The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-05
IMMIGRATION AND THE
FARM LABOR PROBLEM

Il - a 4 IA ~ v - A-~AA - -
Declaring himself ,,naltcrabiy op-i
posed TO indscriminate Immigration, |
Commissioner 1solner. OF the state
Board OF Agriculture, addressed the
Institute at the morning meeting touch
Ing on the problem OF farm labor. The
commissioners has made two trips
abroad In the interest OF desirable Inn
migration into Virginia, and told some-
thing OF the difficulties with which his
efforts were beset. After outlining the
taken by the Virginia Legislature to
induce immigration, Mr.. koiner con-
tinued:
THE law confines our work to farm
labor and home-seekers All our ef-
forts have been to secure only iaucli
people. we. have confined our work
abroad to England, Scotland and Ire
land almost entirely. Some work has
been done In Scandinavia. I nm OPP
posed TO indiscriminate Immigration
and have refused the idle and unem-
ployed labor from every country which
has offered It. Steamship companies
and immigration agents have offered
to send thousands of these. all OF
whom we have declined. In introduc-
ing this work. we have been fs care
mi as possible to begin with a desira-
bring their friends from other couh,
tries: for II the movement !s started
from the farms. 1t will continue as
such.
The Transition Period.
some of these Scotch and English
neople have brought with them from
$500 to $4,000, and have deposHeo
these small sums in tho savings banks
and hired themselves to the farmers TO
mako enough money in the end to buy
themselves a littlo farm home in Vir-
ginia. This is. the kind Of farm I'm
labor we need In Virginia TO take inc
place OF the shiftless, unreliable negro
labor that is now worrying and him
derlng our Virginia farmers. We are
lust now In the transition period OF
labor In Virginia. changing from tho
unstable negro labor to white labor
who have ambition to better their con-
dition in life. To complete TINS
change will require years Of time and
patience. This change In labor VIII
also require a change in their man
ngement. White labor will not be con-
tent to live in one and two room log
cabins that have been vacated by the
negro. They should be provided with
more comfortable houses, with gardens
and other accessories. which will make
them contented and satisfied with our
country. For a satisfied immigrant is
the best advertisement a State can
have.
There is another class of immi.
grants who are harder TO induce TO
leave their country, but who are now
valuable to the State. There are tens
OF thousands OF tenan. farmers in
Scotland and England who are apply
Ing now from IS to $40 an acre a year
money rent for the land they are
farming. A large number OF these
people would come to Virginia and buy
a small farm IL they Knew they could
buy land here for the price they are
paying each year for rent. These
people are excellent farmers as a rule,
and are the same stock OF scotch-Irish
and English. who came here and set
tied In Virginia some 400 years ago,
and whose descendants we virginians
are largely to-day.
About Virginia Land.
In some counties In Virginia half
dozen or more farms have been pur-
chased by Scotch and English farmers,
and each year others will follow them
IN Increasing numbers. About $780,
900 has been invested In Virginia
lands by people from Great Britain
alone during the past eighteen months.
This work Is In the beginning and
movea slowly, but the outlook is prom
isng. We need them.
virginia has about 100000 OF idle
acres OF land. kind and naturally
strong soil. waiting Tor intelligent cul.
| tiVation to give back rich reward in
comfortable home and independent
life to all the patient and Intelligent
labor that has been bestowed upon Il
| Our Virginia land Is to-day selling
below Its value. There is no State
that possesses so many advantages as
Virginia. She can grow greater va.
riety or crops and fruit than. any other
State. We are near the great Eastern
markets. Our transportation facilities
are good and improving. We have the
most salubrious climate and kindest
soil and most hospitable people OF all
the States. We are now cultivating less
land, but producing greater crops. For
| 600 bushels: in 1907 Virginia cultivated
21l0,000 acres In corn, yielding $780,
900 bushels; in 1907 Virginia cultivated
100000 acres In corn. yielding 45.30o,-
900 bushels; more than 100000 acres
/ less, but yielding 100000 bushels moro
corn, and at present prices. worth near-
1 ly 100000 more.
Results of Better Farming.
There are the many results OF better
Il IdTII.lHS. we are 1d!sluS more 4lVe
stock One-fourth Of our farmers de-
rive their principal income from live
stock. This Is the only State that ex-
ports beef cattle In numbers direct from
i the pasture fields. We are growing
j more fruit. having now more we'll cared
for orchards than ever before, $1,000
per acre having been offered for some
Of our orchards this year, and the
4 sales of some orchard crops have run
as high as $500 per acre. We grow the
4 worlds finest apples in quality, The
hay crop in Virginia has doubled IN
4 ten years. Trucking has increased IN
il Virginia within the last ten years ooo
y per cent. One county IN Virginia nov
srows nor cent Of the sweet potato
cron of the United States. Virginia is