Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-12

road through Pitsevl- Ania to Danville.
When ! travel through this Sec
ton few years ago the original forest
growth of oak, with a great deal Of
magnificent pine, extended along both
sides of the road for miles and miles
with not a break, except at long
intervals, to let in the sunlight
The long, quiet, shady drives were
delightful, but one cori not help think
ing Of the great waste Of land and lun-
Der, feeling that the people were behind
the tines. and wondering when they
would catch up. But now, as though
Aladdin had rubbed his wonderful
lamp there, the scene has changed.
Large clearings have been made every
where, fine plantations have "comc out
the Wilderness and Saw-mills have
come in the Wilderness, and new, neat
ly-painted residences and out-buill-
ings, with well-built tobaCc0-barnS.
are to be seen every half-milc or so,
while here and there a new church. q
thrifty-looking country store, a fine
tlourmg-mill, carpenter or wheel
wright s-shop. and long, new lvidge
evidence that the people are not pa ting
all their money in lands and dwellings,
but everything else is moving along as
it should, and you feel as if you had
suddenly been translated to the
far West and were travelling
through Texas or Kansas. Then
when the sun comes straight
down upon the top Of your head, mark
ing high-noon. bell rings out clear and
loud across the cloyer-feldS, and you
turn to see where the church is that
rings its bell so late, but another peal
floats softly over the tree-tops, then an
other from the distance, and another,
till full set of chimes, plantation
bells. are ringing merrily, their music
set to the tune of hungry stomachs
and thirsty throats-music loved
by its perspiring auditors more than
would he an hundred Silver-tongued
choriSters or hired orchestral .astru-
ments, and you see them on every
hand leaving their hoes stuck in the to-
bacco hills or, mounted on their bare
back plough teams, hurrying towards
shady springs, cool wells, or cosy-look-
ing farm.houseS half hid among the
trees whenever is waited to the quick
ened senses Of the traveller the odor of
the waiting dinner; and later on YOU
see groups Of people sitting around
well-laden tables spread under the
shade of the trees around the houses or
in the airy dining-roomS enjoying the
MONDAY feast, to which the stranger
ever finds hearty welcome.
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED.
A few years ago when little or no
fertilizer was used on these lands and
the tobacco was cured with open wood
fires built directly under the tobacco,
1t was cheap nondescript, with little
bright, smelling Of smoke, neither the
shipping or working article. The own
ers could hardly pay their taxes and
make a bare living. The land in large
tracts went begging for buyers.
Now, with the liberal use Of fertlli-
zers and flue-curing, the finest bright
wrappers and smoking-tobacco is made,
and the prices obtained for the article
cannot be beat anywhere. The large
plantations have been cut up and
changed hands, and dozen prosperous
farmers may sometimes be found where
formerly one large proprietor Scuflled
10 keep up his single establishment.
Land has doubled itself again and again
in value, and when farm finds its way
into market there is a rush for it, and
it is gobbled up at high figure.
and the demand is ever for more.
Many a man has paid for his
farm w.;h one crop Of tobacco.
Many a one who worked a few
years ago at fifty or seventy-fye cents
day is now owner Of comforta lie
home and productive farm, rides in his
carriage, educateS his children at the
best colleges and semisaries, and takes
his position among the substantial and
e, en- wealthy citizens Of the county.
WHAT EAs BEEN DONE.
1t is worth while hearing what some
of these entcrprising Halifax tobacco
men have done. Ten years ago 200
acres Of he old Billy Logan tract, near
Meadsyille, was sold for 400; few
years after, when the possibilities of
brigh. tobacco began to be guessed at,
it was sold again for 81 400. A few
years go one Motley realized there was
a gold mine on the land and bought
the farm for 80, 100. He put five hands
and three mules to work the mine and
his first crop of tobacco brought him
So, 500, to say nothing Of the wheat,
corn, ard oats made. The next year a
larger crop still was made, aud now
there is a fine new dwelling, necessary
oIt-houses. barns, and houses for his
hands, all new and substantial, and one
OF the fineSt-growing crops Of tobacco |
have seen. One Of the Fergusons of
Locust Level, with his own good
right arm, one other hand, and $50
worth of day labor and slS5 worth of
fertilizer, made a crop Of tobacco which
be has Just sold for s2,l00. 1t is esti-
mated that he has clear profit ofsl, 500
from that crop. Another man told me
that neighbor got $3.50 for every bag
Of fertilizer he used on his crop, and
another stated that he sent up small
lot of tobacco to Danyille two
weeks ago in a neighbours wagon.