The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-08-06
ESSEX.
True Reformers Convention - The
Proposed Urbannh- Richmond Hail
road Personals, Etc.

cOlored baptist met at Good Hope
church yesterday for all day HerYlees
This seemed TO be what the herdsmen Ol
the plains call "a grand round up, Tor
from the number present IL must have
been convention of all the societies OF
all the churches for many miles around.
They poured along the road on loot In
wagons, on horseback, and maay oi
them in new buggies drawn by beautiful
wel-bred horses. Labor is scarce. We
all SAY that. But as 60 those who should
labor. they are here by thousands yet.
How they live and wear better clothes
than the white people, and drive better
horses aud have more leisure time. IL a
mystery, but It Is a fact, They say that
the Jew il a special charge IN the hand
of Providence, and we have concluded
that the negro must be under some spe-
eial protection also. Just wLAi i'd the
object of this True Rs'ormer" move
ment is unknown 20 us. We hnVe not
even tried To interview any Oi the leaf
ers. knowing that they would leave Us
as ignorant As we are now concerning
the wol kings Of the society and lis object.
The negro loves the mysterious aid Tie
superstitious. We have no evidence
however, that there is any RntiCl lsian
element in the teachings OF the sOee y;
in palmer terms, that this society Teaches
it's memb,fs TO work against the white
man or not to work for MIN Sti.l there
are many who believe that there Is such
feature and attributes to this cause the
great difficulty we have had In getting
labor this season.
Since the secret IL out, we must say a
word about the coming railroad from
Richmond TO Urbanna, MiddleseN county.
I ur correspondent had the pleasure to
meet the promoters Oi the new road
about two weeks ago, aid learned 6ll
that q general intefyi, W would glvefrom
those sccostumed TO pointed questions
with ptneil and paper suggestive oil the
press In view. 1nis information ofcourse
was for you then, but upon the request
of the gentleman that we should not
write anything concerning the ad al
that time for reasons which they gave
and which we will not now give, We OF
course kept perfectly quiet waiting Tor
the time when we might feel privileged W
speak. We have read accounts of 1t in
tiye State papers already. SO it IL GER
tainly no longer a secret. The faets a.
learntd by W. which We may now give
to the public, bri' fly put, are tn 1t the
charter has been granted 10 build line,
electric OF steam, between Richmond ana
I'fbaunA, and that there is In hand every
dollar necessary to build and eq zip the
road. lt will be a standard gusge track,
and from all we can learn, will have
Richmond connection via the L. X .. 20
Cincinnati and on.
It Is the plan Of the promoters t. have
steamboat connections with points
above and below Urbanna. There would
operate az freight and passenger feeders,
with Urbanna ss the terminus. The
route has not yet been located, exec t
in a general way. But IL seems possible
and feasible that Miler's Tavern, just
on the line between Essex and King and
Queen, will be on the line OF the route
that far. From Miller's 10 Urbanna two
routes a'e naturally suggested.
The one would be the more direct and
less expensive 20 build, and would leave
Tappahannock about twelve miles
northw west OF passing perhaps through
MontAgue's in the lower portion Of this
county, and from there, following the
trend OF the river, to Urbanna. The
other route would be from Miller's TO
Tappahannock, and from that town to
Urbanna, folio wing 10 general the line OF
the main county road, and passing
through Dunnsville, Ozeana, Centre Cross,
Montague, and other towns almost in d.
rect line. This route would be as
crooked az a hound dogs leg, almost
doubling on itself, and very expensive,
but il il be the freight Of the lower Rap
pahahannOck valley that they want,
then this route would be better. shakes
peare ia among the number OF noted per
sonapes 20 place himself upon record as
to the propensity OF the human family to
handle the truth carelessly. "Ohl how
this world is given to lying he says,
and seems to mean il. We have decided
TINA without number that he was entire
Iy correct, and have no disposition to
call up his ghost, or Hsmlet's father y
either, for a discussion OF the question
But men do tell the truth now and then,
regular old fashion, before-the. war truth.
And in spite OF scores and scores OF our
citizens, who tell US that all this railroad
talk is false and that it is money max
ing scheme for the promoters, and that
no capital is on hand, and that as soon
as they can sell out their rights 1.-THE way
they will go" and not another word
about a road here We do believe 10 1t,
and have reason to hope that the road
will be in course OF construction within
three months. To this country it would
be blessing, and we have every reason
60 believe that the road would pay from
the very start. We can not see why a
seetion of country as large and 8s fruit
ful AZ this should be left out 10 almost
three quarters of century ago ircon
yenience, and almost unknown TO many
Dortions Of the country. We have every
reason 60 believe that road would be
the means OF bringing capital and new
energy among US. There is land enough
in Essex county alone to support five
times the present population II it could
be cleared up and properly cultivated.
Let the people come and see. See our
land see our timber, see the lovely build
inr situations overlooking the Kappa.
hammock, and see how easy 1t is to i'm
nroye the lands. Some OF them would
buy, and the rest will 60 back and tell
their friends that we are here and want
them IL they are good energetic people
with some capital. When our iection Is
known there will be q chance 70 sell II q
part of our land and the proceeds may
be applied to improving the remainder.
Rnt there is no room for argument in
this question. All want the road and
vet a few, very very few, believe that we
will ever have one. Well.if this company
fools us we will begin 60 feel that way
oursely 6, aud prepare for sand in sum
mer and mud ia winter the remainder OF
our lives.
Mr.. Bob Scott, OF the Post Office De.
partment OF Norfolk, Is visiting Stra ".
berry Hill. the home OF his childhood
and meeting his many relatives and
friends here.
Mr.. e W. Eubsnk leaves today Tor q
protracted visit TO the Eastern Shore q
I Virginia.
Rev. John 4. T.. Hundley left Friday
for Norfolk Go oil his church appoint