Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-04-11
wnodlawn Farmers, Club.

The WoodlaWn Farmers CLUB meta at
the home of J. n. Gibbs, April 1st.
President Harrison in the chair. The
minutes of last meeting were read and
approved. AT the presidents request
f. e. Mason read an essay on the sub
icct of roads, in which, after abiding 10
the very general demand for better
roads from all sections Of the country,
he spoke of the difficulties in the way
of eilecting the desired improvements.
1t was much easier 10 point out the de-
f.cts Of the present road system than to
inaugural a new one. One great diff
Guilty in the way of this was the diver
sity OF views on the subject. Whenever
the attempt has been made it has been
found that the body Of the Taxpayers
of this section being made up of men
f,om so many different localities, each
one. perhaps. thinking that his plan
was tie best, that it has been utterly
impossible TO agree upon measure that
would meet with general approval.
The burden of taxation for securing
better roads should not necessarily fall
upon the rural districts alone-the
cities were equally interested in the i'm
provement.
1t has been stated that much Of the
agitation in favor OF road improvement
has been started by the bicycle clubs;
but granting that, il is no reason why
farmers should not join with them in
bringing about Il meritorious. reform.
In the last rs years over $4,000 has
been expended on the roads of Mount
Vernon district besides the poll tax
and much voluntary work, and the
roads generally are not much better
than they were at the beginning. He
hoped the discussion of the subject
would result in some eilectual improve
mcnt.
At the conclusion of the essay gen
ci4,l interchange of views followed.
President Harrison referred to the
exceptionally COOL roads Of Essex
county, \. j., and how they had re-
suited in the increased value of all
property in that section. The proposition
of the road commissioners to expend
all the surplus funds in the district
treasury on the main roads leading
to Alexandria was commended, pro-
vidcd it could be done iudiciously,
but exceptions were taken to some OF
the work done last summer, when the
work had been paid for before it was
properly done. The necessity Of the
lax payers seeing to it that properly
qualified merFwere elected to the posi-
ton Of road commissioners was strong
ly urged.
c. Lukcns then suggested reading
the essays of o. E. Hine and r. w.
Tyler, which were read at the Mauas-
sas Institute; the former as to how to
make 100 acre farm pay was the first
to run the gauntlet Of the Woodlawn
batteries at short range. With the ag-
ricultural solons around in their easy
chairs it was severe ordeal that it had
to pass through, and it came out little
like some of the battle flags of the civil
war 1t was thought that his estimate
of the products of the farm was low
enough, but they did not see how
family like most of those in the Horse
Shoe Valley could he sustained on the
amount he put down. Then again
there were not many of them who had
the ideal family of the essay, SO we
passed on to the consideration of Mr.
Tylers essay about the 500 acre farm.
As there were not many of our farmers
who had farms of that size we did not
feel competent to criticize itquite so Sc
verely, so he got off better. 1t was
quite evident that the essayist thought
Prince William was the Paradise of the
sheep grower-if twins and triplets had
anything to do with it-and if that es-
say is very widely circulated then the
residents of that favored county will
have to look out for an avalanche of
shepherds looking for farms.
Some further discussion followed on
the benefits of cooperation among
farmers, when supper was announced,
aud the club adjourned to mingle with
the ladies around the well filled tables.
The next meeting will be held at the
house of the secretary April 30.
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