USA > Virginia > City of Fredericksburg > City of Fredericksburg > The history of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia > Part 28
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
STOOD WITH THE SOUTH.
"The life of Maury fell on times when there were at work other currents than those of sea and river. Political passions blew to a gale and the nation drifted to Civil war. His supreme sense of duty, and loyalty to his own State, was the current that bore him away from Washington and stranded him in the final wreck of the Southern Confederacy. In those unhappy times no man sacrificed more than Maury. He not only resigned his high position at Washington, but turned his back upon tempting offers from Russia and France, in order to suffer affliction with his own people. In the Civil war he rendered most valuable service by introducing submarine torpedo warfare, and inventing a sure method of ex- plosion by electricity. Much of his time was spent in England purchasing navy supplies and perfecting inventions in navy war- fare.
"After the war, Maury turned to Mexico and joined his fortunes to the Emperor Maximilian; but the tragic end of this friend and patron, again left him stranded. When, in 1868, the enactment of a general amnesty removed his political disabilities, Maury accepted the Chair of Meteorology in the Virginia Military Institute, and there spent the closing years of his life. He' greatly rejoiced in this return to old friends and scenes, and addressed himself with ardor to congenial pursuits. But a constitution, not the strongest, gave way to the storms of the last years. The middle of October, 1872, on his return from a fatiguing lecture tour, as he crossed his threshold he said 'I am come home to die.' For four long months he lay weak and suffering. The end came on the 1st of February, 1873. A heavenly breeze bore him to the anchorage beyond the sea, and the trusting child of nature rested with his God.
"Than Matthew Fontaine Maury no American has received higher honors from foreign countries. Orders of Knighthood were bestowed upon him by the Emperor of Russia, King of Denmark, King of Portugal, King of Belgium, and the Emperor of France; while Prussia, Austria, Sweden, Holland, Sardinia, Bremen and France, struck gold medals in his honor The Pope sent him a full set of all the medals struck during his pontificate ; Maximilian deco-
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rated him with 'The Cross of Our Lady Guadaloupe;' while Ger- many bestowed upon him the great 'Cosmos Medal,' struck in honor of Von Humboldt. It is the only duplicate of that medal in. existence. He became corresponding member of more literary and scientific circles, and received more honorary diplomas, at home and abroad, than any other man known to history.
"Our own National Government has failed to honor his memory by appropriate memorial, yet his name is so woven with his great science that it must live. The Hon. Mellin Chamberlain, late Librarian of Congress, in calm judicial tone, has declared, 'I do not suppose there is the least doubt that Maury was the greatest man America has ever produced.'
"A bill to honor Commodore Maury, with an appropriate monu- ment, lies mouldering in the archives of Congress. It will some day see the light. During the last years of Maury's life the smoke of a great conflict gathered about him and hid his face from the National Government; but the smoke is fast lifting, and the healthy breezes of a great national fraternity will soon blow it far away. Then his nation will look upon his face and see the clear outlines of his character-then will he take his own proper place in America's galaxy of the great."
THE LADIES' MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION.
It was in Fredericksburg, and by the ladies of Fredericksburg, Virginians, that the first memorial association was organized and chartered for looking after the dead soldiers, for providing them a final resting place in some convenient cemetery laid out for the purpose, and strewing their graves with the first flowers of spring as the years pass by. This was their second care after their return to their homes at the close of the Civil war, their first being their own homes, which were almost in ruins ; and since the organization of that memorial association no season of flowers has passed that these graves have not been piously remembered.
MARY WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
It was the ladies of Fredericksburg, Virginians, who inaugurated the move, and carried it on to complete success, to raise a monu-
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Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury, the "Path Finder of the Seas." (See page 315)
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ment to a woman, the tallest and most imposing of its kind that is to be found on this continent. It towers over fifty feet high, the shaft is solid granite, and it marks the grave of the greatest of American women-Mary, the mother of Washington. It is true, that after the work was commenced, the plans laid, and some money raised, the ladies were assisted by the National Mary Washington Monument Association, which did good service, but even that asso- ciation, brought into being through the local association at Fred- ericksburg, was made more active and efficient by the energy and persistence of the pioneers in the movement. That monument is grand and beautiful, and reaches high into the heavens, and while it marks the last resting place of that sainted woman, it reflects great honor upon all the ladies who assisted in its erection.
