The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-09
virSintans. Arouse. Bestir
YOUrScIVcsi


A fact which presented itself TO my OBJ
servation within few days has compelled
me to reflect and recall number of SINH
lar cases, and to ask myself, Whence do
these things point, and to what must they
lead?
The particular fact is this: a tine estate,
which cost $4,000 in good money, OF near
seven hundred acres, OF more than ordi-
nary good land, with very fair buildings
on it, and considerable enclosure and other
improvements, the property OF lcidolC,
whose husband died shortly after the war,
and which was at first rented for money
rent OF 500 per annum, but which has
been gradually rcceding from that to about
$3.50 worth OF produce per annum, was
| sold the other day for 81 80 per acre. This
! is not an isolated case by any means, but
the general rule by which rented farms are
shrinking away in value and passing into
other hands for q mere song, while the
helpless widows and orphans OF many q
dead hero are suffering the loss OF all
things rs a consequence. | say this is the
general rule by which your helpless and
dependent kinsmen and women are being
despoiled. your fair inheritance blasted As
with q burning and bitter curse, the
foundation OF your own prosperity under
mined and destroyed and If YOU are con-
tent to remain silent and inactive Won must
shortly be overwhelmed in the desolation
/ which at present reaches only the parties
, named.
| appeal TO the merchant and 'manufac-
turer. You know that the most valuable
business OF nation or community Is its
| home trade. 1t is the largest, the safest,
I the most profitable. Consequently, ii YOU
, permit the ratio OF depreciation at present
IN progress OF your surrounding country,
II will not be long before you will be COM
PEELED by the ineXorlble logic OF supply
and demand to move away yourselves to
, other and more prosperous agricultural
communities. The facts TO which refer
are patent TO every observer, and there are
no residents OF the country but can re-
count numerous examples Of what state.
r The example have gwen is fair sample.
But you say, Why harass us with this
gloomy picture Is there remedy within
our reach, or one that we can apply? There
is.
Our lands are capable OF the highest i'm
, provemcnt. We can at once make them at
comparatively small outlay vigorous and
heavy cloyer-producers. And when this
is once accomplished we can command the
purchasers from every part OF the globe,
VINO Will give us remunerative prices.
Show them heavy crops OF clover growing,
ana they will not hesitate TO buy your
lands ut such prices as you have not known
III our country-in other words, they will
prefer our lands, with our market facilities
aud climate, TO distant and less favorably-
located lands as to market facilities. This
law OF supply and demand ,cM aiuays
operate, and your climate will ever give
yon the decided preference.
But You say, How shall this be done (?
we have worked out the problem on our
plantation. We have demonstrated that
cur poorest lands can be well and tbickIy
set In clover, with scarcely any fear Of
failure, for an outlay OF five dollars per
acre. and that win be returned by the extra
yield Of the accompanying corn crop,