The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-04
IaaIaRATIe,x.

i #
PROGRESS MADE'BYsTHE GENERAL 1Msfr
+ GRAFTON AGENT SINCE riff PassAGE OF
THE LAW by THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DC, &c. 49,. ,4...: ...tt.z,,- -, ....,
I The General Assembly at its last session
passed an act establishing n Bureau OF I'M
| migration in this city. The following is
| the, report Of the General Agent OF opera.
tons:
BUREAU OF INAUGURATION OF vIRo1S1A,) } J,
49, GENERAL. AGENTS OFFICE
80 RICHMOND, YA.,fJune 80, 1870.
Colonel w. C., Knight. Secretary Yrginia
State Agricultural society Rtchmond,
Ny Dear. sir,--I take pleasure in giving
the following items, at your request: ;.
/. AS to the progress have been making
in the ~ 3l.. 49,.
TMMIGRATION BUSINESS. a.. .
Iopened this Office about, the 1st OF May.
I issued circulars to landowners as far as
practicable, advising them OF the object Of
the Bureau, and Offering to list and adver-
tise lands for sale, in the form OF "Regis-
ter" This, with important information
such as land.seekers and settlers would
need, embodied in it, will proceed 10 pub
lish and spread far and wide in all coun-
tries where it is reasonable 10 expect TO find
persons desiring TO come to this State. 1t
will be, ready; In part, in .alfeW weeks. I
shaIE Take every neaRs nsmy. Power to put,
a copy OF this In the hands of every farmer
abroad that would be likely to seek a. home
in Virginia. When this Is done expect
to be buster than I ever was in my life, in
answering letters, giving information in
every way possible, and seeking TO arrange
modes and plans by which these people
may be induced to come to Virginia and
settle. Already am in receipt OF many
inquiries from the North, Northwest,
and also from the. West and South,
asking for information such as the "Resis-
ter" is intended 10 give. Many are seek
ing more congenial clime," where, as
one from Missouri said, they will "be free
from prairie winds, malaria, and muddy
wafer" .-. !. =.
You, rs many others have been, Will be
surprised to find that large immigration
has already come to Virginia in the last few
years. This is proven by the records in
the clerks Offices. | have had time to as
certain the data in but small number of
counties, but they will indicate the genera
result. Take the counties OF Augusta,
Orange, Nansemond, Amelia, Nottoway,
Prince Edward, Roanoke, and Pulaski,
from some OF which I have only partial re-
turns, and the statistics obtained show:
Number Of farms bought, ESQ; number OF
acres, 100000, assessed at $1,400,000. II
these ere average counties-and I do
not know but they are-then on this
return the whole State has received from
parties outside the State Sll, 100000. Add
ing to this reasonable proportion for per-
Il I,
settlers, we should have the amount OF 3d.
7S0. 900, which, added to the other, would
make S14,930, 900. This capital has been
brought in by the purchase OF 100,0 900 acres.
l have registered now about 100000 acres,
and am registering every day. Allowing
one half per acre on this that the lands sold
added to the working capital OF the State,
provided it can be disposed of; for those
selling are not selling to leave the State, eX-
cept in rare instances, but because they
have not sufficient capital to work the en-
cess OF lands they now hold.
You see, then, that much can he accom-
plished by this enterprise; and am sure,
with the continued efforts OF the railroad
companies now sustaining the Bureau, and
others who will, and the assistance OF the
press, much will be done.
2. have been able to make but two tours
through the cOuntry-one through the
counties Of Chesterfield, Amelia, Motto
way, and Dinwiddie, and the other through
Hanover, Louisa, Orange, Abemarle, and
Augusta lin party. In all these the wheat
was more promising than it has been for
several years, except Louisa, Orange, and
Albemarlc. In these it was very much
thnned by the freezing weather last winter.
Tobacco had been but partly planted. A
good season occurred about the 10Th in
slant, and suppose was made use Of.
do not think large crop is being project
ed, and but little merchantabIe fertilizers
purchased for it.
1t was too early to judge OF corn. / re-
eret to say that l saw many fields as late as
the 10th of June which had not been touch.
ed by plow or hoe since the corn was plant
ed. Spring oats look better than they have
done for several years. Winter oats gene
rally small, killed, and, in many places,
pIowed up. Grass not very rank, but in
larger quantity than usual, and orchard
grass, especially on rich land, yielding well.
This grass will certainly yield we'll if the
land is rich enough to produce it. 1t is
rapidly increasing il popularity.
8. On the whole, think the people are
more hopeful. Real estate has touched
bottom, l think, and economy and indus
try have, even with low prices, enabled our
people TO bold their own pretty well. I
have more faith in the energy and self-de-
nia OF our Virginia young men, and young
women, too, than some who write about
them. l wish the farmers would use more
forethought than some fields would indi-
cate. What is gained by planting tobacco
on land too poor to make such as will pay?
What is the advantage in planting more
corn than can be plowed and worked be-
fore harvest? Why ridge the land up with
the turning plow, when, il it is put in
proper tilth before the corn is planted, such
plow is not only not needed, but does
damage TO the land, and leaves it inethe
worst condition for the small grain to fol-
low. Hard licks, and many OF them, the
successful farmer has to make, but let
every one be made with Judgment and
skill. Yours truly,
" RICHARD lRBI, General Agent.
POLICE COURT, SATURDAT.-The Court
met about 10 O'Clock and disposed OF the
following eases:
Philip Brown, charged with being drunk
and disOrlerly and creating q disturbance