These are some of the things in which Virginians took the lead and which were accomplished by them. There may be omissions of noble acts and brave deeds that might have been mentioned of whose existence we are in ignorance, but these we have mentioned will suffice to show that they were the leading spirits in throwing off the British yoke of oppression, in uniting the colonies for common defence, in proclaiming to the world our grievances and declaring for freedom, in waging a long and bloody war and securing inde- pendence, in forming and conducting the government from its infancy through its experimental period, in extending its territorial limits and in contributing to its national greatness. If for all this-if for what has been achieved by their ancestors in field and forum, on land and sea, an honest pride should well up in the breast of the Virginians of the living present, that should find expression in words, where is the individual that can rise up and charge them with vain boasting ?
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CHAPTER XXII.
Fredericksburg at Present-The Health of the City-Its Financial Solidity-Its Commercial Prosperity-Its Lines of Transpor- tation-Its Water Power-Its Official Calendar-List of Mayors, &c.
We now come to the closing words of the history of our venerable city, and what we shall add in closing will be of Fredericksburg as it is at present, without going into tiresome details, but before proceeding with that interesting topic we must turn aside to men- tion some useful and honored organizations of the ladies of the town, which failed to receive attention in a former chapter, after which our subject, "Fredericksburg at Present," will be resumed.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION .*
The Betty Washington Lewis Chapter, Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution, was organized in 1899 at the Exchange Hotel. Several prominent members of the National Society were present and explained the scope and work of the association. Mrs. Wm. Key Howard, of Kenmore, was appointed regent, by Mrs. Hugh N. Page, State regent, and twelve charter members were obtained. At the end of the first year Mrs. Howard resigned, and, in Feb- ruary, 1900, at a meeting at Kenmore, once the home of the sister of Washington, whose name the chapter adopted, Mrs. John T. Goolrick was elected regent; Mrs. H. M. D. Martin, vice-regent ; Mrs. B. C. Chancellor, registrar; Mrs. V. S. F. Doggett, treasurer ; Miss Sallie N. Gravatt, secretary, and Mrs. V. M. Fleming, his- torian. In addition to these officers the following charter mem- bers were present: Mrs. Marion Maria Mason Daniel, Mrs. Kate Tichenor Dill, Mrs. C. R. Howard, Mrs. Florence C. Richards, Mrs. Lettie M. Spencer and Mrs. Florence F. Weir.
In the preliminary work of organization, which was undertaken by Mrs. John T. Goolrick, one of her warmest supporters was Mrs.
*Paper prepared by Mrs. J. T. G.
[ 322 ]
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Martin. She actively interested herself in the cause, her house was always open for meetings and through her several members were added to the chapter. The work of Mrs. V. S. F. Doggett was valuable and effective, and to the time of her death her zeal and interest were unabated. Mrs Lucilla S. Bradley, a "real daughter," and Mrs. Maria Jefferson Carr Mason, a great grand- daughter of Thomas Jefferson, were honorary members.
This chapter has aided many worthy causes outside and inside of the society, both local and foreign. Colonial balls and other en- tertainments have, at different intervals, been given, among the handsomest being a reception at Kenmore, where an address on John Paul Jones was delivered by Capt. S. J. Quinn, before a large and appreciative audience.
In 1904 the State Conference was entertained by the Fredericks- burg Chapter, and the guests were unstinted in their praises of the hospitality accorded them here. The chapter is at present as vital a force as when organized, and prepared to use opportunities when found to do work along historical and helpful lines. The officers elected at a recent meeting are Mrs. John T. Goolrick, regent; Mrs. W. H. Richards, vice-regent; Mrs. B. C. Chancellor, registrar ; Mrs. H. M. Eckenrode, treasurer, and Miss Sallie N. Gravatt, secretary.
DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY.
The Daughters of the Confederacy was organized on the 28th of February, 1896, with the following officers: Mrs. Joseph Nich- olas Barney, president ; Mrs. J. Horace Lacy, vice-president; Mrs. Vivian M. Fleming, secretary, and Miss Sallie Nelson Gravatt, treasurer, and an executive committee of fourteen ex-Confederates. The chapter rapidly grew in numbers and at one time had upon the roll nearly two hundred names. This society has been quite active since its organization and has done much good in the way of help- ing destitute veterans, looking after and administering to the sick and burying the dead. It has been the channel of distributing the Confederate crosses, and if any cross has been bestowed upon the unworthy, it was because of the ability of the unworthy to obtain vouchers from genuine Confederates. This chapter has done a
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good work in looking after the remains of Confederate soldiers, when found upon the battle-fields or elsewhere, and having them interred in the Confederate cemetery. One of the praiseworthy acts of the society, a few years ago, was to disinter the remains of the brave Gen. Abner Perrin, killed at the "Bloody Angle" while gallantly leading his brigade, and buried on the Hicks farm near the courthouse, and Lieut. Wm. H. Richardson, of Alabama, killed at the same time, and buried by the General, and to place them side by side in the Confederate cemetery. And yet there is other work for these self-sacrificing ladies to do. By annual elections Mrs. Barney has remained at the head of the chapter and is the present presiding officer, with Miss Sallie M. Lacy as secretary, who is an active support to the president.
ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES .*
The Fredericksburg Branch of the Association for the Preserva- tion of Virginia Antiquities is a small but active band. They have acquired the Mary Washington House and "Rising Sun Tavern." The "Tavern" has been recently repaired, but retains in all respects its original style of architecture. Both buildings are furnished in "ye olden style," and are centers of great interest to visitors. The officers of this branch are Mrs. Vivian M. Fleming, directress ; Miss Rebecca C. Mander, secretary, and Mrs. Charles Wallace, treasurer.
THE CITY MISSION.
The City Mission was organized on the 14th of March, 1901, mainly through the efforts of Rev. W. D. Smith, rector of St. George's church, and Mrs. J. B. Ficklen. It has been quite an active society and much good has resulted from its labors. The main object of the society is to afford relief to the destitute of the town, especially the sick, and as it is composed altogether of benev- olent and kind hearted ladies, we know, from this and their splendid labors in the past, that their mission will be well performed. They do more than look after the sick. These ladies gather up second- hand clothing from those who can spare it and sell the same at a
*Paper prepared by Miss R. C. M.
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cheap rate to those able to purchase and give to the destitute. The society is composed of ladies from all religious denominations, and the city is laid out in districts, each of which is placed in charge of three ladies, to whom applications for assistance by parties living therein are referred. By this method impositions are rare and needy persons are not overlooked. The present officers of the society are Mrs. J. B. Ficklen, president ; Mrs. B. B. Montgomery and Miss Jennie Hurkamp vice-presidents; Miss Rebecca C. Man- der, secretary; Miss Annie Myer, treasurer, and Mrs. Isaac Hirsh, purchasing agent.
THE FREDERICKSBURG TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION .*
The faculty of the public schools of Fredericksburg met and or- ganized the Fredericksburg Teachers' Association in September,. 1906. The officers elected at that meeting were as follows: Miss Kate James Mander, president; Miss Clarice Crittenden Davis,. vice-president; Miss Jennie M. Goolrick, secretary, and Miss. Maggie L. Honey, treasurer. The president of the School Board,. Mr. A. B. Bowering, after the teachers were organized, was re -- quested to outline a plan for a library, which he did, and the teach- ers commenced the work. After obstacles and delays, by solicita -- tion, and dessert sales, a sufficient amount of money was raised to . commence the purchase of books, and quite a nice collection of the . best publications was secured. Since that additions have been made as the means of the association would justify, and now the- library is an institution formed on a solid basis. It is popular with the children, and from it they derive much pleasure and in- struction. The present officers are Miss Kate James Mander,. president; Miss Mary Page Waller, vice-president ; Miss Agnes P. Roach, secretary, and Miss Maggie L. Honey, treasurer.
FREDERICKSBURG AT PRESENT.
Fredericksburg is a healthy town-a true Virginia city-almost free from the fevers and diseases that visit other cities of the coast or even of tidewater. It is beautifully situated on the west. bank.
`Paper prepared by Miss K. J. M.
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of the Rappahannock river, at the head of tidewater, where its in- habitants escape the malaria of the lowlands and the fevers peculiar to the mountains. Therefore, when we compare the death rate of Fredericksburg, which is made every month by Dr. J. N. Barney, our health officer, with that of other neighboring cities, we find it quite favorable to our town.
PURE WATER SUPPLY.
Our main source of water supply, the Rappahannock river, has no city or town of any size above us, and for that reason the water is almost free from foreign substances, and as pure as are the mountain springs from which it flows. The analysis of this water, which has often been made in the years gone by, and repeatedly in the past few years, shows ninety-eight per cent., which probably more nearly approaches absolute purity than any other stream of its size in the country. Besides this aid to health, the sanitary condition of the town is carefully looked after by the Board of Health, and everything that threatens the introduction of disease is at once removed or reduced to a healthy condition. In addition to this, as a convenience for the citizens, and an aid to health conditions, the main part of the city has been sewered within the past four years, and laterals are in course of construction to reach those por- tions of the town not now sewered. With these aids to health and our lynx-eyed Board of Health, who are always on the alert, we may hope for and confidently expect, as we now have, an unusually healthy city.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE CITY.
