The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-19
w aterPo Abundant.
Railw ayr ABILITIES, Edu-
cational Advantages.
BANKS, BANKERS,
CHURCHES
Big Farming Country, Backing
Up a Good Manufacturing
'Town-Ancient History Plen-
tiful-Twentieth Century
Story More to the
Point.
Bf FRANK S. wOODSON,
Industrial Editor.


Industrial Editor.
Fredericksburg. Va. March ls-The
good old town from which am now
writing has history, great deal OF
it--history that runs away back yen
der to the time of George Washington
and from the time of that fine old SOL
der, on up to Lee and Jackson, and
the big things that were done here
in the sixties. The town delights in
this history, and surely it is a good
thing to delight in. I really wish
L had time to delve into the old re-
cords and tell what 1 could find from
them. but l have not that time. be-
cause l am here to talk about twenti-
eth century matters and the things or
to-day. 1t is not necessary for me to
delve. for are not these things told 81
In the book Of chronicles and all thu
other books and newspaper articles
that have been written under a Fred
erickshurg date line for the past forty
or nifty years? Yea, verify Let the
chronicles tell the ancient history.
would rather talk about things OF the
present time. Indeed. Fredercksburs
Is rich in ancient lore and cemeteries
and history and old churches and some
old folks that have been sleepy ana
tired for third Of a century or more
but 1t is richer still in some up-to
date and twentieth century history y
and this is the thing that came here
to find out about and to write about
when did find 1t.
The Town Wakes Up. 5.
Fredericksburg is we'll located FOR
commercial development, being at tia
head of high water In the Rappahan-l
mock River, and where the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railway
makes It's dividing point between tho
national and State capitals. 1t is In
position to command and demand big
things from the railway and the steam
boat lines. and recently the wIdeawaka
business folks Of the town have been
demanding their rights and getting
them, too. Maybe 1t took Fred ericks-
burg long time to realize Its ad-
Vantaseous position and TO acquire the
nerve TO demand its rights, but finally
1t did come to a realization OF Its
power, and when 1t demanded its rights
1t got them. and II it had not had
strong Business Mems Association It
would not have gotten them. "A
FOR q long time the railway line
that rushes through the city disre.
Earded the people. but the wideawake
Business Mems Association or Board
or Trade got busy q few years ago, and
It has brought the railway TO terms
It is not necessary TO go into Details
Advantages Tint Talk
1t is sufficient TO say that within tha
Past Few months now passenger sta
tion that cost good deal OF money,
and is an ornament to the city, has
been erected and a freight depot has
also been put up. lss
Twenty four passenger trains run
through the city. and they all ston
here and discharge mail and passen-
Sers thus giving fredericksburg bst-t
ter mail facilities than any town on
the map Of Virginia. The post Office,
and by the way. the government has
recognized Fredericks burg's Importance
and erected here an up-to date most
office building, the like Of which bun
few towns In Virginia enjoys-has In,
creased Its business 100 per cent. in
two years. n
All of the telegraph and telephons
lines going north and south have "a
come through Fredericksburg. ana
they all find a good business station
here. The result Is that no town in
the State has better telegraph and tel
ephone facilities than has this town
| mean through facilities. Then, too,
there Is country telephone system
with central office here that touches
all of the rural districts that
into not less than a dozen counties.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is, geographically. well
situated. man can stand on Marya
Heights and look into at least g. haIr
dozen counties. All Of these are rich
counties that In one way and another
pay tribute to the town. In these coun-
ties the best OF products known ia
Virginia farm lands are grown Wheat.
corn. oats rye. tobacco. all of tha
grasses. including alfalfa. grow to Per.
lection. and these things are marketed
In one way and another in Freder-
icksburg. AZ
Good Roads and Development.
Then, too. the finest of timber landu
are In sight of the town. Naturally.
Fredericksburg has become one Of tina
finest timber markets In the state,
The farm lands within cIrcla az
ten miles around tho town are among
the best in the State and I am told
mat they sell on an average for So5
per acre. Right close to Frederjcks-
burg, where good roads and other
advantages cut figure, tho prices
ior rich lands are above the average
some OF the Rappahannocl. Valley
grounds close to town bringing az
| much as SIS per acre. Within the past
| i've years real estate values have
| increased in and about Fredericksburs 6
| and that is due to the fact that there
| has been wonderful Industrial develop
! ment hcreahouts In that time Farmsr.&
have come In from the West. tbs PEG. q.
pie have begun to build good roads In 1
| Spo tsyivania and Stafford counties, ana
/ many other stunts have been done ia
| increase values. The county Of Spotsyl. 5
lvania not many months ago voted
bonds to tho amount OF 100000 70
make good roads in the county centrins4
at Frederick shurE. So far. eight miles
! of these roads have been built, and
! they are or the sand clay blend order
! costing a trihe more than $4,000 to 4
| the mile. Forty miles more are to be
L .t.y. - 80 ~ 80