The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-12-01
SATURDAY. DECEMBER l, 1900.
Weather forecast for Fred
erickS6urg and Vicinity.
Colder and Fair Saturday,
qoith north aoiRdS.
RIVER APPROPRIATIONS,

There Is good reason for believing
that forty or fifty millions of dollars
will be appropriated By the next
session Of Congress for rivers and
harbors. As usual the North and
West will get the greater portion of
this sum, aud an amount considerably
more than is proportionately just,
Some sections of the South, notwith'
standing, will receive good allow
ances, chiefly because Of the iphu
ence they bring to bear upon
Congress and the activity and energy
they display in making their wants
known.
AS we have before shown, some of
our Virginia cities will be kindly
dealt with, and they are to be con-
graduated, for their good luck is in a
large measure due to an organized
effort for pushing their claims
Fredericksburg, snd in fact the whole
Of the First District, will fall heir
to but small pittsnce Of the prineely
sum to ne expended upon waterways
that is If some of the proposed items
are not materially changed. We be-
lieve it possible to get an increase
over the appropriations for our
section as st present scheduled if the
proper interest is manifested and
judieious steps are pursued. Creeks
upon the RAppshannoek, creeks upon
the Potomac and the estuaries of the
bay, both upon the eastern and west
ern shores, are sadly in need of stten
ton, as are g. so portions proper Ct
the rivers named. Notwithstanding
all this we know of but one organized
effort which is being made and that
is by the committee of Fredericks-
burgers in behalf Of & mile of the
river adjacent to this city. How
much work has been inaugurated by
this committee we cannot say, though
we seriously doubt if anything more
has been done than discussion Of
the matter and possibly little CORE
spondence. We fell safe in saying
that this will accomplish but little.
Work, work, actual labor is the only
thing which will bring success.
While We have been talking and
CONTEMPLATING other cities have been
formulating their plans, have had
influential members of Congress to
visit their waterways, have junketed
and feted the dignitaries, have laid
siege to some of those members Of
Congress who are at work upon the
budget and no doubt have not let
them 60 without fair promises. Have
our people done any of these thiugsi
For weeks now few Congressman
having the matter in hand have been
framing the appropriations bill, but
we have heard of no one of our peo.
pie who has been Juggling at their ell
bows for hearing. But, some may
say, who is to do all thisH Nobody,
of course, if none is interested in the
matter. ALI who may have an inter.
est in it and every member of a COM
mittee appointed to look after the
matter should do it. The Eastern
Shore has her influential men, the
Northern Neck and SOuthside
theirs and fredericksburg is not
without goodly quota.
To the gentlemen here at home We
might offer suggestion-take Messrs
John NJ. Griffin and Morgan Treat
with You to the doors Of those Con-
gressmen who are now lAboripg over
the matter of waterways; hamm or
away at them until they know that
you mean business, and, when you
can catch them, bring those big guns,
Senators Daniel and Martin, to bear
upon the Republican magnstes, and
we think you will find your labor
rewarded. The Virginia Senators
are not ordinary men IN the
opinions of their Republican
colleagues; they have influence
with the Republicans pull, in
the language of the political gutter
and we believe more can be accom-
plished by them in this direction
than by any other Southern repre-
sentatives.
These are simply opinions of The
FREE LANCE, and are offered FOR
what they may be valued at. 1t
others have better method we will
ha Glad To hear il and give il mature