The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-01-20
DEMAND FOR A DAY BOAT
ON UPPER RAPPAHANN0Ck


To The Free Lance.
Altho there have been several unsuc-
cessful attempts TO establish local
day boat on the upper Rappahannock,
the want is still untitled, while the need
is still as urgent and the people will
never be satisfied until they get what
is so much needed to develop this sec
ton. 1t is hardly necessary to relter-
rate the deterrent conditions that we
have to contend with in getting to and
back from Fredericksburg, as they are
but too familiar to everyone on the
river The question is: In these pro-
gressive times cannot some plan, some
arrangement, some schedule be ar
ranged to suit the people on the river,
the people of Fredericksburg and the
Steamboat Co. at one and the same
time? We think there can be. The
trouble, we believe, about the river boats
heretofore tried, they went too TAR,
they undertook too much. The presen1
schedule gives us plenty of boats for
the business on the river and doubtless
the Steamboat Co. is spending money
uselessly in furnishing three boats a
week each way, but does it suit the
people? Does the present schedule suit
anyone on the upper river? We be-
lieve the people would be far better
served to curtail the service of the large
boats TO two instead of three and have
these two supplemented with small,
neat, speedy boat, not expensive to be-
gin with, and not expensive TO run, to
ply between Tappahannock and Fred
ericksburg on some such tentative
schedule as follows: Leave Fredericks-
burg at IL a. m. Monday, arriving at
Tappahannock at 6 p. m, returning
Tuesday leaving Tappahannock at a.
m, arriving at Fredericksburg at 2 p.
m, and so continuing through the week.
This would give a service altogether IN
the day. Ii would enable people to
have hours in p. m. and 4 hours in a.
m. TO shop in fredericksburg and they
could leave home at reasonable hours
and return next day at reasonable
hours. The people below Tappahan-
mock say they have all the service they
need and we cannot blame and don't
blame the Steamboat Co. for the wholly
unsatisfactory hours the schedule gives
us. They have long route to make
and it is impossible to run so as to suit
the whole river with large boats. So
far as freight is concerned the incon-
venience is not 80 great, but for pas
sengers the hours are inhuman. almost
always in the night going up and at all
hours Of the night and frequently all
night. arriving in Fredericksburg next
a. M, and returning laying over at
Leedstown all night, and from there to
Tappahannock, getting off before day
in the morning. Can you expect peo-
pie to come to Fredericksburg to shop,
when they have TO get up IN the middle
Of the night or set up all night waiting
for boat to do so? Can you expect
people to come TO a section TO live
where such service is given them? We
do not wish TO have the Steamboat
Co. give US something for nothing.
But we believe that a small boat, just
large enough to carry buggy and
horse or two, with a few state rooms
in case of persons taken sick on boat,
a boat that could be run with one set of
officers on the hours mentioned above,
a boat easy to handle, that would stop
at any private wharf on being tagged
to take on a passenger. We believe
such a boat could be run for half of
what large boat would cost to run
and if one Of the large boats were taken
off we would get two trips a week each
way with the small boat for same ex-
penditure. and the Steamboat Co.
would only be at the extra expense for
one additional trip a week for the small
boat. The people would be in touch
with the world and could get to Fred
ericksburg and the railroads in the day
time at reasonable hours and IN less
than half the time it now takes, and
besides have plenty Of time to shop
and attend 10 business. Are these ad-
vantages to be lightly overlooked and
disregarded? IL would surely be a good
thing for the people on the river and
for Fredericksburg and We believe also
for the Steamboat Co.. for whatever
develops the country along through
which they run must inevitably bene-
fit them.
Look how the lower river section has
gone forward with good service. Must
our section be held back for want OF
convenient access to the world? Al
ready the signs point to a determine
ton to gain a speedy outlet and sooner
or later way will come. 1t is certain
" more suitable, more reasonable to
get it from the present Steamboat Co.
than from outsiders, and we believe if
properly represented to them they can
and will give US a small day boat and
supply this long-felt want to a long
suffering people. Let's make the effort.
Robert Beverley.
Caret, Va, Jan. 18th, 1910