The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-01-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES PROSPERITY

so auSplclOuS Tor the city Oh tISu l.
icksburg. We make this statement
without fear of contradiction, be-
cluse on all sides the evidences OF
prosperity and progress bear out
our boast. fredericksburg has eX-
perienced that best OF all good
things, a steady, substantial growth,
uatil today the city is rapidly az
preaching the dignity OF a city OF
the second class. i. e., one whose pop
ulation is ten thousand or more
We are convinced that we will have
reached this point by the time the
next census is taken. From a man
ufacturing standpoint Frederlcks-
burg is far and away ahead or any
city of its size in the State. and ITS
future from this point OF view Is
bright. Our plantsgiveemployment
to Il large number OF men and VIC
men, and the employment Is perma-
nent. Our mills and manufactures
shave prospered in the past twelve
months, and our people have pros
pered with them. There has been a
splendid improvement in the build
INCLINE and many new dwellings have
gone up in all parts OF thetown. The
greatest municipal improvements
have been the erection of a splendid
Gas plant and the construction OF a
new reservoir. For the twelve
months just begun let us resolve TO.
work in harmony for the best inter
ests of Fredericksburg Let there he
no backward step, no retrograde
movement, but with faces set to-
wards the front let us remember the
example of the little drummer boy,
who in the field OF battle said to the
Emperor Napoleon, Sire. You never
taught me how to beat a retreat.
THE TAN REDUCTION NATTER
The proposition to reduce State
taxation is meeting with opposition
from some of the most influential
newspapers in the State andwe hope
to see continued agitation OF this OPP
position, unless it can be conclusive
" shown that such a reduction Is
wise. The Richmond News-Leader
says:
Referring to the proposition re-
Gently thrown out by some member
of the legislature that the body at
it's coming session reduce state
taxes, the Danville Register SAYS 1t
is unaware OF any popular senti-
ment iu favor of that action and en-
dorses the view of The Fredericks-
burg Free Lance that lit is far more
important to have money to begin
and continue a permanent system OF
road building than to lower the rate
of taxation ) cents Then our Fred
ericksburg contemporary recalls
that the new ADMINISTRATION will 60
into power "under distinct promises
to inaugurate schemes OF public inn
provement, " which promises relate
specifically to roads and schools.
True: and for the legislature 70 run
the risk of weakening ability to iul-
fill the obligation would be for the
Democratic party to break faith
with the people. The party is com
mitted to the policy of better roads
and better schools and reduction OF
taxation. At the expense OF failing
to give them would be both "a pollti-
cal and economic blunder.
The whole matter resolves itself in
to one question, Can the legislature
reduce taxation and at the same
time build roads and erect school
houses?" If all of these things can't
be done, by all means abandon the
reduction scheme and give US better
roads and better schools.
The Alexandria Gazette, a veneer
able and choice exchange, has
reached the one hundred and sixth
year of its existence, having seen the
light OF three centuries. The Ga
zette chronicled the death OF General
Washington on the 18th OF Deem
Der, 1899, being cOtempory with the
Virginia Herald, OF this place, which
was started by Timothy Green, and
went to it's patrons at that date
draped in deep mourning for the
great Washington. With most OF
us, age brings on weak knees and
general decrepitude, but not so with
the Gazette. AS it enters its 107th
year it is bright and newsy as ever
and was uever weakened on any
subject it ever espoused We bow
our kindest regards and wish the
Gazette a prosperous year.
1t it useless to form extravaganza
resolutions for the New Year that
you cannot keep. Form good and
sensible ones, that, if kept, would be
an imnrOVpment on the wear inst
closed, and keep them. The good
book tells us that it is better not to
VOW than to VOW and not performit.
Then let us not raise our standards
so high that we cannot live approx
mately up to them.
1t will be a great slam on Senator
DepeS, of New York, if his own party
in the Legislature should ask his res
..A.o. Al ,,ot ,ro N ro told fbof