The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-31
VIRGINIA OF TO-DAY.
What May be Seen and Heard In Ride
Over the Old State.


purpose giving to your many readers a
series of sketches touching the status OF
social, financial, and industrial affairs in
Virginia as she is to-day, twenty-five
years after the war. There nave been
many varied. and strkingly marked
changes since then. The upheaNal OF
her entire system of labor, through the
emancipation Of her slaves, has reh-
dered absolutely necessary complete
change in all her methods of agrlcul-
ture. 1t is impossible TO succeed IN
farming to-day und + the old system
Of large acreage and consequent heavy
expenses Of all kinds. our farmers
for the most part have been slow TO
adOpt the neediul changed methods and are
still in a sort of half asleep way sticking to
the old time plans, and consequently we
lind spirit Of general discOntent and ut
terances Of complaint on every hand.
Farming don't pay" Is the cry every
where OF course not, when twice a.
much land is being planted as can he cul-
tiyated, for negro labor is generally shift
less, Sinking. and completely unreliable.
Then, too, the great virtue Of economical
living is an essential 10 success in this day,
and TO this element Of character the Viz
ginian Of aye Olden time" is an entire
stranger.
HARD TIMES.
All throughout the agricultural sections Of
Virginia is heard the pitiiul cry OF hard
times. Let me cut the string that ties the
bag. and set the spirited feline tree. n vast
majority Of our people are living far beyond
their incomes, with resources far, far less
than ''befOre the war" They are trying TO,
at least, keep up the appearance OF things.
10 be truthful, many OF our people are nv
ing on other peoples money, running III
dc 5t, and thus mourning obligations when IL
is impossible for them 10 meet. Thus must
follow long train of troubles and cares
the heavily mOrtgaged home, the forced
sale, the painful struggle, etc.
Ny letters to your valued paper will deal
plainly with the situation in Virginia to-
day. ! am practical man. The arithme-
tic has taught me that an income OF SIX
hundred dollars year Will not enable a
man 10 live in one thousand dollar style.
and when this is attempted somebody else
is a sufferer.
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
! shall write plainly. The negro question
especially. shall be treated without the least
coloring. He shall be presented rs he is.
The facts prove that the weighty argument
of noted Virginia writer Of a few years
ago, regarding the rapid decrease OF the
negro 1.-THE inierior) when in competition
with the white race (the SUPERIOR was not
well founded. Statistics show thar the ne
gro is increasing at "A far more rapid pace
than the white, and reasons for this are ap-
parent.
| shall look at Yigginia's condition and
prospects, neither through richly colored
nor highly magnifying glasses. Hard
times are being felt over large part OF our
state in spite of the boom, boom, boom of
other portions. My papers will seek to tell
exactly why the times are so hard, and in
words whose meaning will be plainly under
stood.
AN INTRODUCTION.
To-day | simply touch my hat to the read
ers Of THE TIMES, with an assurance Of
my ardent love for my grand old native
state, my deep sympathy for her in her va
ried suffering and my singleness of desire
10 be useful in her service. With this brief
introduction | am truly, &C.,
DpS OIIIII.