The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-02-06

tax gatherer. and money is exactly what
our country people no longer handle
Virginia has many Turner who from
one harvest to the next never handles
fifty dollars in ready money. In all this
there is something fearfully wong.
The thing left FOR our political econo-
mists and our law makers co do is to find
means of righting it, and in doing so
there would bc reflex, beneficiarysinnu-
ence to every class throughout the.State.
There is nothing in all political economy
truer than the axiom that the pulse of
the farmer is the true index of the pros
perity of the State. The trouble is that
our politicians about the time hey begin
to fee. the need of votes, ring the changes
ON the condition of the farmer and the
need Of something to be done for his re-
lief, that by constant dining into our
ears it has either lost all meaning to us.
or we have come to regard him as the
''Aewer OF wood and the drawer of water,'
whose condition is unaiterably fixed, and
about whom it, is no longer worth our
while to worry. But as we minated
above, such a step would not benefit the
rural districts alone. If tomorrow Vir.
ginia could announce to the world that
she would no longer levy tax upon real
estate, the simple announcement would
do more to bring men, mouey, euergy
and enterprise into her borders, tn IN NIL
the combined work of the army of immi-
grafton agents scattered throughout this
country and Europe. Should she do this
she would be setting no State precedent,
trying no untried experiment, for years
ago the little State of New Jersey ceased
to levy tax on real estate and without
one half the natural advantages of her
sister States, day no other State in the
Union is in more prosperous condition
or can make better financial showing
The clamor of some of our leading jour
ais for a constitutional convention; the
ever-increasinG debt of the State: the CRY
FOR retrenchment along all lines of State
expenditure, and the inability of our leg.
islature 10 find suitable subjects for the
pruning knife, all 30 LII show that our
finances are out of joint and that Vir.
ginia has fallen on trouhlous times. With
these conditions staring us in the face, is
IL not high time that we should cast
about for some more radical change in
State affairs. and if plan, no matter
how revolutionary it may nj first an
pear, can be found that promises more
beneiicent results, adopt It? We are fully
aware that this. is subject broad and
deep, and that we have done little more
chan to scratch the surface of 1t. but if
what we have said should stimulate fur.
Their investigation, we will feel that we
have at least accomplished someth ing in
direction that to our minds seems prep-
nant.with large possibilities.
W. X. ANDREWS e. CO., 210 Salem
avenue, have had years of experience in
the coal and wood business. They know
what Is required in the business They
have the largest and most convenient
yard in the city. They handle every va
riety of coal sold in the city. They have
more shed room and keep more teams
than any other dealer in the city. They
have polite and accommodating drivers,
and deliver promptly coal and wood,
nice and dry, from their extensive sheds.
Their teams are all belled.
Mr.. F. c. Helbig, IL prominent drug
gist Of Lynchburg, Va, says: Zone of
our citizens was cured of rheumatism of
two years standing by one bottle of
Chamberlain Pain Balm" This linament
is famous fer its cures Of rheumatism;
thousands have been delil hted with the
prompt relief which 1t affords. For sale
nv II. q. Barnes, "He puts up prescrip-
TONS