
Free Lance few facts as TO the
condition of the roads in the neigh.
boring counties last winter.
We were wrecked in dog-cart in
UPPER Stafford, not because we had q
spirited horse, or were spirited our
selves, but simply on account OF the
miserable condition of the roads,
however, we have sworn off never to
ride in dog cart again.
The writer wishes to thank those
true and tried, Romans of Stafford
county, POwhatan Moncure, D. M.
Lee. Thomas Wallace, B. W. Irvine,
E II. Randall and others for tt cir
efforts in behalf Of good roads.
We did not see our friend Charley
Kennedy's name in the proceedings
OF that meeting. We know Charley
is always mending his way. so we
take the liberty of putting him down
as one OF the old Romans for good
roads. Now, Mr.. Free Lance, do not
raet vonr nan hnt advocata good