The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-28
"A Tidewater Wilderness"

A correspondent of the New York Times enters
protest to an article recently appearing in that news
paper describing the region around Washington
birth place. Il seems that the New York paper
followed the description given by the Boston Trans
zcript and called it tho wilderness OF Tidewatcr. Va
The Times critic formerly resided in that part of
Virginia and denies Indignantly that it is a wilder
ness. On the contrary he says, it is one of America $
garden spots and one OF the best truck farming
sections in the east.
That the eight counties mentioned are without a
railway of any kind he admits. but he insists that
the only reason this section has none is because it
needs none, since II has "a steamer every day to
Baltimore or Washington during all the busy part
@uf the year" As for the disappearance of the sail
boats OF other days. 10 which the Boston man
nlournflly referred, that's nothing in proof Of the
wilderness theory, it seems, since motor boats have
largely replaced The sailboats. In conclusion
the impatient Nirginian offers - bct-amount not
stated-the Bestonian that he : doesn't live half as
well as does the average man OF the section referred
to"
The critic is dead right. The New York editor
and the Boston editor do not know what they are
talking about. They do not even know what Tidewater
Virginia is. The assumption that it is all contained
III eight counties around Washington's birth place
makes The Nirginian laugh. But the ection sre-
ferred 10 is a part Of Tidewater Virginia and is all
that It's defender claims for it. 1t is indeed a
garden spot Il is indeed, as Mcdonald Lee
calls it, Gods country. Ii has lands and streams
that produce the choicest things OF nature, each
after its kind. True. it has no railroads. but that
Il its chief charm. II is virgin country and has not
been contaminated by steel rail- innovations. Its
people have kept their blood. as well as their hearts.
pure, They know who their grandfathers were, and
their traditions have been preserved. The best of
the old-time Virginia is still there. 1t seems a pity
70 disturb such a glorious land. But progress has
no respect for sentiment. This land is SO rich that
zTalrpads cannot be kept out much longer. 1t is
capable OF sustaining a population as great as is
in all the rest OF Virginia. 1t is surpris-
Ing that the State has paid so little attention to
The sertion 1t is surprising that the State does
mot concern herself more in its Development. But
the railroads viii get in by and by. There have been
many projects for a line Of road from Washington
40 Chesapeake Bay. But that involves the crossing
R0i three rivers that are wide and deep and there is
much Swampy country to traverse. The PROPOSE
non Is ~simplii:ed. however, by the electric railway
sMhen Mr.. Gould shall have completed his electric
MNne between Richmond and Washington. il will be
IN easy matter 30 run a line from Fredericksburo
&MeissTe a great hsdro-electric power has been de-
FNEiOTed, down once or other OF two peninsulas to deen
zFater. The one route would be down the peninsula
5Aetween the Rappahannock and York rivers to
3&lDneester Point, the other down the peninsula be-
&Fsen the York and James rivers tc Newport News.
KYorktoNaa
IN "A an attractive proposition. It would give a
1art line between Washington. and Norfolk. and
S4ald open up a splendid country to Richmond
c3sch ~ nsw compelled to trade with Baltimore.
"a MH&EA MMM