The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-03-29
TINE FOR ACTION.

uOiNluE duu pui iliS hNtS = tN0N INV
are and have been for some time in
deplorably muddy and slushy cOndi-
ton. making travel almost impOs-
slble, and even granting it possible,
causing a sad waste of time and a
terrible wear and tear ON all kinds OF
vehicles. Discussion will never mend
the roads. but there is one thing
which will give us better ones and
that thing is money, accompanied
by a proper expenditure OF same.
Why our country friends are con-
tent to put up with stateoi things
With depreciates the value OF their
property not less than twenty-five
per cent. which causes them no end
of inconvenience. discomfort and loss
of time and incalculable expense, we
are unable to say, but these things
must necessarily continue SO long as
Virginia counties think OF nothing
else than keeping ont OF debt. The
theory is all right, but the result Is
disastrous. With all possible defer
ence for the opinion OF Others We sub
init that a wise man will not hest
tate to assume a debt 10y borrowing
money ii he sees a chance to invest
the money in way which will bring
him a handsome profit on the invest
ment over and above the interest he
must pay for the loan Our cOun
ties occupy identically this position.
They can never have good roads I'M
Ill they borrow the money TO fix
them and they can never increase
their property values untilthev have
good roads. Let each county issue
bonds sufficient to realize a sum nee
eSsary for the building OF modern
roads, and we venture the assertion
that the large increase in the value
of property and the tremendous saw
ING of time and expense TO the peo-
ole and other benefits which will flow
directly from the improvement will
overbalance the cost OF the loan !
Let our counties hereabOut take this |
matter under consideration and then |
ii the suggestion is deemed a proper |
one let them act on it at once, call /
ing on the State, under the provis |
ions OF one OF the new road bills. for
such help in the way OF convict labor |
as is thought necessary. This ques-
ton is a most important one TO our
people.
Mayor Mccarthy explains the fool
ish part OF his recent speech in refer
ence to the two flags as a "pasSine
remark, a piece of fun. This may
have been to him at the time funny,
but it has gone over thecountry with
electric speed. and the comments on
it are general and severe. 1t has
brought upon Richmond. the capital
of the Confederacy. criticisms she
does not deserve. In addition, the
State to some extent is held respon-
sible for the mayor 5 utterauces, and
he is called upon to retract what he
has said, or Richmond must condemn
them. if some OF the Northern States
Join in our jamestown celebration.
We hope this will all be met and
Quoted down by the plain and full
explanation Of the mayor, who
claims to be an American OF the
Americans-loyal to the core.
From the published list OF musical
instruments handed in for taxation
we are able to announce that Stat
ford in point OF numbers is far and
away ahead OF Spotsylvania. Ac-
cording to the report there are 127
in Stafford listed for taxation and
o. in Spotsylvania. When it comes
to watches, however, there are 344
in Spotsylvania and only 80 in
Stafford, so that the former county
if not so musical can at least boast
that it keeps up with the time(s) |
better. King George comes in with
$50 watches and ia musical instru-
ments. Os course the list as to
watches does not represent all many
of the counties, as it is generally sup
posed that these are favOrite articles
on which to secure a loan from that
convenient fellow, known in common
parlance as Uncle.
More OF the friendly tribes OF our
newly acquired islands have shown
how treacherous they are, and how
murderous they can be when they |
have the opportunity. A number Of
Pulajanes came up with party OF
Americans the other day and desired |
to have their photographs. When
the Americans got into line and |
while the camera was being adjusted,
the Pulajanes commenced firing
upon them. Every American that
was killed under those circumstances
was cold blOOded murder, for which
the guilty parties should be pun
ished.
A huge monster is reported to be
destroying fishing nets in the waters