The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-06
THE STARVING FARMERS.
NEW FACTS ABOUT THE CONDl
TON OF GREENSVlLLE.

One Man with Bushei Of Corn SONS
Fodder, But No Meat-Compariso. oil
Crops-senator yarreJrs Opinion on
the Subject.
A special dispatch to THE TINES from
Petersburg last night said: "a let
ter received here from a prominent citi-
zen Of GreensyIle county, by your cores
pondent today. says that the petition (al-
ready published in THE TINES sent out
asking aid for the people Of Greensyille
county, truthfully represent the farming in
t.rests Of the county.
The writer Of the letter says that the sign
ers ofthe petition comprise a large class OF
the most worthy and energetic people OF
the county. who have heretofore made their
preparations for planting the usual crop
grOwn in the county, % wit: cotton anu
corn, and nearly all Of their were
forced 10 give crop liens or deeos oi
trust upon their property TOT eu
niles and 10 raise the necessary money 10
nav their DAY laborors from the uhe on
their planting in April 10 November 10.
last. owing 10 the excessive rams they couiu
onlv work their crops a few days at time,
labor. together with tneir indebtnesses due
10 the merchants who had advanced them
for supplies for the year 1889.
COMPARISON.
As an evidence Of the great failure Of the
farmers Of the county, the names Of afew
signers OF the petition will show a difference
i'm the crops for the year 1882 as compared
with that OflsoS (Which was also very sh0rt).
II. h. COmon, ISIS. - bales Of cotton.
seventy barrels Of cOrn for 1880 four bales
0f cstt0n and ten barrels Of corn. William
:. Wood, for ISIS. i've bales of cotton, nity
barrels II corn; for 1870, One-half bale OF
cotton and ton barrels OF corn. Jonn NIL
for lSsS, four bales of cotton and thirty bar
rls Of corn; for 1850, one bale OF cotton
ald ten barrels Of corn. W. +. Chitty. Tor
i.>s. five bales of cstt0n and twenty-five
barrels Of corn; for 1889. two bales OF cot
non and seven barrels Of corn. The above
named list compares iay0rably with the bal
ance of the signers of the petition.
SENATOR YARRELL's OPINION.
senator Yauell returned TO the city yes
terdaY and was asked by a reporter OF this
paper about the condition of his people. Inc
Senator said Doe WAS IN bleensyille, sunday
and Monday and talked with at least a thou
Land people "a the Courthouse, and from
What they said he found the farmers 10 he M
far worse condition than he had thought.
/ They had made but half crop and had got
en- so deeply in debt that they could not
/ loep up. several OF them.' said Dir. ar
nll. .tOld me they We're looking for work,
but were unable 10 find IL. At the Court.
louise called the people together and asked
hem if what had been published about them
yas true. over live hundred voices Nt once
answered aye"
Are all the people destltute;" was
| asked
"Oh. no. There are a large class who are
independent and able 10 take care Of thein-
selves. and they are giving the destitute an
the aid they can"
"Only the farmers seem 90 De suffering
eyes, only the farmers. All other inter
csts are prosperous
And are the people really on the point oil
Starvation
"Well. I'll cite you one case. Mr.. George
b. Clements, who is a worthy man and
owns "a small farm told me that he had only
one bushel of corn and some fodder, but moi
a slice OF meat lie had just returned IRON
"A tiresOme two weeks trip looking yainly iOl
work. lie said further that az least twenty
five families I'm his neighh0rhood were
on the verge of starvation. Other farmer
In various points told a similar tale, and On,
restitution extends into several Of The
Northern counties Of irginia.'