The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-06-24
REV. DR.. R0SEBR0
Writes Interesting tstts-Soms fredericksburg
Affairs. etc. Etc Etc.
Wheatlands. KY, June 18th. 1909

"heatlends, KY, June 18th. 1909
We are enjoying a visit to the delight
iul Rome oil Mr.. Charles Barker in Chris
tan county, Ky, Just across she line
rom Clsrksville, Tenn; as the conditions
mere are somewhat unique, some discrip-
ton Oh them may be OF interest
At 4. m. the big farm bell rinRs ont
It's summons TO all TO awake for the day's
labor. Soon the clarion voice of Mr.
Barker is heard calling Dick, Tom and
barry, directing some to plough the corn,
some to the tobacco Geld and Others to
the various duties OF his large estate.
lille mocking birds are trilling their
glad morning songs. we dress for break
last; hurry down 80 help feed the
chickens and the big flock OF turkevo
only a few OF these latter will add 10 the
festivities OF Thanksgiving and Christ.
mas Tor the lady OF the manor easily selIs
them for 50 or $40 each.
After breakfast Mr.. Barker and ride
over the farm. Ii is easy to see he Is a
born iarmer. Ii IL a foolish notion some
nave thet any one can be q farmer. A
contrast between some OF the faYme naar
fredericksburg with others adjoining
VIII show there are farmers and farmers
Agficola nascitur non-fit. Mr.. Barker
was born a farmer and his college train
Ing enables him to combine Intelligent
ski'l with fipe Judgment. How clean are
tne corn and tobacco fields. What splen.
oio wheat fields, almost ready FOR the
hsrVest The clover as we ride through
this 20 acre field is up to the belly of the
horse.
The wheat crop OF 'O7 yielded 24x
bushels per acre on 2Sj acres; one field
averaging AZ bushels. farm near by
averaged CD bushels per acre on l acres.
Another farm In this section is called
Inc square because its 1900 acres
MAKE q square. As the larger part of
this and the surrounding farms are In
wheat, you can imagine its beauty Al
this season and vhat fine farming sec.
tion thie is.
l asked one OF the farmers why thev
did not use steam ploughs as the coun-
try Is level. He said he had tried Il. but
iound that the engine packed the subsoil
80 much that he could trace its Injurious
effects for several years.
As this section Is I'm the heart of tha
tobacco troubles, naturally wished 20
hear what | could from Intelligent man
who belonged To 1.-The Farmers Associa-
ton and who heartily opposed the acts
OF the night riders. They think the
farmers have lost q gzeet opportunity to
break the power OF the tobacco trusts
rms was due partly TO the atrocities OF
the night riders and partly to the mis-
management, greed and graft of their
own leaders. While the better elemsnt
were trying to deliver all the farnars
from the grinding power OF the tobacco
trusts, the other element WAS forcing a
worse tyranny than OF the night riders.
go that the last state OF the farmers was
worse than the former.
The Star has kept US posted and In.
terested IN the various questions OF IN
terest, which have been "burning ouas-
tions during the past year. Those that
are little distant from the fre can Iook
at things little more impartially.
When the electric franchise was IN ha
settled one could ieel assured that neither
the city nor the company would suffer
loss When their respective rights were IN
the hands OF such masters as Mr.. Fitz-
hugh and Judge Embrey.
WIN her modern school building and
Increased advantages for the children
and the Normal soon to be established
and equipped, Fredericksburg must be-
come an education centre When nv,
friends, Aessrs. Swift and Goolrick, were
advocating the Normal and asked me
about its effect on FrederieksburQ Col
iege, remember saying that as citizens
OF fredericksburg we should desire the
normal but that IL was bound TO Grip
pie the college. They did not agree with
me; the next year or two Will Rhow
whose Judgment was correct.
The Star has brought US much pleasure
during the months OF our absence, sxcept
when It told US Of the crossing OF the bar
OF one end another OF friends and &C.
qnaintanees. God grant that each one
reached the eternal harbor.
Cordially yours,
J. W. Rosebro.