Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-23
cream lace. Rose silk neckband and belt

country property to $4,000 600. and gives
the cities and towns about $4,000 600, as
Of 1895.
The census Of 1890 shows that only
| 80 1-3 per cent. of this land Is productive,
and that the total acreage I'm farms fell
off from 1880 to 1890 730,SJ0 acres. Again:
The total increase In population for the
entire State during this decade was
1885. while the cities increased 156,52S
inhabitants. Net loss in country 1928.
Looking at the conditions broadly-to
which the Virginia farmers form no ex-
ception-Mr. c. -. Wright, Commissioner
of Labor etc, who investigated this sub
ject for the census Of 1850, states that
the mortgage movement from 1880 10 1880
was progress sive-from $539 SIG 80 in 1882
TO 81, 3Sl, $50 I'm 1889. an increase Of
15G0i per cent. during this period. Du-
ring same period the number OF hired
farms increased 1910 per cent. and the
number OF mortgages 295i. 1t is this
condition of 'ngs which has caused
regular stampede for a number of years
past from the country 10 the cities,
which has resulted I'm a growth of liS
per cent.-counting cities only which
have over $500 inhabitants-while du-
ring the same period-vlz., from 1870 10
1880. our suburban population has In
creased only q per cent.
3. These figures give some idea OF the
conditions prior to 1870. but If we are TO
credit the statistics published by the
United States Government and standard
authorities on economic subjects, the
changes and shrnkage in values have
been far more startling during the past
six years.
No one who has observed the sales of
property made recently both In the coun-
try and the cities, can fail to be struck
with the great and unprecedented shrink
age in values. Numerous instances could
be given of land sales but / will confine
myself for the present to live stock, as
reported by public documents-e. g., Bulle-
tin No. II. Department of Agriculture.
January. 1881. From 1898 TO 1896 the num-
Der OF horses in the United States was
reduced about one million. while the ag-
eregate value shrunk 500 100000. Mules
shrunk in value $60,OOO0Co. In 1898 we mad
a. ZOO sheep. worth Sl25.9O9 600: in 1896
we had 3s,29s,OOo sheep worth S65.2Gl'c go
a decrease Of % per cent. in number and
So per cent. in value. In 1893 we had
&c 100000 swine, worth s9J,OOJOyO in 1876
we had 42OOo.OO0 swine, worth $4,000 900;
number hogs decreased II per cent, value
decreased "a per cent In 1884 the total
value of farm animals to the 100 of popu-
Iation in the United States was SloD;
in 1885, S2,i5l.
4 Since 1870 the number Of farms in the
United States has doubled, the number
acres of land In cultivation has doubled.
the number of bushels Of corn, wheat,
oats barley. potatoes, &C., have doubled.
and the pounds Of cotton tobacco. meat,
&c. have doubled, and the population has
doubled. vet the aggregate value OF the
entire products of agriculture for 1875 was
worth $50 go less than 1t was in 1870.
All of these facts should be pondered !
well by those who think we SHOULD yet I
well enough alone" who believe that the |
time has not come yet to tax ABOUT !
framing a more economical form OF gov |
eminent because we cant tell who WIFI /
control it," because public sentiment mas /
not crvstallized on the suffrage question"
md because 1t will cost the State 100000, |
co &c. and times are hard and we can't |
afford it. -,
YES times are undoubtedly hard; all
ba conditions of life are hard, and be-
coming harder every day. because agri-
ultural classes have been shorn OF fully
per cent of their assets; land, imple-
nents. and live stock have shrunken in
,alue fully 80 per cent. during the past
hree years as shown by the most indis-
utable authority, which doubles the bur-
en- Of taxation, even II present rates
ould he maintained, but unless the ex-
enses of government are reduced at
nee. and reduced most materially, 1t VIII
q impossible TO raise sufficient revenue
d maintain the present expenditure or
200 900 annually. Yet ii is evident that
~ shall need fully 100000 more revenue.
hitch the Legislature TO be elected this
all must provide for 10 prevent the
heels of government from being blocked
I 1900
&. Yet every article which I have read
rom those who oppose a convention at
MS time takes the ground that We can't
sduce the appropriations TO the free
,hools. or the asylums, or the old SOL
ers. nor to the State debt, and hence.
course. salaries and allowances and
.rauisites can't be reduced-then why
,end 100000 in convention? Why, OF
,urse. IL we have made up our minds TO
nut our eyes and go straight on to an
her financial cataclysm, before we stop.
Is useless TO take the 100000 from the
lncry people who are now getting IL,
nd give TO q few other hungry people
no want to air themselves in a conven-
)n? 80 |
Does anybody realize that every bust {
IS interest in the State at this time is
ralyzed? No man knows which way =,
turn or what to do TO keep his head {
ove water, and there Is nothing but
inning and kiting and shaving paper.