The financial condition of Fredericksburg is good, and her credit is undoubted. It is true that the debt of the city is large, but for every bond issued there is something substantial standing for it, except nearly $120,000 of ante-bellum bonds, issued by our fore- fathers in an honest and earnest endeavor to secure for our people improvements of a permanent and profitable character. But the improvements proved worthless to the town. Those who voted for them have passed over the river of death, leaving this indebtedness as a legacy to their descendants, and we take great pleasure in pro-
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viding for it. The other bonds were issued for improvements the town needed and was compelled to have. They are all in use at present, successfully operated, and are valued far in advance of the price paid for them by the city, and it is only a question of private or corporation ownership, as to whether it was a wise policy for the city to erect and operate them. The City Council thinks it acted for the best interests of the town and the people back it up in that opinion. Nearly all of the bonds issued by the city bear four per cent., were sold at or above par and purchased mostly by our own citizens. This, it would appear, is a strong indication that our financial affairs are in a satisfactory condition.
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PRESENT COMMERCIAL CONDITION.
The commercial prosperity of the town is probably far in advance of what it ever was before. We have now about one hundred and fifteen wholesale and retail stores, each one doing a thriving busi- ness. In these stores the customer will be able to find any article of merchandise he may need and at as low price as he could find it in the larger cities. In the last few years there has been a spirit of improvement in business houses, and at present there are to be found store-houses that would be a credit to a city of larger preten- tions. So changed is the business portion of Main street by reason of this enlargement and ornamentation that citizens of the town have often had to inquire for the places they wished to visit. In addition to this, our manufactures have increased and are still in- creasing, and in them hundreds of persons find employment at liv- ing wages. Among the manufacturing institutions may be men- tioned two large flouring mills, one woolen mill, one pants factory, one silk mill, two sumac mills, three excelsior mills, one mattress factory, two pickle factories, one canning factory, one shoe factory, one shirt factory, one spoke factory and six repair shops. The assessed taxable value of property in town is, personal property $703,782, real estate $1,676,133, making a total of $2,379,915. Besides this, our several banks, in their periodical statements, made to the Government, show largely over a million dollars on deposit, subject to individual checks. In view of these facts truly it may
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be said that Fredericksburg is in a prosperous commercial condition and is rapidly adding to that prosperity.
LINES OF TRANSPORTATION.
The lines of transportation running to and from Fredericksburg are sufficient for all the requirements of the town, both as to freight and passenger travel, yet our citizens would not object to the con- struction of another road, starting at some deep water point on the coast, crossing the Rappahannock river at this place and connecting north of us with the great trunk lines, traversing this extensive country in all directions. But for this important improvement we must patiently wait.
The great line of travel and traffic through Fredericksburg, north and south, at present, is the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto- mac railroad. This road is probably one of the best conducted roads in the country and seldom has an accident. Not until a few years ago did it share its track with any other road, but now three or more companies are running their cars over this line and the carrying business is immense. This large increase in business ne- cessitated a double track of the entire line-from Richmond to Washington-which was done with great rapidity. The present service on this road that passes through town is nine passenger trains north and ten south each twenty-four hours. In addition to this, the increase in freight has also increased the number of freight trains, and so we now have fifty to pass through in a day and night, and yet it is more than probable that this large number will soon be further increased. This road has a new iron bridge spanning the Rappahannock river at this point.
The Piedmont, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad-Narrow Gauge-runs daily from Fredericksburg to Orange, a distance of forty miles. It connects Fredericksburg and intermediate points, with that great trunk line, the Southern, at that point, which is an accommodation to the travelling public along its entire line. Al- though a narrow gauge road, it does quite a large business and it has been rumored that it may be extended beyond the mountains some day, in which event it will become a line of greater importance than at present.
The Office of the Fredericksburg Water Power Company. (See page 330)
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"Marye Mansion," Gen. Longstreet's headquarters at Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; now the residence of Capt. M. B. Rowe. (See page 91)
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
The former citizen, who went out from us even a few years ago, on his return to his old home now, would find, among other changes, that the Weems Line of steamers from Fredericksburg to Baltimore, had transferred its business to another company, and the old fa- miliar name of Weems, of more than a half century standing, whose line was so intimately interwoven with all the interests of Fred- ericksburg, was a name of the past. But he would also find a line -The Maryland, Delaware and Virginia railroad, not that their steam boats run upon railroad tracks-had taken its place, and, by its splendid steamers, so well adapted to the river trade, had brought us into rapid and easy communication with Norfolk and Baltimore, by the Rappahannock river and Chesapeake bay, and thence with the whole busy world beyond.
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 gentle- man, 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.
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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 trans- mitted to neighboring cities to increase their facilities for manu- factures ? 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.
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