The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-08
Upper JamcsR River Valley
League Now a Per
rnanent Body.
GOVERNOR AND
OTHERS SPEAK
Object OF League to Combine
People for General Good and
Let the World Know Of
Wealth and Posi-
bilitics Of Upper
James Country.
James Country,

The men of tie counties which are
washed by the waters Of the Upper
James believe that Virginia is the
finest state in the world and that they 7
live In the very best part OF Nir
ginia. And yet they realize, and have
for "a long time rea..zcd, that the out
side world knows neXt to nothing OF /
the beauty and grandeur of the vail
ley of the Upper James; Of the fer
tiIlty Of the SOIL; Of the wealth of
the minerals: of the possibilities Of i
the water power
systematic effort 10 furnish the /
world with information along these
lines ana do all else that is necessary
to bring that valley TO the plane OF 1
greatness which Is varied advan- |
tages entitle 1t to. was started six |
weeks ago. when The Upper James |
River Valley League was organized. |
That Organization was temporary
only. and yesterday. was the day set |
apart for the first annual meeting and
the completion OF the permanent or
Eanzation. The meeting, which was
held In the hall of the House of Dele
gates, was well attended by repre-
sentative farmers and owners OF the
fertile lands OF the upper valley coun-
ties. Much enthusiasm was manifest
ed and the permanent organization
was perfected without a hitch By the
adoption Of coL3titution and the
election OF permanent officers.
Stirring Speeches.
Short addresses were made by Gov
crnor Swanson Hon. Henry G. Stuart.
OF the state Corporation Commit s.;i on
and president OF the Virginia state
Fair. an Hon G. w. koiner. Com
missioner Of Agriculture, all OF whom
heartily endorsed the objects of the
II l., tIf,ls hos.
in advocacy OF organization among
farmers for the advancement of the
interests of Virginia and the upbuild-
ing of the waste places.
President Grant. OF the league, was
another enthusiastic speaker, as Were.
also Hon. n. w Harden, cx-attorney-.
general of Kentucky, and the owner
Of some of the rich james River lands.
and Captain II. i. Vaughan, OF West
View. Many new 4ss names were
added to the list of members. and the
first annual meeting of the league
was in all respects a success, even
beyond the hopes of It's original pro-
moters There was no business on
the table. as the organization is not
old enough yet to have accumulated
any In due time the standing com
mttees will provide business, and the.
league Will have plenty OF good
work to do.
The first annual session of the Upper
James River Valley League was call
ed 10 order in the House of Delegates
In The state Capitol at II o'clock yes
terday morning by the temporary
chairman, Mr.. Walter l.. Grant, of Hem
rico county. Prayer was offered by
Rev. Martin johnson, member of the
League. Just at the conclusion of the
prayer Governor Swanson, Hon. ii. c.
Stuart and Hon. George w Koiner
were escorted to the rostrum and in
.roduced by the president. These gem
tlemen were received with applause.
The President Speaks.
President Grant in his opening re-
marks briefly explained the aims and
objects of the league and its history
so far. He said:
BLESSED with a fertile soil, much Of
It OF absolutely inexhaustible fertility
we see too large a part of it growing
pp III weeds and brush. We have
abundant coal fields not mined. while
coal is being hauled to us at heavy
freight rates from the Allcghanl
Mountains. much of 1t being burned OIL
the ground underlaid with superior
coal in rich veins.
There are thousands Of horsepowe
In James River water going to waste
waterpoWcr which If situated at SOM
other points would be used in turning
Nthe wheels of hundreds, even thou
sands OF factories. we are the owner!
In part of this wonderfully rich sec
tion OF country, and we have not beer
using 1t as we should. 1T is needless t,
ask what we have or have not been do
ing with 1t. The living question is wlna
are we going to do with It.. With fair
ly good transportation facilities tha
are susceptible of great improvement
with the best water in the world, wit
heathfuness unsurpassed, with buildin
material growing on the hills the pos
sibilties are beyond calculation. Tha
a.tithe at least OF these possibiitie
may be brought t" pass, we nee
systemic effort and systematic organ
ization. Realizing this need the Cppe
James River Valley League has bee
temporarily organized and we are her
to-day to make the organization pei
manent and to get down to business.
Constitution and Hy-Laws.
Judge Wcliham, of the committe
appointed to draft constitution All
\ bylaws read the report Of the con
mttee submitting the constitution
Among other things the law provide
that any white person or l-nd ownt
living in the counties of the uppe
james River may become a member (
the league OIL the payment Of an In
tlation fee of 81.
Action on the report was suspendt
to hear from the Invited speakers
The G0vernOrs Address.
Governor Swanson was introduce
and made what was perhaps as stirrir
an address as any he has made In TIL
season of much speaking on his pan
IN the outset the Governor pledged h
earnest personal and official support 4
the work outlined in the code of lay
Just adopted for the league, He d
clared that Virginia is the finest agr
cultural country In the world, 3produ
Ing somewhere within Its borde
everything grown lin the tempera
zone, from cotton In the Southside, t
y----------