The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-05

for distribution and sale. / have re-
Gently travelled over almost the entire
West, and / have yet TO see State
which possesses the possibilities for
future agricultural opportunity and
wealth OF Virginia.
Il believe there is not a soil in this
country. which II scientifically
made TO make 1T rich and suitable for
farming, that VIII make as profitable
returns as the soil OF Virginia. ! have
| visited and examined the so-callei
| irrigated fields of the West. with all
| of their boosted richness. and / am
satisfied that If one-fifth as much
money per acre was expended on the
Virginia soil that IL would bys far sex-
coed these in value and richness of
| production. These irrigated farms cost
nearly 5000 per acre to get them into
state OF cultivation. and very large
sum each year to keep them in con-
4 dition.
! Field for Development.
The ruit-growing industry of Vir-
glnia is very small at present in COM
! parison to Its great possibilities. This
should be developed to the fullest ex-
tent ana VIII bring to the State Inn
OF this State has been greatly neglect
ed, and furnishes fields for the most
profitable investments. About so per
cent cent, OF our milk and butter is pur-
/
snouid not only supply her own milk
and butter, but should her own milk
amount amor! each year to other sections.
wy. IN, line climate. splendid water, and
W uesarness to vastly populated cities.
| Virginia offers every inducement fo,
successful dairies. Again, Virginia. in.
moaa ., OK puylng hay. should produce
needs. suppis her own
The first need Of the rural districts
-. more efficient and better sys-
tenn OF public schools. The General
,sssi,iDis or virginia generously re-
sponded to this necessity, largely In
creastng the appropriations to public
schools: made special approximation
Tor nigh schools in the rural districts
ana from one end of this State to the
o ., we witness rapid Improvement
Is not far distant when every coun-
itry boy and girl can get an educa-
ton equal to those obtained in anv of
/ the cities.
The next great need of the country
Is the Improvement of the public roads
the highest tax paid in Virginia is
the mud tax paid by the farmers dur
ing the winter months travelling the
wretched, muddy roads OF the State
i me last General Assembly inaugu-
!, rated system. which ii supplemented
by the local authorities, will result
In a few years. in marked improve
ment OF the public highways Of this
Sta to- If the local authorities win
4 aeall themselves OF the assistance rem
4 each year about 200 miles OF perma-
nent roads. scattered at the most i'm
portant parts of the various counties.
4 The following of this plan means the
! construction each year'in Virginia Of
sufficient miles of permanent roads to
cross the State, from North to South,
dor from East TO West. II this policy
:. Is continued in ten years the public
roads OF Virginia will be so improved
as to furnish a model for other States.
The Governors Call.
THE farmers Of America TO- day
better than all other classes of our
! citizens. They have learned to diver
sify their crops. and are not depends
their farms nearly all of the agricul-
tural products needed Nearly one
h nal Of the he deposits IN our banks are
; The farmers ofethe United States have
! the future Of this country in their
hands, The annual value of the farm
billion dollars. II cash. was. required
. there Is scarcely enough gold in the
i, world to pay each year for the results
of the industry of the American farms
!, eEs. nave Scell somewhere the SIHle-
menr that the sum derived from the
sale of tho crops of two years in Ame-
, RIGA could easily purchase the King
dom Of Italy, and that five years crops
STA, the Gear and his entire court.
We have heard much about the SPLEEN
, doris and revenues of Spain and Por-
tuEal during their palmy days, when
t they almost ruled the world, and get
!, we are told by our Secretary OF Agri-
!. culture. that{the revenues of these TWO
Kingdoms combined, In their days OF
greatest splendor,, did not equal the
81 Though we are scarcely one-siNteenth
8 Of the, population of the world. yet we
4 furnish the world three-fourths of It's
Il entire cotton crop, three fourths OF
, its corn, one-hfth Of Its wheat, and
I q large part Of Its meat. beef and hay
lAmertca's progress and sAmerica's pros