To Col. Fontaine, Pres't. Va. C. R. R.

Dear Sir:--the people of this county are at a loss to understand why a change has been made in the running of the freight trains on your road, which subjects them to great inconvenience, without any corresponding benefit, as far as they can see, to your Company. . . .

I understand there is a daily freight train to and from Greenwood, a point on your road, on the other side of the mountain, where there is little freight to be accommodated, whilst here we are required to put up with as bi-weekly train. Staunton and Waynesborough are certainly more important depots of freight than Greenwood; then why not extend your daily trains at least to one of these points? . . .

The utter disregard of the interests and convenience of the people west of the mountain, evinced by your Superintendent in making this change, has excited the suspicion in the minds of many persons, that he is little inclined to consult their wants and wishes in the management of the road; and when they contrast the facilities afforded by his schedule to the east, with their own grievances and inconveniences, they cannot but deplore the fact, that their section is powerless in the organization of the Company. . . .

To prove that the present is a bad arrangement, I need only further state that freight loaded at Jackson's River on Monday evening, leaves there Tuesday morning, reaches Millboro' same day and then lies over till Wednesday, and then goes on to Greenwood, where it lies over again till Thursday morning, and then goes off, reaching Richmond Thursday night, taking the best part of a week to make the trip.

How do you suppose stock fares thus shut up in the cars three or four days? As this is a public grievance I bring it to your attention publicly.

Waynesborough.

The Vindicator, May 11, 1860, p. 2, c. 6

Our friend Brown of the American Hotel, with his accustomed energy, surprised his dinner table and those who sat at it, on Thursday, with a handsome display of fresh Strawberries. This delicious delicacy will be served up frequently at our Hotels now that we can get them from Richmond in eight hours.

Questions

1. In the space below, write a four-sentence summary of "For the Spectator."

2. Why do you think that the author signed the article with the name "Waynesborough" (the name of his town) than with his actual name?

3. What goods does the author of the letter plan to ship by train? Why does the length of the voyage affect this type of shipment in particular?

4. In the space below, write a one-sentence summary of "First of the Season."

5. The Staunton is 108 miles from Richmond. How long did it take the train to go this distance? How long would it take a truck today, traveling on a major highway?

6. What food have you eaten in the past week that was shipped over 100 miles from where it was raised?