The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-12-04
WONDERS OF THE NORTHERN MEG.
How That Section Impressed A Visitor From
Richmond.
Irvington, Va Nov. %. 1900.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch;

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
As q citizen Of Richmond and deeply
interested In her welfare, / hope the
day in not far distant when your sug.
gestion as 90 railroad connection with
tho Northern Neck will be realized and
city will have direct communication
by railroad with this iection OF the
State. There is no fsirer or more
thrifty section Of Virginia, nor one
where dwells more wh0le-soled,
hospltable population not one where
land aud water unite Ia yielding IN
moro prolific abundance the gifts Of
tho Creator. nor Que more rich in his
torioal associations.
Less than one hundred miles from
the capital. owing to the lack Of floil
tiles OF transportation, its business re
lations with Richmond practically
amounts to nothing, and its trade re-.
lations are almost entirely with Balti'
more and Northern cities A stranger
from the upper section Of the State Is
greatly struck gt the wealth its wateri
sff lrds. whether we consider the yield
# oysters, crabs, or fish. and equally
50 at the life seen Up)n them. Out Of
Oarter's Greek, on which IryingtOn II
situated. besides the larger craft Of
steamers aud vessels 800 or 400 canoes
sail every morning to the oyster
grounds on the Rsppahannock river
Nature, asif prodiRal Of her wealth, ha'
given 90 this section creeks or coves on
every side besides the two noble
streams, the Rappahannook and tine
Potomsc. which flow on either side
Each one has its value in adding to.th'
productiveness Of this section.
One Of the most important interests
Of the company is the menhaden fish
cries, the Carier's Greek Fish and
Guano Company. Of which Captain W.
l. Messick is the proprietor. and the
establishment Of Bellows & Squires,
employing seven or eight steamers ano
hundseds Of men. The neat homes and
thrifty farms of the employees at
test the good they do. Indeed, II
would be hard to appreciate the blight
ing Influence at their removal. Through
the courtesy Of these gentlemen / took
several trips down the bay and wit
messed the mode of catching the meI-
haden. Il was very interesting wher
the men st the masthead announced
bunch Of fish in sight. The surround
ing Of the fish, and the bsliug OF them
into the hold Of the ship was an inter
estiug sight to landsmsn. Here sn(
there appear a skate or a shark, and
few and far between an edible fish
would appear. Indeed, so rarely II
the case Of the latter that almost every
one was saved as food for the Grew or
their families. How wonderful is tht
economy Of nature, appears very strong
ly in the case Of the menhsden or ale
wives. Almost totally useless as foot
for man, they furnish sussenance fOi
innumerable other fish. and make I
most valuable fertilizer for man.
T In closing, l hope you will continue
your work until bands Of steel unite
this favored land with Richmond. Il
would help our merchants to obtain al
least q portion of the trsde Of the
Northern Neck It would help oul
schools and colleges, by making then
more accessible to the young people
here it would help our people, By Civ
ing them an additional summer resort
and finally. 1t would bring Us In daily
business aud social relations with
people whose superior 1 do not thinl
the State contains.
r. q