The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-12-03
SP0TSYLvANIA
A Trip Through a Portion Of the county-Saw
Nils Closing Down TempOa alIy-ttc.

ilDtA l1OuHt, ANONs -'Ahs
Having occasion recently TO visit the
Y rene northern rLd Ol this county, We
sci forth at noon Friday for the journey
OF , mics Tie condition of roads Tor
ul,It ui the distance 20 AlIioh being fair,
our steed stepped along very well; how
rSer, after tu. ming north towards
CnabceilOtsy II Was ap. p.ailiug, the
mudhOles gcuefally briug IN between the
-pace- where poles were broken. A We
MeuCed our way from eide To side Oi
the al iesaid road, or place where IL
sh old be, We decided it would be- im-
possible 10 belong To the POpulls faction,
', tao be!ieve IN kevplng IN the middle OF
the r, al policy. To add to the condition
nothing but wOOds on either side, not
house or man 10 b- seeu, or anything To
break the III lnUtOny, until We saw the
STONE marking tue spot here Lee and
Jackson blyOuaced IN 1868. We con
tnued on 10 what has been "a IL aRnihcent
villa, now called Chancellorsville, with
every surrounding indicating decline and
destruction by the elements.
Continuing On We entered upon i1rm
lands with neat houses and Outbuildiugs,
whole tracts covered with stumps giving
evidence If the owners having gone into
the middle aud cut through right and lett
and ate we'll rewarded Tor their toll aud
prlvation, Incomes from these small hold
logs Of less than 100 acres fr,quently, II
not qeneraliy, being much greater than
from the older we'll established tracts,
where the expenses OF machinery, and q
life freer from self denial. absorb not only
dol 20 ha
CURED in their maintenance.
We now reach Mr.. Jacobs saw mill
plant. quite a village of itself, every need
d building seeming to De there, as res
idence for three years saving on very
large tract Of timber, the contract bav-
ing about expired by limitation. Leav-
ing this we again see cleared farms, aud
men AT work and a good road, no saw
mill teams hauling over it. Then we
reached Ely's Ford, where an iron bridge
spans the river proper, but not hall a.
much as il needed TO cross the flats on
either eide. making a very steep ap-
proaeh 10 the SpOtsy lvania end, and al.
end, the rain has washed this bank 50
il had 70 be strengthened by palisades OF
logs IL is to be hop the approach will
I've heightened soon 40 there will be no in-
terruptiOn of travel on this important
thoroughfare To Culpeper and other
points. We now find ourselves of the
track. but a friend il 10 place and we fol
low him. retracing our steps Tor hall
mile, reaching our destinationin time Tor
supper and cordial welcome is extend
ed US The elements gave some hope Tor
bright day next morning and we drove
over to another hOspitabe home where
we dined By this time steady rain de-
veloped, but our host was equal TO the
emergency aud finding we could not be
persuaded 70 remain longer provided a
colored guide to direct US over nearer
and better road, saving several miles oil
driving. without whom we should never
have succeeded in getting through to
Brooks Crossing on the Narrow Gauge,
as we never felt easy until we arrived
there Ii was truly wandering In the
Wilderness" nothing but woods. tor
tuous road. almost hidden by leaves,
winding hither and thither seemingly Tor
miles " hen we came TO cleared farm and
passing through two gates our guide gave
us minute directions, folio wing which We
crossed several well Travelled roads, were
finally confronted by another opening,
then again plunged into the wooded
depths, continuing this until we finally
reached the railroad, the steady drip
ping of rain adding dreariness to the
scene; so we were truly like a pelican In
the Wilderness throughout this part oil
our trip. Now we were on eawmill
tracks again and labOriously made our
way home, the last mile OF which was In
such darkness the sagacity OF our horse
alone gave security against mishaps.
Owing to the dullness OF the lumber
market the greater number OF the saw
mills in this county will be closed by or
before Xmas.
The mild weather up to this time, with
seasonable showers, has been very fav-
orable for late grain and grass, giving
them better roots to Withstand such
weather as we are likely to have later
on.
We are pleated to notice the agitation
OF the question OF furnishing wood to
the public schools. ready prepared for
stove and wood house built to store 1t.
The idea Of large boys (when there are
anvil having to spend either their play
time or the short season daily allotted
for study and short terms OF few
months for this work Is simply uDreason-
able. az there is an incidental fund 10
pay janitors for sweeping school houses
and flr preparing fuel, and II thie is not
sufficient, hen few cents more OF taxes
would give us not only this benefit, but
extend our school term and pay teachers
a living salary so they may be better
equipped for this service. At present
rete the teacher paying board gets only
about two-thirds OF the amount PAID
day laborers at the sawmills In cash, and
they are boarded. Think OF this, con-
trast situations OF compensation be-
tween mental labor and physical Drawn
aud see whether or not we are educating
the rising generations, or like the road
service, just patching, no material
progress in either line, yet spending the
money. The trite saying holds just as
good today as ever, THAT wise people
change often, Others never" Now. to
which class do we belong2 Thanks
giving Day has passed with the setting
sun. Shall we abandon it now, or with
renewed hope and confidence continue
In remembrance of what we have had
and grow stronger and better in the
coming years?
Enterprise.