The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-19

vsnians are asking themselves WhetheI ~
can be indeed true that the old county,
long famed for its poverty. is upon the
eve of an era of Industrial development
and prosperity. such as they have never
dared hoped for. II the various great en-
terpriseS now projected snali De pusneo
to completion there can be no question
that they would prove revolutionary in
effect upon the destiny of the county
and place her in the front rank OIL her
neighbors within q brief period
The engineering corps OF the chesapeake
md Western Railroad Company, under
the charge OF Mr. H. G. Harrison, which
passed through this vicinity a few weeks
ago en- route from Milford to Gordo1s-
vile. is now about half way between the
latter and this place engaged In making
q second survey on the return trip. This
last line follows the north bank Of the
North Anna River. just out of reach of
high water from q. point near Gordons-
willie to Evansville Mills. Thence cast along
the route first surveyed to this place and
on to Milford with slight and 1mma-
terial changes at various points. by or
before the first of July this corps is ex-
pected to take up the work of making
survey from Milford to deep water at
Gloucester Point.
Mr Mcdonnell, the agent of the Chesa-
peake and Western Railroad Company,
has been working in this neighborhood
during the past ten days securing options
upon the rig-t Of way.
THE ELECTRIC LINE
Rappahannock county some weeks ago
voted a subscription of $4,000 to the
Fredericksburg. Culpeper and Rappahan-
mock Electric Railway Company, and Gull
pepper county has recently voted IKE
sum. The action of these counties has
given great encouragement to the promo
tiers of this enterprise, and 1t is hoped
that they are now placed in such posi-
ton as to enable them TO make tnelr me
an assured fact.
This electric line is expected to pass
through the northern portion Of Spotsyl-
vania probably closely following the
route Of the old Orange pike. ms would
mean the development Of all that part OF
the county lying between the Rapldan
and Rappahannock Rivers on the north
and the Potomac Fredericksburg and
Piedmont Narrow Gauge Railroad on
the south. a section now entirely with
ont transportation facilities and exceed
ingly inaccessible.
The route Of the Chesapeake Western,
as SURVEYED, leaves Caroline county at
rvint near Blanton's Store. passes about
a mile and a half north of Partiows
Geometry known as New MarkeD. about
the same distance north of Lewiston
formerly Walters Tavern) to point
between Good Hope Baptist Church and
13crea Christian Church. little to the
scrth of Andrews Tavern: then to the
Goodwin Gold Mine and on to a point
fslt a mile north of this place and thence
II the Orange line at q point within half
mile Of the southeastern corner or that
comfy.
The hesapeake-TVestern will connect
with the Chesapeake and Ohio at Cor
louisville. with the Southern at point
near Barboursville. and with the Rich
monG, Fredericksburg and Potomac at
Milford. 1t will open up and give trans
portation facilities to a wide breadth OF
corr try entirely across this county, along
its southern border.
In addition to these two projected lines
of traffic. the people of Spotsylvania are
locking forward with strong hope to
carly action by Congress on the bill to
establish a national battlefield park. to
embrace portions of the battleiields at
Fredericksburg Spotsylvania Courthouse,
Charlottesville and the Wilderness. The
purpose of this bill is not the purchase
of 4 large area Of land, but in order to
make the battlefelas accessible the con-
st-uction of a system of highways cover
ing a large portion of the county would
become necessary. These lines would
probably extend from Fredericksburg to
Spotsylvania Courthouse, Chancellors-
VILE, the Wilderness, Brock Road and
Shady Grove Church. Such a system of
reads as is needed can be constructed
very cheaply. at cost which would be
merely nominal viewed from the stand
Point of national expenditures This is
work which appeals with irresistible force
to every patriotic heart. 1t is strange
that 1t has been so long neglected. and
there can be no doubt that it will not
be much longer delayed. The Speaker of
the House of Representatives, 1t is I'M
e.
ve1ts immediate action on the part of
CONGRESS-.
THE BILL WILL GO THROUGH.
The bill is expected to go. through
without opposition whenever it can be
brought before the House for considera-
Hon. The worst to be expected. there
fore, as to the National BattIefelds
Park is a little further delay. If we
could be as well assured that the other
great enterprises which have been men,
toned would be pushed to completion
the people of this country would indeed
have cause to look forward with hope
and confidence.
The influence and effect Of such 4
system of roads as has been indicated
would be hardly less upon the material
advancement and prosperity of the coun-
ty than the projected lines of railway
through Its northern and southern bor-
ders. These great enterprises are all
now we'll within the bounds OF proba-
bility. and afford a fruitful theme of
discussion. The ancient and amending
war Of words between the optimists and
the pessinsts goes merrily on, and the
kickers and croakers. who have so
long ruled and reigned. will undoubtedly
die in the last. ditch. II die they must.
Let us hope that their end is in sight.
and that the ditch they die in may be
railroad ditch stretching across the
county and wide enough and deep
enough TO hold the mortal remains of
NIL of that pestiferons iik within the
wide borders of the Commonwealth.
spotsylvansa remains to-day practi-
rally without means Of transportation.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
to,nac Railroad skirts its eastern border
for few miles south Of Fredericksburg
and the Narrow Gauge Railroad. from
Orange Courthouse 20 Fredericksburg.
runs through the county for a distance
OF some twenty miles.
THE NARROW GAUGE.
But while It Is true that narrow
ranee railroad is much better than none.
experience has demonstrated here as
49, 4 t.. i~fo NtNp.S { IN