The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-07-19
NORTHERN NECK R. R.
Plan Submittedto Citizens OF West.
moreIand and Richmond
Counties.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED, ETC., ETC.

In response to the invitation issued last
week TO the people Of Westmoreland
and Richmond counties to attend a
meeting to be held at this place on
Tuesday of this week in the interest of
project to build a railroad through
this section of Virginia from some
point on the c. & o. K. X. to the Ches-
apeake bay, some fifty or more public
spirited and representative citizens as
sembled in the courthouse here on that
day. The meeting was called to order
by the Hon. w. A. Jones, who, after a
few Introductory remarks, introduced
Mr.. Charming NJ. Ward. who explained
at some length the nature Of project
entertained by certain railroad capt.
talists with whom he is associated for
the construction of railroad through
this section.
Mr.. Ward, who is a native of this
county, has for many years been active
" engaged in the construction of rail-
roads in the South and West, and is
now in the employ of the great Atche-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
Company, and enjoys the confidence and
friendship Of President Ripley of that
great railroad system. He also has
other important business connections
and is well and favorably known in the
railroad world. He presented his views
to the meeting very clearly and i'm
pressed all who heard him not only
with the practicability and feasibility
Of his plans, but also with his sincerity
and good faith. and his ability to build
the road in the event of their accept
ance by the people of the section
through which it will pass if construct
ed. Briefly stated his proposition is to
provide the capital and build and equip
a steam road from some point on the
c. & o. railroad in the county of Han
over, between Hanover c. II. and
boswell. to the Rappahannock river at
across the Rappahannock and down the
Northern Neck to some convenient and
suitable point on the Great Wicomico
River or the Chesapeake bay.
Mr.. Ward stated that if the land
owners along this proposed route would
contribute the comparatively small sum
of fifty thousand dollars and donate the
necessary rights Of way, the money to
be paid only after the road had been
built and put into operation, that he
and his associates would build it within
two years at most. He expressed the
opinion that an assessment of % cents
an acre upon all the land lying within
five miles of the road would provide a
sum considerably larger than the
$50, 900 asked and he pointed out the
fact that in consideration Of the in
creased value of all these lands such a
contribution would be a mere bagatelle.
The meeting was most favorably i'm
pressed with Mr.. Wards proposition
and the opinion was universal that it
was an extremely fair and feasible one.
A committee upon organization, with
Mr.. J. w. Chinn as chairman, was APP
pointed and instructed TO select a com
mittee on Ways and Means composed
of 20 members. This committee was
later selected:
j. N. Wright, S. B. Walker, W. c.
Snow, S. B. Hardwick, T. NJ. Arrest,
w. NJ. Edwards, w. T. Mayo, Robt.
Murphy. T. d. Marks, A. NJ. Nash, r.
c. Wexford, j. w. Chinn. w. j. De
lano, J. ID. Garland, G. w. Allison, w.
r. Davis, DR.. B. A. Middleton, F. c.
Booker, A. c. McKenney,J. W. Welch.
Northern Neck News.