The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-16
GOOD ROADS AND
THEM0RALU PL|FT
Address Of Governor Mann Be-
fore Rural Life Con-
ference.
CLOSING DAYS SESSION
Short History Of Agricultural
Progress in Vir-
ginia.
CLOSING DAYS SESSION
[speclal to The 11mes-D,.pa.ch.1

Especial to The T1mcs-Dispatch.1
Charlottesville. Va. July 15.-The
principal speaker at the third and last
ence, which opened Wednesday at the
Summer School at the University OF
Virginia, was Governor William II.
Mann, who addressed a large audience
this afternoon in Cabell Hall, his sub
ject being Good Roads and the Moral
uplift."
Speaking of the work accomplished
directly and indirectly by the State
Highway Commission, which was crc-
ated In 1905, Governor Mann stated that
thirteen counties had issued bonds tor
good roads to the amount OF $1,319.00O.
Twenty-three Counties have used the
money coming TO them from the State
Aid Fund for the building of perma-
nent bridges, and only seven counties
in the State have failed to take the
dement's they were entitled to under
this fund. 1t should also be remarked,
he said. that five counties are now con-
ternplating bond Issues, and arrange
ments have been made for work to be
done In thirteen other counties AL
ready road work has been done in
sixty-one counties Of the State, and
Wherever good roads have been built
the people have demanded their extern
sion. 80 1t Is safe to say that the mind
OF the people of Virginia is made up
and that good roads will be built Ms
quickly as the resources OF the people
will permit
Symptoms Rather Than Cause.
In dealing with this question, said
the speaker, we have, however, been
teaching the symptoms rather than the
of fhn
roads and all the blessings which come
with them we must develop our State.
as with increasing means the people
VIII build the ways along which they
travel and haul their produce Think
Ing men who have examined into the
subject are OF the opinion that the
agricultural interests of the State Of
FER more opportunities for DEVELOPMENT
than perhaps any other interests, and
that while they think, that the manu-
featuring. mercantile and Industrial
interests should be protected by wise
and conservative laws and advanced in
every way possible, that the agricultu-
raj interests give the most promise. In
Virginia we have 25,oo0.ooo acres sf
land. of which less than 100000 are
under cultivation. Making allowances
FOR the mountain lands and swamps.
1t is safe to say that 100000 acres
OF arabic lands are Idle to-day. In
1900 our total agricultural products.
which include cattle and orchard fruits.
amounted in round numbers to $4,000
100 In 1910 this sum had increased to
SlS2. 600 300.
Big Increase in Corn Crop.
Our corn crop in 1907 continued
the Governor. was valued at 10000.
900; in 1910 our corn crop of 10000. 600
bushels is easily worth s3s. 300. 600.
This great advance has been accom-
pushed by the intelligent efforts of a |
rev men, notably DR.. Knapp. of The
United States Department Of Agricu1- |
ture, and 7. O. Sandy, of the county of |
Sottoway. New and intelligent metf- |
DDS have been introduced. and farm
lands which fifteen years ago only pro-
duced from twelve to fifteen bushels |
VI corn 70 the acre are now producing
over loo bushels to the acre, and as
much as five tons of hay are baine
maze upon land which few years ago ;,
u was thought would not produce grass
at all. The average production OF corr
IN Virginia in 1909 was twenty-three
bushels to the acre. In the United
states 1t was a little over twenty five
oushels TO the acre, SO that the aver
ase Tor Virginia is not much behind. !,
lhls average has been increased in this |
state to forty-one bushels to the AGRA
wherever the improved systems of ag-
rlculture are used, and the boys DEM
'nstration work has shown an average
u siAty-nTe bushels to the acre.
Advancement of Agriculture.
At the last session of the Lepisla.
.ure. said Governor Mann, "a bill was
passed creating the United Agricultu.
ral Board. composed of Representatives
rom the school boards and all the
agencies Interested in agricultural ad-
vance The object of this bill is to
,o-o ordinate all the agricultural inter
,sts OF the State and the United States
5oard OF Agriculture, to make them
work together in harmony for the ad
AID ~ 1A1H III