Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-08
yIRGIyIA'S RESOURCES.
The Legislature should DO More to
Advertise Them.

Advertise Them.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
l have been looking for two hours
among my Virginia books-reports OF
public officers in Virginia--to find out the
area and population of the State. but
can find nothing The United States GEN.
sus report has it. but / do not have that
book, and, besides, | want Virginia
book.
The report OF the Department of Agri-
culture of North Carolina has full details
OF the Industrial conditions of that State.
Maryland has a copious statement Of the
area, production, and industry of her land
and water, and we have nothing in Nir-
ginia The Johns Hopkins University
has made a scientific examination of
the area, value, and propagation Of the
oyster. Virginia's oyster area Is ten
times more valuable. and we have no
thing here. The same great seat Of learn
ing and school of instruction Is prose-
cutting a geological survey, supported
by the State. | can find nothing OF the
mineral resources of my own or my
neighbors / wish the three great State
institutions OF Vrgnia-properly support
ed by tho State-would give US an INTEL
ligent view of her geology, her mlnerai-
ogy her climatology, and We could thus
know something of the country in which
We live. They could be made great In
strumentalities OF collecting and dissem-
mating information at home and abroad.
We are poor-very poOr-in money. We
are rich in climate in soil, in health, and
in happiness. | know this country from
Nova Scotia to the mouth of the oregon,
and from the Lakes 10 the Gulf, ana L
sincerely believe we have the best ell
mate on the Continent. II IL were known,
we would have great immigration from
the Northwest. Dakota. Idaho, ana the
eastern slope Of the Rockies, and the
head Of the Mississippi But nobody
knows Of US. To the outer world Nlr-
ginia is a poor, poverty-stricken state
overridden by the F.. +. VS., who do no
thing but drink whiskey and Drag OF
"befo' de wah" But these same f. +.
VS. overrun the country, and Wherever
they are, take first place in the profess
sions. in industry. and in finance. Inc
Virginia hive has contributed more
energy. more intellect. more character
to the West and South than any other
population and than all OF them. the
steady drift of Virginians from nome
withdraws forces which ought 10 make
the State, and this is natural. right. ana
just. There are few avenues of employ
HtNl mere, anu tAtlSy SOtS hhNAN 81 -
exert itself. 1t is the law Of Nature. The
only remedy is TO develop our own re-
sources so as 70 offer opportunity here.
We have no money TO do this ourselves
We must utilize the capital, which Is our
land.
Mr. Wood, a writer in the Southern
Farm Magazine. OF Baltimore says there
are 10000 farmers In Virginia, with an
nual farm products OF 100000.
They ought to be doubled In number
and quadrupled In value Of products.
According to the Year Book Of Agricul-
ture of the United States Cor 1885, the
average value OF the average acres or
corn. wheat, and hay in that year in
Virginia was greater than in Illinois IN
diana, or Iowa. This surprises me. as
suppose IL VIII most people mere ana
abroad. But know the soil can be made
prodgiously productive.
Mr.. II. T. Wood. OF Fluvanna, reports
that this year he made 80 % barrels, or
over Isl bushels. of corn on one acre Oh
land. | have seen q barrels on one acre
in Worcester county, Md. and 60 bushels
OF wheat in Hartford county, and know
our land Is as good as that in Maryland
Intensive cultivation, deep ploughing'
heavy manuring. and small acreage, with
produce many times more than our pres
ent system. with very much less lapor
and expense OF cultivation.
We farmers want knowledge. AS MI.
Samuel H. Woods says in the southern
Farmer: Life is too short 10 learn by
experience and observation alone 1T
is wise man who learns by the expe-
rience Of others. and it Is from books we
get this"
i know the general derislon about
book farming" but the experience OF
the world is stored in books. and II Is
the only reservoir OF knowledge that
exists accessible TO all. II is demon
strated beyond cavil that Virginia -
the land for fruit-apples. pears. grapes,
and small fruits. That knowledge ought
To be disseminated among our people. l
know one woman neighbor who sold 500
10 500 OF fruit and vegetables from a
four-acre garden. cultivated by herself
and her children, and the State does alb
solutely nothing TO help in this direction.
Virginia IS fortunate In her Commits
sioner OF Agriculture. Energetic. intelii-
gent competent and zealous-if koiner
were given chance he would do more
good than any one man In H.
France spends $l.ooo.ooo a year for the J