The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-22
fSsrner's etters
n ioIloy III nr ktter3 kroma iarmerwhe

hss grown.fEe present year over 0;gnsh.
an Of fruft, 30 tons 81 shay, 600 bushels OF
INV neat, and In grest deal Of truck ON l2o
acres OF land which. he has himself made as
good as Che best. Read what he has TO say 3
for himself and his adopted State. Would
sbss.Yirgsnia cculd germany thousands OF
such new citizens. He says:
Editors of Richmond. Dispatch: have
long been a subscriber TO and reader OF
lyorr valuable piper, and OF late have no
siced your many timely and logical articles
! in reference to the payment OF our state
debt. aAs d northern man and one. who
came among you scarcely voter, and VINO
has Tong aimee thoroughly identified himself
With the people OF my.adopted home. and
| ~ whom have none but the most kindly
;words. 10 utter or friendly memories to cher
ian T sreak not alone to that large class " ho,
ike msself, have settled in this State since
the war. Bit The agriculturist, whomsoever
he NAV be. Much has been said about the
strength of the Regulators and SReadj tfst-
ersin the counties and amongst the farmers
OF the State. lam sorry to say growing,
gfumbilpg, and general cussing OF the debt
[ has existed In many sections for Q long
time. Bot the, debt is still there. know
how poor the farmers are-I know how
they suffer oitentimes for, the conveniences
or life; but do the complaining ones con-
slider that they have, but themselves to
blame. Comparison is: odous, but pardon
me II make one. In my native county
Chester. Pa.--few fathers own more than
200 acres OF land-more own not over
fifty. These farms are. all well stocked, and q
almost every acre highly improved and wen
cultivated. Railroads are numerous, ana
property adjacent thereto very valuable.
The people are an active, enterprlslng class
and detest spending an unnecessary mo-
ment at the county courthouse, Ihey nave
nome markets, home banks, and every con-
venience indicative OF advanced civiliza-
ton. How is 1t here? Look at the vast
area of most of our farms. Look at the
fact that three out OF every four
farmers have three. times as much land
as they can or will cultivate. What is
the matter? 1t is simply this: In Europe
they talk Of having a working capital OF
thirty mounds to the acre. In Pehnsyl-
yainia they require considerable money ;
here the farmers are land-poor, and The
only remedy Is to sell off their spare acres.
You may say we can't sell. Hnot, you had
better give it away and discontinue the pre-
sent improbable and ruinous course. II
Virginia lands won't sell, it is your fault
not that of the land. I have traVersed
almost every county OF the State, and the
natural quality Of the land is generally very
good, and its geographical or commercial To-
cation unrivalIed. But the report goes all
over the land that we are too poor to pay our
present comparatively low taxes, we are 60
ing 10 the dogs sure. our business is ruin
Gus. Suppose merchant wanting to sell
out would advertise, "This poor old store
for saIe-can't pay taxes, rent, or REPAIRS"
do YOU think any one would be such fool
as to buy such stand? A slang phrase
says "mouey makes the mare co." and 1t
makes an indispensable prerequisite to farm
ing, ns well as to any other business, IL sue
cess is to be obtained. We rail too much
on commission merchants and brokers OF
our towns; some Of them, no doubt, ought
to be kicked down the funnel OF
your hay-barn and have their necks broke,
but they are human-put yourself in their
place. These few are the exception. All
producers and consumers should be on
friendly terms, and the majority OF city
people honor and respect a farmer as much
as ANYBODY else. In conclusion, MessrS.
Editors, beg to express the hope THAI the
honest, energetic, progressive farmers OF
the State will see that policy and principle
alike combine to urge us all to pay OF this
debt like men. Drop the cry OF repulla-
ton and poverty, hang all the brain}ess
courthouse agitators, go home, sell OF our
spare land, sow peas for manure, raise corn
and bacon enough for home use, sell where
you can, buy only Vlrginia-manuiactured
goods, and, il you swear at all, VOW you
will make Virginia the homo:of honest men
and a peeriess people. ,...-
Respectfully yours,
ELLIS ?. HoDGSCS.