Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-05
ENGINEERS At WORK IN
!CHAPPAWAMS|C SWAMP
fredericksburg Free Lance Reporter
Tells Of Conditions Of His
toric Highways,
IaoAD SAFE IN DRY WEATHER..
Wants Fredericksburg Added to
MISUNDERSTANDING Tourists Met on
Road, tho Cars Bearing Names Of
Western States.

Western States.
Recently IL reporter for the Free
Lance at Fredericksburg. in company
S.ith Judge r. n. l.. Chichester. made
yhe trip from Fredcricksburs to Wash
nston and return. and tells OF his OBJ
,ervations OF conditions along Chappn-
Manic Swamp and other places. as fol-
iows:
Leaving Fredericksburg about o:20
a.. ~. we were I'm Alexandra, By ~
o'clock. Tho day was perfect. the
roads dry. tho country beautiful. The
object OF this article Is simply to give
some information about the road.
The improved road extends from
Fredericksburs to Chappawnmsic
Creek. Then the stretch known as
Chappawamstc Swamp begins. 1t Is
really not 80 much OF a swampy sec
lion. except for perhaps half a mile, AS
ta country. almost uninhabited. The
road for distance Of several miles is
full OF ruts and holes. most OF which.
however, can be easily straddleI with
good driving. Al the north end of
what 10 called the swamp stretch arc
TWO bad places. filled with water and
mud, stretching entirely across the
DAD. There la nothing to do hut 10
plunge through. One team. some gravel
and several men could repair these
,wo places In on, day. what Il shane
}at II Is not done. II IL was in Il more
thickly settled community. no doubt
community prid. would prompt som.
OF the residents to do this work. but
1t seems to be nobody's business. since
the whole road I'm that part Of Primo.
william has been neglected by the
authorities and this. with the ru,s and
mud holes. Will probably have TO wait
the completing of the entire highway.
GsverRneat EnHincers at WORK.
But motorists and others can take
heart. We saw a big automobile
labeled United States Department Of
Good Roads. The occupants we're gov
eminent engineers and they were max
Ing surveys OF the swamp link. Stakes
have been driven along the route
marking their work. !, tx presumed
that the work through this link will
begin soon. as IL - understood that
tho money Is in hand. made En- hy APP
preparations Of the United States gov
srnmcnt. the State OF VirSiria, the
District OF Columbia Automobile Aasu-
citation and individuala.
trip through tho Chappawnmsic
stretch can now be made In dry weather
With careful driving. without dif.-
Guilty. In wet weather II Is probably
impossible. dotour can he made o.cr
me road by Missouri Mills III either
diF or wet weather, which cute out
Tho ChappawamsIc link. This il :, COM
try road. unimprcved. but fni.ly good.
II Is advisable to max. this dc,uur
unless the roads are very dry. From a
point where the Chappawans;c swamp
cnds on the north the road is unin.-
proved for probably seven milrs. There
are several rough hills bur good head
way can be made. \ dctou.' adding
several miles to the rout. Is rn.lL,. BE-
f9re reaching bccoQutn by which Z.
very bad stretch is avoided on tie old
telegraph road. TIL. dctour is over :,
road not improved but in good order.
FROM OccoQuan north the road IS On
celient. mostly pcrmancntiy improved.
all the way to Washington.
Leaving Occoquan the road .asses
through large acreage en- which The
hstrict OF Columbia Warehouses; arc
located. This property ~ financed by
the United States government, and is
'-Pt In finc order The grounds have
oten improved and ornaincutcd. CIiv.-
ways built. flower beds planted Civ
ms 2 park-llke appearance. the build
inRs are neat, largo orchards have uc.r
set out and the prisoners are k.3t .!c-
cupted in working on this extensive.
proposition splendid system seems
to be In operation. and il is "A pleasuI.
10 drive through the grounds
Other beauty spots along the rou,.
are seen In crossing the Raprahan-
$ock river. rising 10 the irh;s
above Falmouth passing the section
about Gsrri.onvillc, tn. valley view
near Dumfr.es. the SURROUNDINGS atou,
occoouan and tie approaches TO AlcA
andria.
One 10 impressed in passing DUN
fries with two immense brick build D..
insS' erected in the seventeenth cen
tury. built OF fine English brick. viii,
white stone trimmings. now practically
asandoned and crumbling in ruins 4,
Occoquan there are examples Of die
Two extremes number OF ,ncdcrr
MONIES are seen as we'll rs structures
Rtill In use, dating back 70 the seven
senth century. Ruins OF the recen,
hse are still conspicuous. but substam-
tai buildings are rapidly taking their
place.
Erom Alexandria To Washington is
y efraiSht improved ROAD running par
allel with the railroad. unless il II prc-
r re,,,s tic 10 take take the more picturesque
Many Tourist Parties.
On tho route numbers of tourists
parties were met. both going and COM
ing. some Of the ears bearing tars
from points AS far away az Iowa and
michigan.
leaving Alexandria at o'clock. the
rice was most pleasant ono. and {
stopped In front of the Law Building.
in Fredericksburg. the trip being made
III exactly two and half hours
just suggestion. The highway is
known In Washington. in Richmond,
and In Fredericksburg as the Rich
mond- washington Highway. When it
10 completed II will be ono of the most
popular OF routes. 1t will be used
by motorists from all over the coun-
Isy. Fredericksburg is the brightes,
|tSpot between the two capitals Why
not call II the Richmond Fredcricks-
burg Washington Highway?