The History of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia Part 33

A SPLENDID WATER POWER.

Some one writing of our water-power some years ago said: "The water-power of the Rappahannock river at Fredericksburg, made available by the erection of a magnificent dam, has been harnessed for work to some extent, but not yet to its full capacity." That this is true is a pity, but that it will not long be true is a blessing. The old dam, which gave us only five thousand horse-power, is rapidly yielding to the touch of time, and already another is in course of construction that will be more substantial and give us more power than the present dam gives at its best. A gentleman, well informed as to the plans of the present company, says: "The dam now in process of construction will be built just below the present dam and will be of reinforced concrete. It will be about twenty-two feet above the present water level below the old dam, and will husband the entire plan of the river; or rather, will render the entire plan available for power purposes, but will not, strictly speaking, husband the entire plan, because the pond behind the dam will be rather limited in capacity owing to the closeness of the hills on either side of the river and the abrupt fall of the stream. This dam will afford about eight thousand horse-power, utilized in the city, and at a power-house of the company to be built near the silk mill, but to the east of the main Falmouth road. Just above Taylor's quarry it is planned to build another dam seventy-six feet high, or about one hundred and thirty-eight feet above the sea, with quite a large pond or storage reservoir behind it, reaching up the river some ten miles or more. And then above this reach, and at or about the junction of the two rivers, the large dam, about eighty-four feet high, or two hundred and twenty-two feet above sea level, will complete the development so far as the Fredericksburg Power Company is concerned. This last level reaches to about Germanna. The whole contemplated scheme will yield about thirty thousand horse-power." This will be such an enormous increase of power over what we now have that we cannot realize it. But the question is, what is to be done with this immense power? Shall it be used in Fredericksburg or transmitted to neighboring cities to increase their facilities for manufactures?

Capitalists and manufacturers must answer this question.

It will thus be seen that Fredericksburg, with its quiet ways and want of bustling activity, is a manufacturing center of considerable importance, and lying, as it does, on the line of travel from north to south, there is no good reason, as we have intimated, why it may not be a manufacturing center of much greater importance.

It is true that those who estimate a place solely by the number of industrial enterprises which it encourages, or the amount of traffic which comes to it, would not rank Fredericksburg as highly as some of the more busy or bustling towns of other parts of the country, but those who recognize other agencies besides water wheels and steam engines, and other earthly products, besides dry goods, groceries and general merchandise, will find much here to admire and interest them.

It is also true that with the manufacturing facilities that we possess we would gladly see them greatly enlarged and more fully developed, also new ones erected and operated, but with this accomplished we would not forget that there are better fabrics than those that are manufactured by mechanical appliances. With a climate unsurpa.s.sed, an immunity from epidemics, a situation enviable because of its surroundings, water as pure as ever came from mountain springs, with all the advantages as we have before said of tidewater, without its malaria, with all the benefits of the mountains, without the mountain fevers, together with a refined and elevated society--if these, with the additions of home virtues and home joys, be regarded as valuable in life, then Fredericksburg must rank much higher than many a place that has more outward show of prosperity.

The pursuit of gain and the exacting cares of business have not engaged altogether the thoughts and attentions of our people, to the exclusion of those things which tend to the _pleasure_, _comfort_ and _health_ of the community, and to its intellectual development. For the benefit of the first mentioned of these cla.s.ses, Hurkamp Park has been located, Washington Avenue and the National Boulevard have been laid out, completed and adorned, and the Free Bridge has been constructed, while "Lovers'

Lane" remains the same that it was in the century past.

For those who would derive comfort from inhaling the pure, fresh air of the morning or evening in a drive, on horse-back or on a bicycle, can find on the avenue and boulevard beautifully graded drives, and a variety of scenes which are ever pleasing to the eye, while the beautiful sun risings and settings, and the deep blue sky above rival in grandeur and sublimity those of far-off Italy.

