The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-28
FARMVILLE ONE 'OF
THE 0LD new TOWNS.

CONTINUED From First Page.)
lithic sidewalks than any town of It's
size In the country. has 6 better water
supply and better sewerage system
than any town In the State. is better
equipped to fight fire than any of the
minor towns of Virginia. and owes less
money per capita than any municipality
that was ever allowed to go in debt,
and Its tax rate OF S. cents on the
hundred dollars IL believed to be the
lowest tax required. of the citizens OF
any Virginia town. certainly the low
est of any town that can boast of 80
many advantages
Dispcnsnry Profits Wisely Used.
Good town government, honest Of
ficiais and wise city fathers are. OF
course, due world OF credit for all
OF the good things that have come to
the municipality, but 1t Is somewhat
doubtful II the business acnmen OF
the city fathers. had been able to
bring them to pass. as they have been
brought to pass, had 1t not been for
certain business enterprise In which
the town has been vItally Interested
for the past three. years, and tina
enterprise Is d Handsomely paying dis
pensary.
Farmville. like most Virginia towns.
waves and agitations. The prohibit
tionists. have always been strong here.
but never quite strong enough to carry
the day and make the town absolutely
dry, as they greatly desired: but they
were strong enough to force the oppo-
sition upon compromise ground and
the compromise resulted in the aboi-
tion of the saloon and the establish
ment OF q dispcnsRry by special legls-
lative enactment. The dispensary was
established a little more than three
years ago. and has been the towns
best paying asset. the,total annual re-
ceipts from the cautious sale of the
ardent being something like $4,000 to
$4,000 per year. Possibly So per cent.
OF the receipts Of the dispensaryT come
from out OF town, and thus the to-
bacco raisers who market the weed
here, thes drummers who come to sell
goods, the stranger who ttarries within
the gates but day. and he with dry
throat and thirsty pallet generally.
whether he be local or transient. have
helped the city fathers wonderfully In
laying down miles OF granolithic pave
ments, in paving several streets, in
Improving the electric light plant. in
making other municipal improvements.
and. with 1t all. in reducing the rate Of
town taxation from o5 cents on the
hundred d ollars to s5scents
Continuing the Struggle.
The prohibitionists, however. have
never given up the original fight.
and they are still inS evidence. They
regarded the dispensary as conpro-
mise easure. and Its adoption as a
mere stepping stone to actual prohi.
bition and a dryness equal to the pro-
h{uis3 ,In,. I,orr Nc
fore the last Legislature and asked
that Farmville and other towns hav.
Ing dispensaries. by special Legislative
enactment be allowed to votes OH the
question of abolishing them and going
to prohibition pure and simple. just
then the Byrd bill came along anc
side tracked ali other Temperance anc
prohibition 4 gislation, and the bill tc
allow dispensary towns to- decide as
between dispensaries and real prohi,
bition fell between the, upper and tbs
mother milestone Thus It happens thai
Farmville will continue to struggle
along with the dlspensar ~ ct lea un n
It'll the. next Legislature meets. anc
{ possibly quite awhile Ions for these
good people surely love to walk. or
good granolithic5 Sidewalks, drink
crystal water and enjoy effulgent selec-
trio lights. and all the time pay lover
taxes thansthey used TO pay, and al
OF these blessings are because the on t;
4 ,of-town q fol ks Insist upon enjoylnE
their gdranls 81
The good money that has come int
the town trea sury from the dispe nsars
has been wlsely handled for the. bet
Nterment OF Il ne town and one 81 thu
4 most ardent prohibitionists here sal (
IA me this morning THE most pro
nounced critics can find n Q \ siol
to complain OF the dlspensary, & and I
must bo admitted that there Is les
4 drunkenness than In the a avs Of thu
\ wide open barroo ms, y
observation-disclosures these facts. tn,
Il anti liquor q ople her g 4 want y % SET
their town total ~ ny, "a hey sa /!
they are golng to- have 81 that way y
the sweet by u and by---a ter all thu
i; streets are paved an N he eEul lar ia xe'
more largely rcd reed, may 20. 4 s h
ssR Modern CITY LuxMrtes ii!
3sf From w ha teVar s nrc as II ne StpY n so
Il slts Simprovem ats. II he 4 act srenlai I'M tina
{ Al has more OF TIL am thai ~ e Saverag'
lava os n. - ", n 'sas ~