The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-15

F ARM LABOR
VERY SCARCE
Almost a Thing ofthe Past in
the Meherrin Vicinity,
LABoRERs GOING NORTH
OnIvg Ee,u pjonf Rade li,ve Rnap
LABORERs GOING NORTH
Only Few Plant Beds Have Been
Burned. and but Little Preparations
as Yet for the Making Of An
other Years Crops.
(spec,al to The Times Dispatch 5

tspeclal TO Ine Times. Dispatcb)
ME.HERI:lS. VA, Feb. 1l--r'arm labor
is almost a. thing OF the past In this
section and very slow progress Is being
made around here. On account OF the
scarcity OF the labor, several OF our
largest and best farmers have been forced
TO retire from the field and those left
are preparing for about half the crop
usually cultivated The best element OF
the laborns class goes north during the
summer months where they claim higher
wages prevail and return here when the
weather begins to grow cold and winter
with the few that are left to till the soil.
It has always been an easy job to rent
out a farm, but the land owners say
that 1t is impossible now to find renter
who Is willing to work and as a result
many of our best farms are almost idle.
Except those who are doing their own
work with their families Those who
are fortunate In this respect are very
much behind In their work. Only a few
have burnt plant beds and very little
land as no preparations has been made
FOR the oat crop. The younger set, which
in account Of their age are unable to go
north are employed around the various
saw mills and the farmers say it is i'm
possible to get pillow boy.
The whiskey question is beginning to
lrouse interest In this section and a
few petitions have been circulated among
ne citizens around by the ministers in
favor Of the Mann bill. At present
shere are two saloons here, with the town
not incorporated and no way to control
those who get under It's influence and
,nless some relief comes from the Leg
slature It Is quite evident that some
move will be made by the citizens and a
hard fight will ensue. So far as your
correspondent Is aware, this is the only
point between Manchester and South Bos-
ton where liquor is sold.
The recent rains have made the roads
get deeper and deeper and at present it
is almost impossible for anyone to go
over them in a buggy and where they
We're worked late last fall, the hubs as
we'll as the rims are several inches in the
mud. Traffic has almost ceased, except
with those who are compelled to go and
very little is being done in the way of
hauling. except those who are adding
more teams to the same load.
Monday was County Court. A large
crowd was present and many horses
changed owners. There was no cases
before the Judge and in his case every
thing was unusually quiet. The two
cases that were to have come up was
postponed. Tho grand jury was In ses-
sion and failed to find a true bill against
Randle Wood. who was charged with at
tempting to poison the horse of Robert
Gregory and he was released from Gus
tody.
The meeting which was called by the
secretary OF the Daughters OF the Con
federacy to be held at Lunenburg Court
house on Monday last was called to or
der by the President, Miss Mamie Neb-
lett, in q room of the Mariners Hotel
Only about eight members were present,
which was caused by the bad roads and
no business of Importance was gone into
slr. John Harding, the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Harding who reside a few miles
west OF this place. has been suffering
for the past month with bleeding from
the nose Almost every hour, day and
night, the blood began TO flow. and every
remedy wh!ch.,has been tried has failed
to stop It for any length of time. IT is
an unusual case In this section and much
uneasiness Is felt for him.
Mr.. Nance Arm. who was hurt dur
Ing the holiday In 4 runaway which end
ed by his being thrown out OF his bug
sy from which his arm was broken and
his hip knocked out OF joint, is improv-
Ing very slowly and until the past few
days he has been able to sit up. several
doctors are attending him and it is
hoped that. he Will soon be out
Miss Eva Love and Mr.. Wren Elder
both OF Reedy, this county, was married
at the home Of the bride on Thursday
last by Rev. S. II. Love. After the cere-
n1ony sumptuous supper was served
the guests and dancing was engaged in
and kept up until late hour.