The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-29
II VIRGINIA.


Tn many parts of Virginia there Is q social
| and industrial transformation In progress that
must have O permanent and far preaching in
| Huence upon the destinies of the State at
large. Nowhere is this Transformation more
! impressive in It's radical nature than in the
larger portion Of Southside Virginia, which
was the principal seat Of the slave-holding in
terests before the war and the section in
which the masses Of our negro population
have been congregated since their emancipa-
ton.
The abolition OF slavery signiied the de-
struction Of the large plantation system, and
the destruction OF this system involved the
decay and ruin Of the landed gentry. Time
has brought about the accomplishment OF
both of these facts. The large plantations
are being subdivided. and in the process are
passing into the hands of a class hat is widely
separated from that of their former owners.
The old landed gentry is as a class entirely
extinct.
This condition Of affairs has in Southside
Virginia. and doubtless In other parts Of the
State also. been fastened by the long period
of depression from which agriculture has
hardly yet begun to emerge. Farming with
hired labor has been Improbable, while farm
ing without the expense Of such assistance
has been barely s~elf-supporting. This has
had q most important effect. Thus tho large
farms have either been sold or they have been
permitted to grow upin wood and broomstraw
or nave been rented. The number of large
farmers has fallen of TO zero. while the num-
Der Of small farmers has steadily increased.
The rapid deterioration of negro labor,
whether hired on q large or a very small
scale. has also promoted the industrial change
to which we have referred. The young ne
groes as laborers are very indolent, very I'M
skillful and very unreliable. Tobacco plant
ing in an extensive way can with difficulty be
carried on at all if their agency aloneis looked
to. The operations of farming proper are
similarly obstructed by their untrustworthi
ness. In consequence of all this, the cultiya-
ton Of a large section Of Southside Virginia
is performed by white men. either as owners
of the soil or as renters on a small scale.
The negroes, influenced by the prospect of
higher wages elsewhere, are constantly emf
grated in large numbers. Their numerical
strength has steadily declined ana will con-
tinue to do so until the day must arrive
when Southside.yirginia shall becomea com
munity of small white farmers, who will
gradually increase both by the operation of
natural law and by additions from abroad,
until all the land which is now allowed to
run to waste shall be brought under the hoe
and the pillow. The growing INSTRUMENTATION
and unreliability of negro labor will prove
the local ruin Of the race. or if SO extreme a
consummation rs this DO not brought about,
these injurious qualities will reduce the
members Of the race who shall remain to
social and industrial insignihcance.
The reyersion of SO much Of Southslde
Virginia TO forest leaves at first an unfavora-
bic impression, but it has its origin in causes
which must ultimately result in greater agri-
cultural prosperity than that section has ever
known in the past. The negro Is emigrating
and the white man has gone to work with his
own hands. Upon these two facts may be
confidently based the expectation that the
final destiny of this part of the State will lie
one of great wealth in the aggregate and OF
permanent prosperity. An industrious and
vigorous mass OF small farmers will take pos
session of every foot of it in time. A great
variety Of interests will be established. towns
will spring up and the forests will be hewed
down.
Under the new conditions now in operation
the blight Of large negro majorities will pass
away. Southside Virginia, the principal
home Of the negro race in this State at pres
ent. will become as fully a white mans CON-
munity as the Valley, and its growth in all
the elements Of wealth will be marked by the
steps in its approximation to this most do
sirable condition.