The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-22

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drlw ln,11 grants to olr4 State, had among
them some very black sheep. 'Tl1olr mis-
representations were n deadly blight, the
effect OF which Is folt to this day Colo.
nles carle to starvo. Ono Of the bost,
led by u minister Of high character, re-
lglors and Industrious people, established
Il school Of high grade. Their views were
enlightened, and their moral Influence
good; but tho land was too poor. Per-
haps, they were told It was rich. Per-
| haps they did not understand how to TIL
! poor land. The end was disaster. All
| who could so went away to tell how they
had fnred. Such testimony injured Viz
Enin In ali the country. whence they
came, Some families, that could not go,
were thrown upon the county which
provided for them support. In sone places
in The country Vol, may find among the
poorest people, INN grants who came
here to thrive. Their gates and fences
tell the story before YOU enter their tuIn-
be-down houses. Perhaps, they were
sad managers. Perhaps. somebody did
not tell the truth, 50 nobly upheld by Mr..
Eibb. Ono sad instance occurs to mo
Which Injured us In England, as far as
tho Influence one man Of some note, and
his friends. could extend. He sent over
relative to buy and operate farm a.
fine one was pictured. a Virginia law
yer examined the records OF two coun Ties
and declared that the title was good. The
place was bought for about $4,000. Tho
relative and another Engllshman and his
wife went TO work OIL 1t. But 10! there
wuu found to be O Judgment upon the
property III one Of the courts aforesaid.
Tho Englishman capitalist. q PROSPEROUS
fnrEer, at home, came over, paid s6,U-O
more and ordered the sale OF the prop
crty, which brought $4,000, for tho $4,000
paid, never saw q man more disgust-
cd than this gentleman, and imagined
that Virginia would never be troubled
t!on Of England.
A lady from that country. travelling In
Virginia on a tour OF inspection about
that time, told mo that there were rich
people In England, who would be glad
to buy homes for their poor relatives In
Virginia. and sho protested to be looking
for property for such.
really believe that in tho counties
of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover, the
three counties nearest to Richmond, there
Is unoccupied land enough to support
half a million OF people. and afford
surplus for market OF what Is called truck
and other products. rode from point
four miles east Of Richmond, on the
Seven Pines Road, across the country
towards Old Church, and for five or SIX.
j miles, did. not see u house. In all these;
conditions Before the war visited sew
cral times gentleman III New Kent
county, who had two farms, and 100 he
grots. Soon after the war found him
| In the fall Of the year, preparing to SOW
his crop of wheat and his force was one
negro. and one horse. drawing single
pillow: and all the corn liz had saved was
in room OF his dwelling house. Fields
ouce cultivated were rapidly becoming q
wilderness, and tho foxes were playing
and barking In tho fields in open day II
| the lands Of Underwater Virginia were re-
| claimed. and that Improvement furnished
/ Of what they are readily susceptible, tho
generous soil, easily cultivated, would,
| with the fish and oysters Astounding in
| tho rivers, support millions.
! But let us remember Mr.. Bibb's advice
aud esctewed the me- and their successors
who, once upon time, not very far dis
tant. ploughed UP the red soil Of worn.
out lands and made It appear that that
was the rich. natural loan, that would Yield
seetl for tho sower and bread for the eat
or In abundance. E.
| Richmond, Va. F