Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-04-02
r,e,,ers rrom the People.

MR.. EDIToR:-About the easiest
thing to do in this age is to get in
the newspapers. Everybody, who hes
an idea, can ventilate it to his hearts
content. There are two classes OF
people who get in the newspapers,
those who have something to say,
and those who want to say som athing.
1t may be that your readers will.
after reading me through, conclude
that am in the latter class. Never
theless, with your accustomed cour-
tesy, am going to say it.
l often wonder If the farmers of
the Eastern Shore, especially Accomac
county, realize the enormous proper,
tions the growing Of sweet potatoes
has reached. The writer knows
whereof he speaks when he asserts
that there is no place in these United
States, where the growing of sweet
potatoes is the "main crop" OF the
entire farming population, as in Ac
comac county. So marked is this,
that do rot recall an instance in
the county where some other crop is
the main crop" There may be iso
lated exceptions, however. In other
sections Of the country where the
sweet potato is grown, it is in con-
nection with what might be aptly
termed, a full line of@ve vegetables
fruits etc. There is nothing at pres
ent to indicate any. abatement of
this condition, but to the contrary,
everything seen to point to its
being even more marked in the flu,
ture. Soil, climate, education, her
editary instincts, all lead in that dl-
rection. We are O prolific race of
people, and as q consequence, farms
are being divided and sub-divided
The people are industrious and thrift
ty. and vie with one another to ex
eel IN the production. The markets
have not for the past few years, upon
the whole, taken them ut enhanced
prices, but to the. contrary. There
fore, it is necessary to increase the
production. Add to this experience,
improved methods and machinery in
planting, cultivating and harvesting,
and any observing mind can, at q
glance, imagine the proportions these
conditions will produce in a few
years.
The average farmer "girds up his
loinsn and goes forth to produce the
crop. And when his mind is not EN-
ployed in devising plans for growing
the crop etc, it is divided between
going fishing, court day, calnpmeet
ing. county fairs, election day etc.,
rarely ever thinking of the great
changes and evolutlons going on in
the business world, never realizing
that the net product of the sweat of
his brow have to go up against these
ever changing conditions. Brains and
executive ability are father to those
changing conditions. Have they
ever stopped to ask themselves if
they are organized and equipped to
90 into the business world with their
products? If not, why not?
Twenty years ago the systems and
customs then in vogue for placing
the crop on the market, are entirely
outgrown today. Then the area and
production was small, and demand
good. Contemplate the changes OF the
past twenty years. The tendency
for the past few years, in all business
and vocations, is concentration
Communities that are at all famous
for producing any article of trade or
commerce, are organized, pooling
their interests. Brains as well as
Drawn have to be exercised in the
successful contamination of any bus
mess, or vocation. Then why should
the marketing of the Accomac sweet
potato crop, which is the result OF
the Drawn of the almost entire COM
munity. be an exception to the ordi-
parry commercial customs governing
the product of other communities?
The sweet potato is not luxury, nor
the growing of them experimental.
They are necessity-go to make up
the sum total of the necessities OF life.
Imagine if you can, the great iron
manufacturing institutions around
Pittsburg, or the boot and shoe pro
duciug communities around Boston.
putting the product of their toll and
investments at the disposal of few
inexperienced local men, who by
ren son of their associations and en-
vironments have never given the
intelligent distribution of such pro
ducts, serious thoughts, simply plling
it up in one narrow compass, without
any regard for the great laws of sup
ply and demand. And yet, the farm
ers of Accomac county are doing this
every year and paying for such
service not less than 100000
yearly. This is no reflection on the
many very estimable gentlemen en-
gagged as local agents. n-nost cases
they earn every dollar they get in
their ill-directed efforts. 1t is the
pleasure of the writer to know per-
sonally most of them They are
most pleasant, wholesouled and gen
ial lot OF fellows, and | fully believe
when they stop to reflect seriously,
they must see that the ever changing
and improved business conditions in
the business world have simply out
grown their usefulness. There may
he few who train in narrow grooves
aud who actuated by selfish mo-
tives still consider thems elves useful.
In all walks and works of life it is
that we keep abreast of
the times. 1t would be much better
if we even kept ahead.
Most all the evils that afflict society
were possibly necessary in their in
cipiency, or if not necessary, was the
best that could be done under the
circumstances. 1t is human to err,
get started wrongn. 1t seems to
have been the bent" of humanity at
the commencement. / would not pay
q penny apiece for men who never
make mistakes. But it is the extreme
of inuleishness in us to shut our eyes,
and not profit by our mistakes and
but go on repeating
them.
CO operation and organization is
the oroer of the day, in all walks of
life, whether it be professional, bust
ness. or labor.
There are no good reasons why the
70 rnars of Accomack cannot get to