The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-11-20
AS TO ROADS
A Railroad For spOtsyhanIa Advocated.
McHenry. Va Nov. lG. 1905.

McHenry. Va Nov. lG. 1906.
To The Free Lance.
see a number Of letters in your paper
i'm regard To betterment and improN"
meut of the public roads of Spotsylvanh
county by bonding the county To pay for
same Why Because she IL now oul oi
debt, As citizen am proud 10 know
We are ont of debt once more. Why
bond the county now before she can get
a good breath of freedom am afraid
il would be- some time before size dared
breath again. for possibly this debt
would be- upon her many years oi
cour-,,. | wish for good roads ~ much a.
any citizcn OF old Spotsylynnla, hut
not M the expense of those who arr not
To ~, benefited. I'm not in favor OF bond
ing the county for S2juOO or S1O-OOo
10 build possibly twenty five or thTty
miles of good road 200 one end oi the
county. probably between SpotSNlNania
&. II aud Fredericksburg aud Chaucel-
louisville and Fredericksburg. ! hat would
benefit only about tenth of the pcn-
ole of Sputsylyauia. when the whole
county must be- taxed to pay Tor lt,
while those citiz.us who live away from
the center of the county towards the
Louisa or Orange line would scarely be-
benefited at all. Ii they can drag "a load
through the mud twenty frr or thirty
miles 10 get To "a good road they could
easily drag il the balance OF the way.
Some oi our citizens SAY draw two loads
to the good roads then double the loa
What might happen tO our first load
while We were going for the second
Then finish our trip 10 the city, possibly
about the third day. For We who live
twenty-five miles or more this would
be more expensive than the old way.
Now. If the county il going To build a
good road let her build 100 or 10 miles
to benefit all the citizens possible. A. all
must pav this debt let Us all sharr ~
eouallv a. possible. II is my opinion
that a short piece of road not henciittlng
one tenth of the citiltns, would, when
rui to a vote. be- voted down 10 To ].
While ON the other hand ! hollrve a
railroad would boz favored 10 To ! when
nut 10 "a vote say "A railroad nom
Frederick ~hurg or some point along the
=. f.. AP. Il. Il - the sulphur mines m
I,ouisa county. have been told the
supervisors of Louisa county are ready
10 meet us at the river. \ railroad would
be- "A permanent benefit To all or most oi
the people of our county, as they could
haul their farm produce, grain. lumber,
wood. ties. etc. ont 10 stations on the
railroad to ship AT OBe-half oi cost. just
think what all of our wasted fruits veg
etahles and wood which II marketed
would mean dollars 10 the farmers. II a
railroad could be- gotten so ~ - be- able
10 ship our produce il would pay Tor IT.
self i'm 10 wears or less. while "a county
road would not pay the debit, hut the
money must be raised 10y taxation. !
believe this railroad would meet the ap-
prOyal OF almost every citizen oi the
county. The most encouraging part
about the railroad is ii would be paying
for itself every day. while the good road
would only be- an accommodation and
not paving for itself, but the taxation oi
the people would pay for the road. ct
us consider the equal interest OF our lei
loW-citizens aud not heavily tax those
who cannot derive benefit ior the good Of
only a small portion of the population.
lust think Of this and ask yourselves
who would b. benefited How would
YOU like 10 be- thus dealt with our
people say we are Oyer-taxed now. ]
don't want any heavier taxation. Now,
il weget a railroad We know where the
income il with which 10 pay this debt
The value OF our land will bcincreased,
farms will b. mOrr in demand on ac-
count OF the railroad being more accessi-
ble in so many ways, and the county
aud its people would reap its benefits.
4 public road would not increase the
value near 30 much. have been inform
cd some who have had their money
invested in county bonds, which are now
taken in. are anxious 10 relOan. This is
why they are anxious for road. Why
not have a rairood and lend all the
money YOU choose? | believe, should the
county decide to build a railroad, the
money could be easily raised, very much
easier am sure than for q public road.
When all points are properly considered
no better property could any county
possess than railroad. Let " ask our
selves which would be better, a railroad.
which il an income every day, or a pub
lie road. which means taxation and no
incOme'
NJ. II. Dickinson.