For those who would spend the twilight hours in a pleasant walk with her who "claims his thoughts by day and dreams by night," in search of health the Free Bridge and the enchanting walks beyond are equal to the far-famed "Lovers' Lane," which in olden times was so attractive, even enchanting, as it is now, to the belles and beaux, where words were spoken and vows made that led to unions of hands and hearts that nothing earthly could weaken or sever.

For those whose tastes and inclinations lead them to intellectual enjoyment, the Library and Reading Room, located in the north wing of the Courthouse and the Wallace Library, soon to be in operation, afford excellent facilities. The Library at the Courthouse is furnished with splendid books--historical, biographical, religious and miscellaneous, and the number is added to as the funds at the command of the a.s.sociation will allow. It is conducted by the ladies of the town, who are always ready to give, toil and even sacrifice to benefit, elevate and make more useful the ma.s.ses of the people.

All of these advantages belong to Fredericksburg, with many others that we have probably inadvertently omitted, that make it one of the most desirable residential cities in the country; and we can readily agree with Captain John Smith, the great explorer, "that Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation," than the beautiful valley of the Rappahannock, and Fredericksburg is located on the most beautiful, picturesque and healthy spot of that far-famed valley.

And yet, with all these advantages, pointing out Fredericksburg as a most desirable place for her educational, industrial, commercial and residential advantages, its prosperity is not what it should be; but with a full development of all her varied facilities which we trust will be done in the near future and which can be done if our people will work harmoniously, we may hope for more prosperous days; for

"Reason's whole pleasure--all the joys of sense-- Lie in three words--HEALTH, PEACE and COMPETENCE."

OFFICIAL CALENDAR--SEPTEMBER 1, 1908.

HUSTINGS COURT.

HON. JOHN T. GOOLRICK, _Judge_.

HON. GRANVILLE R. SWIFT, _Commonwealth's Attorney_.

A. BACON YATES, _Clerk_.

JOHN SCOTT BERRY, _Deputy Clerk_.

J. CONWAY CHICHESTER, _City Sergeant_.

BAYLOR S. PATES, _Deputy City Sergeant_.

MUNIc.i.p.aL OFFICERS.

H. LEWIS WALLACE, _Mayor_.

ROBERT T. KNOX, _Treasurer_.

A. B. BOWERING, _Commissioner of Revenue_.

A. P. ROWE, _City Tax Collector_.

E. H. RANDALL, _City Surveyor_.

MAGISTRATES.

_Upper Ward_--S. J. QUINN, S. E. EASTBURN, R. E. BOZEL.

_Lower Ward_--A. G. BILLINGSLY.

CITY COUNCIL.

WILLIAM. E. BRADLEY, _President_.

A. MASON GARNER, _Vice-President_.

SAMUEL E. EASTBURN, _Clerk_.

_Upper Ward_--Wm. E. Bradley, Harry B. Lane, Josiah P. Rowe, Joseph M.

Goldsmith, John C. Melville, Clarance R. Howard.

_Lower Ward_--A. Mason Garner, W. S. Embrey, Jr., Henry Warden, J. W.

Masters, F. L. W. Green, Arthur Brown.

COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

_On Finance_--Harry B. Lane, John C. Melville, Wm. E. Bradley.

_On Public Property_--Wm. E. Bradley, A. Mason Garner, J. W. Masters.

_On Water Works_--Josiah P. Rowe, Harry B. Lane. A. Mason Garner.

_On Streets_--W. S. Embrey, Jr., J. M. Goldsmith, C. R. Howard.

_On Light_--John C. Melville, J. W. Masters, Harry B. Lane.

_On Almshouse_--A. Mason Garner, Wm. E. Bradley, Josiah P. Rowe.

_On Public Interest_--Joseph M. Goldsmith. C. R. Howard. Henry Warden.

_On Ordinances_--Clarance R. Howard, W. S. Embrey, Jr., F. L. W. Green.