Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-08
THE FARMERS FIGHT.
WHAT THEY ASK OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
line OF Road-Law-Inspsction
OF Fertilizers.
The State Board of Agriculture met last

lne state Board OF Agriculture met last
night in the rooms of the department.
The following members were present:
Hon. Absalom Koiner (presideut), Messrs.
=. Welford Corbin, II. V. Gaines. r. VI.
Mallory Orris A. Browne. Henry L. Ly-
man, Thomas Whitehead Commissioner Of
Agriculture). and Charles Grattan Qmmi-
grafton Agent.
Several members Of the Legislature visit
ed the meeting as spectators.
! The committee appointed at the meeting
OF the Board in October to draft bills for
new and additional legislation made their
/ report. This committee consisted of
Messrs Corbin. Lyman. and SutherlIn.
Bills REPORTED.
They reported two bills upon drainage
one drafted by Mr.. Corbin and one by Mr.
Lyman: one upon fertilizers. drafted by
Mr.. Lyman; and one for the establishment
of farmers institutes. drafted by the same
gentleman.
The duty of drafting bill for q betters
road-law was assigned to Major Sutherlin.
He was absent last night and letter was
read from him stating that he has been
sick ever since he was in Richmond on De-
cember 10th and has been unable to attend
to the matter. He offered several wise
matters over which the board has control.
Major Sutberlin stated that If his health
continues poor he viii have to resign his
place on the board.
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
The proposition to establish farmers in
stitutes is entitled A bill TO establish
farmers institltes in this State; TO pro-
vide for the mar agement Of the same: to
authorize the use of certain funds for the
support of the same and for other pur-
poses" Ii provides that these institutes
shall be under the control of the Board of
Agriculture, and shall be held at such time
and at such places as the board may
direct: that the board shall apply to
this purpose the use of all money
that may come into their possession under
an act which Congress may pass in aid of
farmers Institutes. and the board shall ac-
count to the Governor quarterly for all
such money. The board may also apply to
the support Of such Institutes until other
funds are provided any sums thought ne
cessary and which may be found remaining
In the treasury OF the board and not other
wise appropriated.
FEETLIzERs.
Mr.. T. y. Wright. member of the House
of Delegates from Isle Of Wight county,
was present, and was invited by the board
to read the bill which he has lately intro
duced IN the House providing for an in-
spection of all fertilizers offered for sale in
Virginia. The bill provides that the in
spectOr shall be paid twenty-five cents per
ton. whic fee shall be paid by the manutac-
turCrs The surplus. after cOmpensating
the inspector, Is 10 be paid into the treasu-
~ Of the Agricultural Department. The
Commissioner of Agriculture is to appoint
as many inspectors as he deems necessary.
1t was decided that the board would act
with Alr. Wright in seeking the passage of
an act for the inspection of fertilizers.
DRAINAGE.
The bills or drainage were turned over
to Mr. Broadwater. member of the House
from AccOmack. for examination, as that
gentleman is also drafting a measure with
tho same end in view.
The board took recess until 8 O'Clock
this morning. when it will again consider
the c bills and consult with members of
the Legislature as to the best means to ac-
complish the most good for farmers.
TIE ROADS.
A bill to improve the rOad-law will also
be discussed to-day. II will he general in
its provisions, and will embody these
features:
/. For the construction of the public
roads.
2. Their maintenance.
Il viii advise the employment By the
State and at the expense of the Stato) or
all male conYicts in the construction OF the
main county roads under survey and di-
rection of the State cadets Of the Virginia
Military Institute VINO may graduate and
who NAV elect to render this service 10 the
State IN lieu of the two years teaching now
demanded.
Further jurisdiction Of tho subject will
be vested in the Board of Supervisors and
not in county judges. as heretofore.
The bill will provide for the abolition of
statutory labor as now eXacted of the citi-
zen, or in lieu of this feature an increase of
three days service, making q total OF five
days ut so cents a day. In the hope that the
average citizen will pay Sl.50 sooner than
work the five days.
The bill will provide for the levying of q
direct tax upon all real and personal pro-
perty 10 maintain the road after it ls con-
structed and put in order by the State, and
no county is to have the benefit of the
work of construction by the State unless
1t pledges It's tax payers TO the expense Of
properly maintaining and keeping in tho |
rough order the main roads which the State
constructs.
Provision is made for the pay and elec-
tion of a county TOadmaster.
After the road Is constructed and IN con-
dition TO be received for maintenance by
the county the supervisors may exact n
license-Wheel and hOof-taX on other than
those engaged in agriculture or the trans
portatiOn OF agricultural products.