The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14
Remarkable Recovery and
Development in all Lines
of Industry
INCREASE IN VALUE
OF FARMING LANDS
Dynamic Force OF Capital
Brought from Soil Year by
Year is Bringing About
lmense Industrial
Development

State Commissioner Of Agriculture
George ". koiner delivered the FOL
lowing address on "Wednesday night
before the Southern Commercial Con-
gress in session al Nashville, Tenn:
Virginia's Recovery and Development
Since 1870.
Virginia Is the birthplace OF civili-
cation ON American soil. The first
tree felled by the white man in the
primeval forest was on the Peninsula
OF Virginia. on this historic ground
was built the first house. the first
church There the first legislative as
sembly met where the eloquence of
Henry. the craftsmanship OF Jefferson
and the military genius of Washing
ton and Lewis forged out and laid
deep and strong the foundations OF
this great republic of ours. which has
been the admiration Of every student
OF government wherever civilization
has undertaken To plant its flag and
establish the ordinances of self gov
eminent. Nirginia's achievements in
craftsmanship and military renown
are familiar TO every citizen Of orGl
nary information,
Material Development.
I wish to relate In the brief time
allotted to me something about the
recovery and development in the ma
terial wealth which has taken place
in Virginia since the time of that pc
ntical surgical operation. which &C.
Cured more. than forty years ago,
when large section of her territory
WAS, without her consent. taken IRON
her and made Il new State.
Wreck and Ruin From War,
In 1870. the population of Virginia
N Stv,.. bot dot. ta
population has increased s36, SOC, or
nearly So per centum.
During the Civil War Sal battles
were fought on her soil: also : naval
ssJssxa sfsstnepts s oscalrrt,tts nssssu-ss.. hss
waters The tramp Of hostile armies
covered her fields from the mountain
to the sea. The smoke from her
burning barns. mills and factoriss COW
cred the heavens AS mighty pail of
desola ton. With no live stock or
farm implements or seed left. and no
factories or machinery or money to
buy raw material with. 1t WAS under
such trying conditions the people uf
Virginia made a beginning IN he in
dussrfai recovery and Development,
VifSinia's Natural Advantages.
Nature, the constant friend TO in
dustry, has favored Virginia with a
soil and climate that grows every
farm product known TO the tenn
perate zone. The farmers are the
real wealth producers They turned
the soil. grew the crops OF wheat.
corn, tobacco. hay, fruit orchards.
and raised the live stock and each
year poured stream OF newly
created wealth into ctrcuia ton, which
became the life blood to other de-
partments of industry.
The soils Of Virginia have given
to the business of the State and to
the South thousand million of dol
lars in values. and these same old
fields that have weathered the storms
OF centuries still contain more wealth
than has ever been digged from her
surface.
Increase in Value Farm Products.
The value of farm property In Vir-
gifia has increased from $4,000
10000 in 1870 to $6So,000. 100000 in
1919.
The average value OF land and
buildings In 1890 was $3.50 per acre.
In 1919 the average value per acre
IL over $4,000 per acre. The abb
solute increase in value of farm prop
erty in the last ten years was ten
times the previous ten years, The
average size Of the farms in Virginia
in 1870 was 245 acres, while the
average size OF farms in the State to-
day II only 104 acres. Better farm
Ing leYds to smaller farms. The In
crease In the number OF farms in
Virginia during the past forty years
was I50 per centum. but the In
crease In the number OF acres in the
nation during the past decade vas
only ner fs,rffntYu a nd there are NO
(GsnnSinued a Second pagA.l