Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15
THE NORTHERN NECK.
Farmers and Truckers Wearing
Long Faces-PO1itical.

CONFORM. KING GEORGE COUNTY,
VA, May 14.-(Special)-The farmers and
truckers of the Northern Neck are wear
ing long faces just now because Of the
long-continued cold. wet weather. which,
they think, threatens an all-around crop
failure. A majority Of the farmers here
have not as yet planted corn, and many
have not even ploughed their corn land
all because the soil has been too wet
to work in most of the time since early
in March. Some of the fields that We're
ploughed very early are now taken by
grass, and the remarkable weather con-
ditions have made it impossible to har-
row them down. Potatoes and other
vegetables which were planted in March
for market purposes and which are
"hand-high," have not had a single work
ing with hoe or plow up TO this time,
and among them the weeds and grass
are several inches in height. All this is
distressing to the farmer whose only in
come is from his crops, but there has
been but few days during the spring when
the soil could be worked at all. The
unavoidable conditions which thus dis
tress the farmer and threaten his pros
poets have been very detrimental to the
laborers who only have employment when
farm work is in progress. And the
country merchant complains that his
business runs down when the laborers
are not at work and not receiving wages.
SO, it will be seen that a long continIa-
ton of winter weather in the spring ope-
rates against all branches of business
In the rural districts.
The report some time ago that the
Republicans would begin in time" and
make strenuous efforts to fill all the inn
pOrtant county and district offices here
next year with their own men. was re-
iterated this week. 1t is understood that
they have practically agreed upon can
didates for the offices of County Clerk,
Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue,
and Sheriff, and that they have a strong
"hankering" especially for the Board Of
Supervisors. The latter important places
are now filled by two Democrats and one
Republican. Shiloh District is safely
Democratic. and will continue 10 be rep
resented on the board by Democrat.
The other two districts give Republican
majorities. but ii is expected that Mr..
Allen Smith, che staunch Democratic
supervisor who now represents Kappa
hammock District. will continue TO be
elected over any man that the opposite
party ma run against him. He is very
popular. r. V. Suttle, from Shiloh Dis
trict, is Democrat very-Shard 10 beat
and an officer with whom none can find
fault.
Agents for the sale of binders and
other wheat-harvesting machinery are
making a thorough canvass among the
Northern Neck farmers just now. trying
to convince them that wheat will be
worth $50 per bushel the coming sum-
mer. and ought 10 be harvested with none
but new and improved machinery
An examination. as far as possible into
the causes OF the delays, and the irregu-
larity with which mail matter Is some
times received by patrons OF country
post-ofiices shows that the fault is not
with publishers and other matters of mat
ter. Newspapers and letters are some
times received four or five days behind
time. and in nearly every such case the
wrapper Cor envelope. according to tha