The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-25
NEWS OF COUNTY
OF N0RTHUMBERL'D.
Labor Situation VeryPerp'ex,
ing to the Farmers Big
Family Reunion.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.)

tHEATHSVILLE, VA, Oct. H.-The
labor situation here has been becoming
more and more serious each year since
1900, until It is now one Of the most per-
picking problems with which the farmer
has to deal.
For quito number of years the negroes
have been leaving for the cities where
they find employment on the railroads and
in lumber mills. Some few of these OBJ
tanned high wages. saved their money and
have brought homes here. These story Of
high wages has an allurng effect, and
each year has seen the exodus of large
number of laborers. until now a large
percentage of the best laborers have gone
North that is. for the summer and fall
the canning factories Mt higher wages
than the farmer can afford to pay. For
the last two years the canning factory
owners have had to go to nearby cities
and hire Germans and Bohemians IN order
to be able to operate their factories.
Owing to the scarcity of labor not over
one-half Of the usual acreage Of wheat
will DO sowed this fall. The better class
tention to the raising Of stock. Those
who have up to this time tried stock
raising say that there are better profits
received, considering the labor employed.
scarcer throughout the Northern Neck
Just now than 1t has been for several
years, but those who are thinking Of turns
Ing their farms into such an industry WI!
look In other directions for a source OF
supply. All kinds of stock arc command
ing good prices, and hogs are especially
high and scarce.
A few years ago nearly every farmer
the profits received were very satisfac-
tory, but lately the focks have been de-
clining, farmers claiming that i Is I'M
possible to raise other stock IN the same
pasture with them. as they Craze the land
too close. ~
The corn crop has about reached Il the e
stage when an experienced farmer can
estimate NTH tho s yed aef he al abTs
below the general average. The majority
of the farmers Of the Neck say that the
crop Is unusually fine, and ~ ,. every wpS
a aVer e eon nD that the long eontlnpd
heavy ia ms and unu-ually cool weatn,r
been Very unfavorable and detrimental to
both the early and the late corn ana
that the crop will not be as good as u.s.
The Carters Greek Fish GnanG, Com m
Steamers. The GIll-Eubark Comp ny hrs
also sent out f Gns boat tooa &c eros ra
for a fortnights fall fishing,
steame, william s. Brusstar. of tho
Snow Fallin Company. under command
of CAPITA us Robert snot and |. N. BUS
sells, commenced Fishing aga'in!, Welnes;;
weeks ago. but her owners think she Will
be In time time for the hunkers when t ely
come down the beach.
The trial OF s. B. Har1iWI,i,c a,, Ct j N n
viii be held at Montross. on the fourth
Monday In October. a..
A reunion Of the family or thn late MI
and Mrs, Thomas p. Lewis WI b. MA
at at q BISON Church. on tho 2ith inst1nt,
This promises to be one OF the Ia gest
affairs held in this section of the coun-
try. for several years
Tombstones VII DO erected to the mem,
DRY OF Mr., and Mrs, Lewis, parent. OF
the present Mr.. Lewis. 10th q whom
we're aImo q hund ed years old. at thF
time OF their death. Preparations
being made on u large scale for the en-
tertainment OF the guests expected.