The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-09-13
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. 1900
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Vicinity.
q Probably ShOaoerS and cooler.
OUR CITY AND ITS NEEDS.

OUR CITY AND ITS NEEDS.
The policy Of runnipg.dOwn and
dispsraging ones own town is poor
one, and THE FREE LANCE has no de.
sire to get into that class Of men and
papers which believes and acts other
wise. One is never valued at more
than the estimate be places upon him
self and it holds good in respect to
places. Neither do we believe in
putting ourselves up to be more than
We are, Such policy not only de-
eeives others, but ourselves as well,
and we may become erusted, or
moss backed" as the expressive
term goes. A little wholesome criti'
cism now and then is needed by the
best.
AS we have had occasion to remark
recently, the city of Fredericksburg
has, during the past two or three
years, taken on q wonderful spirit of
advancement. The young men, which
are the motive force in all advance
ment, have come prominently to the
front and are determined that go"
shall be heard by Fredericksburg in
the race and that she shall not be the
last in the start. A good beginning
mo matter how long deferred-must
surely result in good race, and we
are now on the quarter stretch, neck
snd.neck with other Virginia towns.
The work must proceed, and where
there is lag we cannot be Il" meslly-
mouthed" about it.
The matter of sewerage is receiving
attention, and the authorities cannot
afford, now that it has been taken up,
to let it lag or drop. The people of
Fredericksburg demand that stten-
ton be given it, and that should be
sufficient incentive. If it cannot be
dealt with as a whole, then take it in
part. II the Council is not able to
solve it let them not be ashamed to
call upon the people to discuss the
matter. A glance from your Office
window will discover half dozen or
more private citizens that are large
taxpayers and have much at stake
who will gladly give you their views.
And ten chances to one these views
will be endorsed by the people. The
work should proceed-eertsinly by
stages, if not as 9 complete whole.
What is said Of sewerage may also
apply to paving. A prominent bust.
ness man remarked that if the town
would agree to undertake a general
system OF paving be would cheerfully
agree to pave the half of the street in
front Of his property. There are
others. Will the authorities take mp
the challenge now or in the near fu
ture, or rest quiescent and let the
needs Of the town still stand as mon.
ument to lethargy in Council and peo-
pie Another remark by a business
man is also pertinent just now-he
was heard to say that if the town be-
gan paving by degrees that he would
invest all the money that be could
raise in real estate along the paved |
streets, believing that it would be but |
q short time before those values would |
advance rapidly. This is very i'm
portant question to consider. If there |
were, as there surely would be, an
advance in property values it would |
rebound to the benefit Of the city as
well as of individuals. (The individ.
ual is too small to be considered in
this connection who would prefer
holding on to his property and keep
ing its taxable value down to the
lowest notch.
We had not intended writing to
such an extent on the foregoing
subject, as we have in time past coy
cred the main points, bat they are,
nevertheless, living ones and cannot
die until the ends sought are accom-.
Pushed. Cur present purpose was
mainly to call attention to matter
which is Of recent creation and which
is Of vital and immediate import to
our city. 1t is the lack of adequate
hotel facilities. Within the past few
weeks every Virginia city has heard
from the lips Of travelling men that
Fredericksburg, city of six thous.
and people, is without hotel. In
measure this is true. We have good
hotels in certain localities OF the city
bat the central or business part of
the town is bare Of adequate accom-
mediation. How long this is to be the
case we have no means OF knowing
bat we do know that every twenty.
four hours that it remains so will re-
quire 9 month 10 counteract the evil
effects. We don't know that it is any
ones fault, bat il will be the fault Of
the business men Of tho town il they
permit this condition 10 be protract-
Cd. They should 800 70 IT that the {