The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03

| Ihe press Is teemlng Win accounts
| of flush times and with general state
ments. going to show that all classes
and all crafts are on tidal wave OF
! unparalleled prosperity. Now and thst
a discordant note comes from the coun-
try like that, for example. which APP
| Dispatch from a New Kent farmer. The
writer is Enthusiastically Intelligent, anSo
| he writes as one who knows his ground
! He gives facts which show conciusives
lily that farmers. so far as he knows
! them, are not having good times. so
this question. as Is true or most CUES,
tons. has two sides; Wonder tr II I, we we
| Most press writer's are. town people;
and so the dominant TONE or the press
reflects urban sentiment: Now, there
man mainly derives. his impression OF
| rural prosperity
l., The townsmnn reads OF frequent
land sales deen gTeattby e
| all the farmers are growing rich. It
| is true that land sales are much more
frequent now than they were while
much higher. But farms that find ready
sale are, In large part. Such as Offer
the capitalist some special attraction,
dence or n Colonial home, or some
other feature quite, apart from the
productive value of the soil Itself. Ana;
besides, a farm of this, sort is not
few months. and each time at con-
siderable advance. And so there goes
out an exaggerated impression OF the
volume of .rade in lands.
1t also remains true that the ratio
of farms selling to farms for sale Is
exceedingly. small, and that in many
land can be bought for So an acre as
can be sold at s2e an acre? But, even
II every farm in the State could bs
sold for two or three times as much
as it was< assessed at a. few years ago.
this would not necessarily bring COT
responding benefit to the owners: for
ntbsr OF Calling to their IN fanny
les lies, would stili and it to their advan-
tage to hold on TO their land. VS.
must not forget that s. the real va as
the market, butin whatsit. Will yield in
corn, wheat. ssattle.or other products
2. Again. the townsman's notion of
farm prafits Is based largely upon what
he has to pay for the farm products
he eonsumes be- milk, bntter egEs
of a conclusion, reached in this way,
will readily appear to one who takes
account of6the fNawning chasm between
farmer: getsr--as ohasm .fllea by enor-
nous profits to middlemen.
l live In the city. and I buy these
farn, products in the, city markets Ny
.WOTh }hetIlS I1ltt4 IIlutli tol lut llltle III
the country, and, I have, a good oppor-
tunity to observe conditions int'aimost
every section Of the State Here Is
e he best laTms fnFs vr
ginia. The. farm contains five hun
dred acres, with over four hundred IN
cultivation" well set in grass. \,
few. years ago the owner declined
ss5 an acre for this farm, notwithstanding,
that 1t is twelve miles from his railway
station. 80 ,ns ta.r,
Income for the year
450 bus, of wheat, at soc. ..a...s $50 10
go bus. or corn, at 6oo..,.. laa 90
| tons OF hay. at sl+ .,.,,.. ZIG 90
80 80 head lea 10 OF fat cattle, $4,000
lbs. gross, at lao. ...... 1,620 90
Gross amount OF sales. ~. s2,51o 90
Money paid out on wheat
10 tons OF fertilizer. .slS4 90
Grass seed ,..,,.....,.r36 10
e e6s'sais N :..:::.,. y 90 90
Total paid out on
25 head stock cattle,
10000 lbs at 3-4c, $50 90
FaSss and insurance. i is5 90 90
Excess of receipts over ex-
Let it be observed that til this rs Is "a
bare statement of money paid out and
money nj taken k n, y takes no account
iears grazing for stock. no, accopmtsuf
machinery and vehsales, none, Of the
vorls Of teams. orc Or OF the owners work
let US now compare; q he prfceaArs'-a
ceiFed By the producer with those