The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-18
SATURDAY,. JANUARY IL. 1902.
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Vicinity:
Fair and continued cold
SATURDAY..
THE OLD STAGE ROAD.

THE OLD STAGE ROAD.
While the subject of good roads is
uppermOst in the minds of ourstateS-
men. The FREE LANCE takes occasion
. to call their attention to the old
Stage Road (now known as the Tele-
graph Road which occupies a pie
turesque place on the pages of his
tory.
The road begins at point on the
Potomac river Just opposite Wash
ington, d. C., and passes through the
county and city of Alexandria, the
county OF Fairfax, near Mount Yer
nom, the county of Prince William,
the county of Stafford, the county of
Spotsylvania, (going through the
city of fredericksburg. and the
counties of Caroline, Hanover and
Henrico, to the city of Richmond.
A correspondent in a recent is
sue of The FREE LANCE, brings
to our attention the fact that all the
members of the House of Burgesses
from Northern Virginia, used to take
this route in going TO the ancient
capital at Williamsburg; that George
Washington otter travelled over this
road in going south from Mount
Vernon; that at one time it was a
part of the only direct road and
stage route from New York to New
Orleans, having a daily stage line
operated by a company of gentle
men, among whom was ex- Governor
Extra Billy Smith.
History informs us that General
Washington made his celebrated
march from Long Island to York
town, eliminating in the surrender
OF Lord CORVALLIS, by this route.
Thus it will be seen how rich in his
toric facts is this old Stage Road.
A proposition is on foot to ask for
aid from both the National and
State Government for the purpose of
putting this highway in the best posi-
blecondition, and Delegate Lowry, OF
Stafford, has bill before the present
Legislature providing for a survey,
etc, of this ancient landmark.
The FREE LANCE would suggest
that the proper authorities look into
this matter and lend every assistance
to the movement.
Indeed, it would not seem amiss to
suggest that this road be used for
the purpose OF experimenting with
convict labor on the public highways.
A visit to the State psnitentiary
will convince any reasonable person
that it would be far better to have
our convicts engaged in making
good roads than to be occupied as
they are at present.
That Virginia is in great need OF
good roads, every one admits; that
our convict labor might be used to
an advantage in their improvement,
none can deny. Governor Montague
struck the keynote when in his inau-
gural address he said that bad roads
worked against the social as well as
physical enjoyment OF the people.
Every Virginian is interested i'll the
preservation of her historic spots.
This old Stage Road is replete
with history and should be preserved
as well as improved for public con-
venience.
By a slight change, this old high
way can be made to pass through
the battlefields of this section and
Manassas, thus greatly increasing
its value as an historic route.
Let our contemporaries OF Rich
mond and Others contiguous to the
line join hands with us in advocating
these improvements and the time
will, doubtless, soon come when, as
in days OF yore, the old Stage Road
will become the chosen route for
y many OF our citizens.