Evening star., 1921-05-22

ickSburg was passed in 1927, and re-
cites that:
Whereas great numbers of people have of
late seated themselves and their families upon
and near the river Rappahannock aud IL"
branches thereof above the falls. and great
quantities of tobacco and other commodities
every year brought down to the upper land
ings upon the said river to he shipped off and
transported to other parts Of the country. and
nhabitants should he supplied from thence
with goods and merchandise in return for
their commodities. but for want of some con
venient place where traders may co-habit and
bring their goods to. such supplies are not to
be had without great disadvantages. and
good houses are greatly wanted upon the
navigable part of said river near the falls.
for the reception and safe keeping of such
commodities as are brought thither, and for
who repair thither from remote places with
carriages drawn by horses or oxen And
for as much as the Inhabitants Of the county
of Spotsylvania have made humble supplca-
tion to this general assembly that town may
be laid out in some convenient place near
the falls of the said river for the co-habita-
ton of such as are minded to reside there for
the purposes aforesaid. whereby the people,
ing Of that remote part Of the country Will
he encouraged and trade and navigation De IN
creased, be 1t resolved: etc.
So, Fredericksburg was born as a
! business place. and with the exception
of the four years of the civil war 1t
has always been a business place. 1t
| has a bright social side for many per-
sons who are strangers to trade, and
persons who have retired from busi-
| ne ss make their homes there and In its
green and hilly environs.
Fredericksburg will celebrate on
May 25 the 250th anniversary OF its
establishment as a recognized town.
! Mighty preparations are being made,
vast crowds are expected, and the peo-
pie of the old city have been working
on the plan for months. All kinds of
committees have been busy. and nearly
| everybody in the city is on some kind
of a committee which has been as
signed to do something for the glory
and grandeur of Fredericksburg.
Among the features will be the dedica-
cation of monument to the early set
! tiers, the unveiling of tablets marking
| points of historic interest, pageant
i depicting the towns historic develop
ment and a parade led by the 5th Regi-
, ment of Marines. One event of interest
will be the participation of members
! of the tribe of Rappahannock Indians.
descendants of the men with whom
Capt. John Smith concluded treaty
making possible the unresisted settle
| ment of the land by whites. The pro-
gram will be concluded by receptions.
dances, including colonial ball, and
fireworks.
President Harding received COM
mittee on May bearing an invitation
to come to Fredericksburg. and he in
dicated his probable attendance. though
at the time he could give no definite
answer. Gen. Pershing is expected, as
is Gen. March, whose mother was born
in Fredericksburg. Gov. Westmoreland
Davis and staff and most of the Eir-
ginia delegation in Congress will at
tend. Herbert l.. Bridgeman, author.
journalist and scientist. and member
of the board of regents of the state
Of New York, will deliver one of the
addresses
THE pageant will represent the
coming of Capt. John Smith in
Horseshoe. whose route passed
through the city, and Fredericks
burg's connection with colonial rev.
olutionary and civil war history.
The Fredericksburg Band will have