The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-20
A FARMERS MOVE.

A great deal mas Deen WRITTEN anu
said about devising some means or
scheme for bringing about gatherings
OF the farmers once month at the
various courthouses throughout the
State in order to keep up the inter
course for social and business prog
ress which they have heretofore en-
joyed and OF which they have now
been deprived by the abolition OF the
county courts. In somecOunties the
plan OF monthly meetings OF the
board OF supervisors has been adopt
ed with a view to meet on that day
We doubt very much whether this
plan win work satisfactorily. There
must be something more than social
attraction and transient business to
draw such crowds as have been ac-
customed to gather on court-days
There was always some interest in
county court proceedings to the citi-
zens OF county sufficient to bring
the people out, aside from the other
pleasant features OF the meetings.
On the other hand the meetings OF
supervisors is a dry proceeding and
oae In which the average man takes
little activeinterest. These meetings
seldom amount TO more than audit
ing accounts and issuing warrants
to meet the current county expenses,
and unless man has a direct per-
sonal interest in this business he is
not apt to attend. This paper has
always taken a lively interest IN
any thing that concerns the agrieul-
ural class, and We recognize that
they form the bone and sinew as well
as the foundation upon which our
social structure is built. We recog-
nize the Importance to the farmer OF
some such gatherings as they have
heretofore enjoyed, not only from
business and social standpoint, but
as a relief of the monotony which
farm life entails, and for this reason
we call attention to the plan pro-
posed in Gloucester county as being
the most practical and sensible we
have yet heard advanced. The plan
proposed, which is signed by some OF
the leading farmers OF the county, is
to form an agricultural society to
meet on the first Monday in each
month, except where the meetings
fall on court day, for the purposes
set forsh in the following:
"1st. To discuss agricultural con-
ditions.
"2nd. To facilitate the exchange
OF agricultural commodities,
"3rd. To create concert of action
for the purpose OF obtaining seed,
fertilizers, etc, etc, at reduced prices.
18th. To stimulate each other to
a greater interest in the cultivation
of the soil, and thereby improve our
conditions because of it's increased
productiveness.
1--WE wish to emphasize the fact
that we are trying to organizepure-
ly an agricultural society, for the
advancement OF the agricultural in.
terests OF this section, ard desire the
cooperation OF every white man who
is in any way interested in the cul-
tiyatiOn OF the soil
At these meetings it is proposed to
have one or more speakers present
to discuss agricultural subjects, and
the interest thus created should he
sufficient to attract farmers TO the
meeting, and would doubtless result
In much benefit. The plan OF having
meetings where they do not conflict
with the meeting OF the court would
give q farmers meeting every other
month, and on alternate months the
people would have the Circuit Courts
to attend, in which all the business
formerly transacted by County
Courts is now attended to.