The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-31
SMALL FARMS AND GOOD ROADS.

the number of small garms is the great
need Of the South in general and OF
Virgins in particular. 1t is all we'll
enough to talk and write about manu-
featuring establishments, bus manu-
featured products without market are
burdensome and Improbable; whereas
If the large landed estates in Virginia
were divided into small farms, held by
industrious and thrifty immigrants, and
the country roads were put in first-clsss
condition 30 as to enable them to reach
the markets, the sale Of manufactured
products would BIZ largely enhanced,
and in the increase of the general pros-
perity there would be room for all kinds
of Improvements.
The bulk of the arabic lands of the
West and Northwest has been taken up,
and in much of those sections the cold
is so great in winter that many who live
there are anxious to go to warmer cli-
mate, and are turning their attention
eagerly in this direction, Here they
would have homes of comfort and plenty
In q few years at n moderate outlay of
money and energy, while in the sections
referred to they have to contend with
the snow and Ice in winter and cyclones
and drouth In summer. Here on fifty
acre farm ID has been shown that the
industrious Englishman, Frenchman,
German or any other immigrant OF in
telligence and thrift can soon support
his family, and surround himself with
necessary comforts.
With our people interested in immi-
grafton and the proper effort made in
that direction, Virginia would soon be
settled by q class OF small farmers that
would add greatly to the wealth and
produotiveness of the State. With the
increase Of population would come in
creased wants. The people would make
enough to eat, and sell enough to pur-,
chase other necessities. Then house
hold utensils, bedding, furniture and
farming implements would be manufac
tured somewhere, and to supply some of
these needs, small industries would
spring up in various places, gradually
eniarging In capacity az the demand for
their wares increased.
The individual farmers would first
aim to the self-sustaining as far az pos
sible. They would raise their own
bread and meat and enough tobacco or
other selling crops to give them money
fnr necaauIttcn or auap uorno luyury,,
Sheep-rsising and sorghum-growing
would soon prove profitable. AS popu-
lation increases and pressing wants
were supplied, time would be found for
experimenting on small scale, and
sugar making from beets or sorghum
would become in time, perhaps. per-
manent industry. With the increased
immigration the necessity for good
roads would soon be apparent. and in o
short time the State would be traversed
in all directions by good and durable
thoroughfares. Villages would spring
up, and In short in few years Vir-
ginia would become wealthy and pros
porous State.
There is nothing to prevent this. We
have the climate, the soil, the timber,
the water, the minerals, the fish and
sturdy and honest yoemanry as q neu.
cleus around which all the elements OF
prosperity can concentrate for growth
and development. All that's needed to
realize this Is persistent effort on our
part to advertise the State and its many
advantages.
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The RIphs naniarad N Dram