The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-12

The executive committee OF the State
Board of Agriculture held conference in
| This city Thursday. and II was intended. dur
ing ths cir session to regularly discuss the State
| debt. and tho great advantage which would
accrde 10 the agricultural interests by its
| settlement This idea was abandoned for the
time. but there was an informal discussion
Ut the subject among the members, and
Major w. r. Su.herlin. president OF
!, the board, expressed himself az 30 fully
impressed with the necessity OF settlement
/ now, while tho conditions are favorable. that
he declared that wero he younger man be
would run for the Legislature on that plat
7, form. Later in the day he called on the
Governor for the express purpose OF urging
his views on the subject to that gentleman.
/ and he did so with tho full approval of the en-
tire committee
This position of the State Board OF Agri-
culture, considered in connection with the
suggestion of Major Mann Page. president OF
the State Farmers Alliance, in his address to
that body at their recent convention IL TINS
city, is very encouraging 10 the friends OF
satisfactory settlement Of this terrible lncu-
bus upon the State. It shows that the
bone and sinew Of the Commonwealth
IRE beginning to wake up TO the impor-
lance Of removing 30 formidable an obsta-
Gle TO their advancement and prosperity, and
( that our farmers are beginning to realize what
a drawback the debt is TO them. SO long "a II
remains in the state Of uncertainty IN which
il has been kept for the past thirty years, 30
long must il be not only constant source OF
embarrassment to all classes Of our popula-
ton, but OF endless harassment and htiga-
ton. More than this. it frightens away capital,
which is VIGOROUSLY sensitive. and prevents
those who have means from seeking invest
ments in State the finances OF which are IN
80 unsatisfactory and unsettled condition.
Thus development and progress which 90
hand in hand with capital and investment.
are retarded. and the credit Of the State con-
tinucs seriously impaired.
All these facts the farmers are beginning 70
realize and TO feel the evil effects of. In fact,
they, more than any other class, are affected
by the constant and tedious agitation Of this
subject since it prevents immigration and
investment and SO acts as tremendous obsta-
Gle TO the. sale of their lands and the success
Of their farming operations.
Major Sutherlin is therefore right when he
urges u settlement of this vexatious and trou-
blesome question now that the conditions
are favorable. II is generally understood that
the representatives of the bondholders who
visited this city some months ago showed a
decided inclination to arrive at satisfactory
understanding with the State debt com
mission, and to come to terms which
would not sensibly increase the pres
ent obligations of the taxpayers. If
at their next conference they are prepared to
make definite proposition to this effect it is
most earnestly TO be hoped it will I'M
hesitatngly be accepted. And if the farmers
of the State are favorable to it-and the sent
iments Of the State Board Of Agriculture and
of the Farmers Alliance as voiced by their
President clearly indicate that they area
settlement can be effected without any diff
Guilty Then our old Commonwealth with
this heavy load finally removed from hor
shoulders, will stride forward at rapid pace
and enter on a new era of welfare and pros
perity.