The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-15
OFFICERS INSPECT
A., {. & p. RAILROAD |. ]
State Officers and Proxies Join
President White OH Annual
Trip.
CONTRAST WITH OLD DAYS

CONTRAST WITH OLD DAYS
officers Of the company State prox-
les and State officials made the annual
inspection trip over the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railway
yesterday, returning to the city at 6
O'Clock III the afternoon with an en-
cellent impression as to the condition
OF the property.
Though he had been over the line
on many trips. 1t was the first annual
inspection during the administration
of President William Fl. White who
invited about fifty prominent citizens.
The party left here In special train
at . A. NJ. Among those who made.
the trip were Lleutenant-Governo Ell
tyson, State Treasurer Harmon Mr..
f. T. D. Myers. Jr.. Mr.. Frederick w.
Scott. Colonel iBuford. Messrs Purcell,
Lee. Moore, Wexford. and many others.
Mr.. Tyler. of Ashland, and Colonel
Cole. OF Fredericksburg. Joined the
party on the way.
stations Inspected.
There Is no better stretch OF double
track In the South than on the Rich
mond- Washington line. The visitors
examined 1t closely. They, found good
ballast, which had come from the pit.
near Fredericksburg. and which had
been put down in such way az to en-.
able passenger trains to move at the
rate OF mile minute without Jars
or Jolts. Moreover, the gravel has
practically eliminated all evidence OF
dust. At boswell the train was stopped
and the marty foI
ton which is being erected by the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac and the Chesapeake and Ohio Com
panles. At Milford and Fredericks-
burS there was another inspection OF
the roads properties at those points.
All Grades Removed.
The visitors spent some time at
Quantico which is the northern ter
minus OF the Richmond, fredericksburg
the baggage car: From Quantico the
special ran to Neabsco Creek. on the
Washington Southern. ten miles away,
to examine the last Of the double track
e 9 mile gap there. removing the
final grade. With this out OF the way
the company has a perfect line and
grade. the result Of which is that the
operation of trains is quicker. with no
expressed the utmost satisfaction with
the condition OF. the road. declaring 1t
T Sy faT the If finest piece Of track in
pressions were highly gratifying to the
officials. Captain Rice. the roadmaster,
was personally commended for his ex
cellent work; and it was admitted by
olt is. OF the company and visitors
alike that he was entitled to full
credit for his achievements.
Story OF Former Hardshipa.
Apropos of this inspection trip the
report mro q OF pio journey from Fred ricks-
S Sy CAPTAIN tai, Basil Hall: Of the Roya:
ing The folloW sin Is tahes T fra
his volume OF Travels in North Amer
lea In thu. Year 1S27-1S2s.' and pub
lished In the city OF Edinburgh in 1899.
On the 31st dav of January. 1928,
We left Washington. and Gid d down
the muddy Potomac in the steamboat.
cutting our way through. myriads OF
It'll our paddles set them UP. When
lon the wing their color appeared to
De brownish whit. and thence their
maj HAS has been taken. These birds
In. America. though quite unlike the
wild duck of other countries, their
| &, sh resembling more that of hare
| than anything else. both in taste and
L
| err flavor.
I'VE wished to have called at Mount
Vernon; formerly the residence Of Gem
eeral Wilmington. but these in xora-
trip. we landed at some scattered
houses In the Potomac Creek, and We're
conveyed from thence in stage coaches
cut to pieces BY carriage wheels and
torrents OF rain. ANY other vehicle
than a stout American stage must
have been shaken to atoms.
I'VE reached fredericksburg in good
time to walk round that pretty little
town. 1t was really comfortable to get
! into a place where the eye could rest
here and there on a house above a
year old, or which did not look as If
liz We're just. out of the carnertcr'
shop. absolutely saw in Fredericks-
burg two houses with some greer moss
upon the roof. The streets, too. We're
lcomnleted. and the dwellings of the
irhabitants. within gunshot Of one an
other. which was soclab1e after Wash.
lfngton.
Expense of Travel Heavy.
Our intention was to have taken
an extra next day to Richmond. the
capital of Virginia. but as no car.
obliged to take places in the regular
stage. which was appointed to start
Lat 2 in the morning. We looked very
blank upon hearing OF this early hour.
but the obliging. stage proprietor. af-
ter considering the matter. said: Well.
LII it be SO disagreeable TO the ladi !
Ito start at 2, suppose we make it n.
lOnly mind, 1t will be late before you
get to Richmond, as the distance is
| siStv-siX miles,
1.-THE expense OF travelling in the
stage amounted to IS for each person.
or about pence Il mile, meals not in
tcluded. From Washington to Freder-
icksburg, sixty miles Of which We're
| by steam and nine by land, the
eXpense for the whole of our party
was Sl3.75.S or about CT each, which
is very nearly 3H pence mile; but
this included the cost OF substantial
| breakfast and dinner.
I'VE We're up next morning by half
| past 4, and | was sorry to find that
1.-THE prediction of II weather-wise look
ing gentleman of the day before had
iproved true, had asked him what he