The Washington herald., 1908-07-19


ing the past ten years. there is always
decided gravitation 10 the cities and large
manufacturing centers. largely augment
ed by the boys and girls from the agri-
cultural districts. as a result of the high
ly cOlored reports detailing the success
OF those who have gone before and ac-
quired independence and wealth in the in
dustrial centers. On the other hand. when
business depression and stagnatiOn follow,
the tide just as surely flows back from
the cities 70 the country. This is an
automatic condition. well recognized by
real estate men and more particularly by
the land departments Of the railroads
r H La Bsume. agricultural and in
dustrial agent OF the Norfolk and West
ern Railway. has attained an unusual de-
gree OF success in pointing out TO these
city people-clerks. mechanics. laboring
men. and small professional men-a way
10 get back 10 the soil and 70 exchange
the dependent adversely OF the city for
Independence and success in their coun-
Try homes
Looking Back TO Nature.
Your correspondent dropped in 10 have
q talk with him the other day while pass
ing through Roanoke. Va. and TO give a
better idea Of just what the railroads Of
the country are doing TO contribute TO the
Improvement Of their territory and to the
Industrial and agricultural upbuilding Of
the sections through which they run
What Mr.. la Baume said Is quoted in
fun:
You ask why the Norfolk and Western
Railway IS spending money 10 maintain
an experimental farm, 10 run educational
trains. 70 cooperate with the State de-
partmeat OF agriculture and the United
States department al Washington. and
where We expect TO get an adequate re-
turn This question gives me an oppor-
tunity 70 outline the situation and 10
show you how q railroad in undertaking
this seemingly missionary work can in
crease its own revenues and win the con
fdence and appreciation Of its patrons.
who are mutual benefciaries in the work
accomplished
Here In Virginia we have three million
acres or more OF idle land. IN the territory
tributary 20 this line Of railway, much of
II capable Of the highest production. but
which at the present time is practically
idle, solely because We have not suffi-
cient population to cultivate It properly.
The railroad manager Of to-day is
not only concerned with the traffic devel-
Cpment OF the present moment. but he
IS continually looking ahead to provide
Tor traffic IN the future He realizes that
there are hundreds and thousands Of
families in the cOngested centers Of the
North as wei as in the towns and in the
small villages who are looking forward
10 the day when they can establish
themselves in an attractive country home
Of their own He also realizes that there
--FT
y in the South, who are buTdened with
more land than they can successfully
cultivate The establishment Of a land
department Is. therefore. the direct result
Of a determination 70 remedy these con-
ditions and 70 extend facilities and point
out ways and means to enable those who
desire TO get back TO the soil 10 accom-
plish their purpose.
The Northern and Western farmer has
been coming to Virginia in Increasing
numbers during the past three or four
years. and the majority OF them have Sc
cured fine old farms and plantations al
prices that dc not represent One-third OF
the farm values in the sections from
which they came In order TO take care
OF the small purchaser from the city who
has a few hundred dollars to invest We
have established a settlement in Eastern
Virginia Some two thousand acres of ex-
cellent agricultural land was, at my So
ncitation. divided into small twenty-five
acre farms and neat, comfortable three
room cottages erected thereon BY the
owner. The land lies within two miles
OF a progressive little city. and two-thirds
OF these farms have already been sold TO
people who have moved in, and they are
bringing them into state Of high pro-
ductivity-
Starts Demonstration Farm.
a move on the part Of this department
was 10 establish a demonstration fam
by the railway company. This was done
at Ivor. Va Modern buildings were erect
e1 and a comfortable. large house with
up-to-date cOnveniences was built and a
practical farmer was secured as manager.
On this farm are being produced crops
this year which Il was heretofore sup
posed could not be grown IN that section
What Is more, these crops ere in the
highest state Of cultivation and promise
an excellent yield I always maintain
that the real prosperity Of a community,
city, and nation Is dependent UPON
the prosperity Of its agriculturists.
On that hypothesis We have directed
our energies. principally to the rehabili-
tation Of the farming communities, know
ing well that when we repopulated these
waste places the cities, the towns and
the villages viii prosper and increase in
prOpOruOu, ana Il1I without this prOduC-
tive back country they cannot maintain
their growth on q substantial basis. The
hunger for land and a self-supportlnE
home Is inherent IN every right-m.nded
man The city life at best is an artificial
one A reaction is setting in, and city
people are to-day taking an interest IN
the country and its possibilities as a
home that has not been manifested in
years
We are endsavOring to meet this SEN
timent. TO encourage It. 20 show these
people how, with small resources, they
can acquire an independent home that
viii support them and those dear to them
and IN addition furnish them a surplus
that viii assure them a competence and
refuge after they have reached the pin
nacle Of life and are travelling down the
farther slope over a path which has been
strewn witt, many blessings due TO their
foresight in making the change.
Not a Land Grant Road.
The Norfolk and Western Railway IS
not Ike some of the large Western
granger roads. q land-grant road. It has
no lands Of its own for sale. and can hope
for no direct pecuniary profit from the
farms sold 10 the people whom II brings
into Virginia; but as before stated. II Is
a part of business wisdom to insure fu-
ture protection to and DEVELOPMENT OF
our railroad traffic. We believe that in