The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-05-22
WESTM0RELAND.
Poor Nail Serviee-Bsd Road Syssem-Per.
s0nals Notes. Etc.

Montross, Va, May Il. 1902.
Tn FREE LAME. which il very popu-
lar with its readers in this section. has
of late. not made its regular tri-weekly
visits, Mondays. Wednesdays. and Fri
days rs il used to do. This grows out
of the irregularity of the upper mail
route, which for eight or ten days past
has been very uncertain. The bad ser
vice is the result of parties contracting
with the government TO perform ser
vice that they do not know they can per
form at such ridiculously low figure.
which is not sufficient TO find the horse
that pulls the cart from post office to
post-oiiice along the route. Able bodied
men. who would not work on a farm nj
30 cents per day, or serve the Jack plain
and saw at $3.50 per day. seem anxious
to honor ncle Sam with their services
mt 20 cents per day. and throw in the
horse and vehicle for good measure.
The United States offers. and is willing
to pay literally. for mail services. vet
but few receive il. from the fact when
the time arrives to put out such con
tracts there is rs much excitement. ear.
nestness. undertaking. etc. as exists in
"A Broadway money and stock exchange.
The result is every cheap horse and
cart that can be mustered is brought
into active service to DO Uncle Sans
I work, and the public is the sufferer.
/ The road service is also somewhat
along this line Men will put in bids 10
keepa public highway in good travelling
order distance of six miles for ,
months for 500 and proceed to mend the
broken places in the roads. and fiji up
ruts, 10y riding in their road carts. throw
in a small piece of brush. and with along
handle hoe, sit in the road cart and
cover the brush with sand OF earth. and
with long handle pen, make of their
accounts at the end of the contracted
term and present same for payment to
the board of supervisors This is an i'm
/ proved, scientific way of working the
roads in some sections of Westmore-
land. | am glad 10 say. however. il
does not apply To all, a. we have some
who are faithful our roads of late pre-
sent a wonderful Improvement. notice
ably especially in the Montross district
where the supervisor W. L. Gutridge. has
taken the matter in hand. and hired men
aud teams so that now a man can ride
along the public highway without hav-
ing his neck. his horse. and his vehicle
insured before starting. our mail con-
tractor of this county will visit the de-
partment at Washington soon. and re
/ quest that he be relieved.
/ Mr.. r. b Muse returned from Freder.
icksburg yesterday. where he put in
four pleasant days with his daughter.
Mrs Hayes Beckwith. Mr.. Muse ex-
presses himself highly pleased with the
beautiful fredericksburg and its congo
NAL citizens.
Mr.. John 4. Muse, wife and children.
returned from Washington. where they
made pleasant stay of four or five
days with friends and relatives.
Mr.. Geo \. Sandy. deputy sheriff. left
this afternoon for Washington on very
important business. with a young lady
residing in that place. will return in a
few days.
1t Is generally reported that the burn
ing OF the barn and stables of F. F. Por-
ter, OF Montross, was the result of ligbt-
nlng. Such IL erroneous Later develop
ments do not justify any such conclusion.
The brute who did the firing Just before
day light was so devoid of human feel
ing as not to unite the bratton of the
faithful horses. and give them chance
to escape the flames.
Mr.. A. {. Brown and +. f. Porter Mt
tended ileathsville Court Monday.
Mr.. {. Conway Baker lectured at Nom
I'M Baptist Church Monday night last
The crowd was large and the occasion n
success. MIR. Baker a. "A lecturer is NON
ular throughout these counties. and his
latest subject is, Matches and Ties -
The first fruit of the season il strawber-
ries, which have made their appearance
on the farm of Mr.. James +. Jenkins Sr
who made shipment to the Washing
ton market
Submitting the work of the Constitu.
tional Convention to the people seems to
be the topic, and predominating senti-
ment exists infavor of the people ba vino
say in this matter as per the under
standing previous to the assembling of
this body of lawmakers p
There is more Catarrh in t6I- --c,I-r -.