The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-09-25
PLEA FOR
GOOD ROADS
Poor Highways a Drawback to
SpOtsyIvania.
ADVISES BORROWING MONEY AND ADoPIIEl
MODERN METHODS

Spotsylvania, Va, Sept 2l, 1900.
To The Free Lance.
II has been the lot of this writer durin
the summer To visit many points "l II
terest i'm Virginia and sister States. B
can never forget old Spotsylvama eoun
~. which was carved ont OF parts ot r.
sex. King William and King and 'lue@
counties. founded in l12O aud named J.
honor oi her distinguished citizen, Allen
ander Spotswood. colonial governor e
Virginia In this county during the lat
war between the North and the Soutl
many of it's hardest fought aud hloOdiesl
battles took place. and although lei
hattle-scarreA since those trying time
the energy of her SONS nnd airdaught"r
have restored. and even more than r.
stored. the old cuunty's fortunes. ana 81
every hand the eye meets evidences q
advancement and thrift One drawhac'
alone prevents this county from tahinl
its place with the hest and richest eouh
ties of the state will hardly mentl"i
what this is. for if you have tas have
done) travelled its roads you can under
stand and know. such roads Ncll m
ing a SpOtsylvanlan, one who loves hrI
people aud the traditions aud history o.
This grand and glorious old county. J.
pripves my very soul to see many othei
localities. not So famous rs ours, gong
right ahead with road Improvement
the result being that these localities ar
getting the benefit oi sales To person
seeking homes. and their land values ~,
increased four fold.
Some SAY we cannot build roads be
cause We are poor and have not tn
money IN hand with which to do So Ad
hitting that we have not the money u
hand. flor am not willing yet 20 admit
povertvl il there any probability that We
will get thcmoney in hand under present
methods To improve our roads The an
swer il plain. Then what are we 10 do
Adopt the methods used 10y every cltA
town and many counties of tins anc
other States. borrow the money Tor o
long period at "a very low rate OF inter
est. spend the money indiclously, accord
ing u modern methods, IN permanent
road improvements. the present genera
ton will nay its share of the debt, ENJOY
its share of the benefits. and each sue
cessive generation IN turn viii do Ike
wise. until the sinking fund will have ac-
cumulated and wiped out the principal
of the debt. Then man and beast VIII
sing the praises of good roads
Ii appears that | hear voice from
some parts of the county which saws,
Young man. you had better keep quiet
on this question Of borrowing money e.
IN III. =, nil la,,l- vt..t flaepuufN 90
certainly don't want To see the dear
old county hurt financially. but 1t We ar,
to have a funeral Id greatly prefer hav-
ing il with good roads than have our
future buried in mud. Another voice
SAYS. Where DO you propose first Z"
build permanent roads" would say.
where they are most needed. with mo- LET
up until our county has improved beg
principal thor0ughiarcs.
Good roads wherever built have 50 M
creased the values OF real estate as that
the owners could easily have given one.
half of their holdings for this purpose
the remaining half, with good roads. he-
ing worth ~ much ~ the whole.
Fredericksburg should take lively no.
terest in this matter. for her future largely
depends upon tie development ana
prosperity of the adjoining counties. for
Just in proportion rs they prosper aud
advance will the business OF the town in
crease.
have no axe to grind in this matter.
but feeling n deep and abiding interest in
the future of the locality in which live.
seeing it, needs, | appeal unto her clti-
zens to Giabe this matter OF road in
proyement a live issue and cease not TO
agitate it until Won have put into opera
ton the practical methods for having
good roads
Shall later write You ON this subject.
comparing conditions with other coun-
tics which hAxe built roads