The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-05

uIouhu the University or Virginia,
whose name. Ike the name of the State,
is associated with that English woman
who was. at once among the first of
rulers and the first of scholars?
oakland. ROOSEVELT PAGE.
TO the Editor of Tho Timcs-D ispatch:
Sill Inclose you q copy of let.
ter l am this day mailing TO Colonel
y. NJ Bowman, chairman CT the Finance
Committee of the House Of Delegates.
The letter states my views on the sub.
jcct of the bill introduced in the Leg
lslature asking for an appropriation to
establish Il plant. or plants. for the
purpose Of crushing limestone for the
farmers of the State.
DAN'L w. MASON.
Colonel a. NJ Bowman:
Dear Colonel.--I understand that the
lines tone bill will be before your com.
mittcc on next Tuesday.
! am sorry that will not he able to
appear before the committee In per-
son. and, In lieu thereof, 1 desire to
submit for your consideration and for
the consideration of the committee
some views on the subject
has so persistently. In theory at least.
worked against favored legisla ton as
has the farmer. Their attitude has al
ways been against class legislation OF
every kind.
as 2, matter OF fact, under the iaws'
OF Ike state. they arc now the mos;
favored clpss of people we have.
What howl from them would go
up from all over the, State II an an
preparation WAC made, from an al
ready depicted treasury. to publish and
mall free TO the lawyers bulletins OF
The latest opinions and discussions. or
70 maintain STAFF Of skilled scicnt-
lists for the purpose of furnishing free
bulletins TO the various manufacturers
merchants, bankers, trades people, and
all others OF our citizens. as Is now
done for the farmer.
For what other class Of our people is
Tree lecture course run as Is the ono
at BlackSburg?
His lands and his live stock are taxed
at not over half their value, while
bonds. notes and all other kinds OF
Industrial stocks are taxed at their
full face value.
The time is passed when tho needs
Of the farmer justify any class legs
lation
Should this bill become law, it
would not be long until the farmers
would be pulling Off their annual meet
ings during the sessions OF the Leg
islatrre IN Richmond, and appointing
ton. on tho subject of State appropria-
tons for fertilizer plants, wagon max
ing establishments, plow factories.
harvesting machinery, etc, nll FOR tho
poor farmer. The farmer, like ali 9th.
crs OF our citizens. should only want
fair legislation. without discrimination
and without the aid OF the State.
The other side of the question of the
manufacturcrs OF agricultural lime
and ground limestone.
There is now invested In the lime
business Of the State nearly FIVE mil
lion dollars, ana these plants furnish
employment TO many thousands of the
people of our State Is Il the part OF
wlSInrN fnr tho state with mt, -
resources, to go into direct compet'-
ton with all of this business ana put
out OF employment tho many men who
are row making honest livings for
themselves and fanilies? s-
was not the controlling reason for
the discontinuance of the contract with
the Davis Shoe Company because OF the
competition to the shoe industry OF
competition DO permitted against any
othe" industry. employing many men
than is now employed In the manu-
facture of shoes?
All. forsooth. because some Eastern
Virginia farmer with more broonsagc
and pine gr!bbles ,nar. energy, wants a
little ground limestone and does not
want to pay a reasonable profit for 1t.
We have one ground limestone plant
in Smyth county. and we have not heard
that it Is overrun with order. II the
need ana demand is so great tor this
product. why cannot the farmers or
ganize a corporation and make It for
themselves at the actual cost of pro-
ductionn
Can II be supposed that the lime pco-
pie would fail to put out this product
II there was any reasonable eNpecta-
tion that the demand for it would
justify? AS they now own the State,
they could supply the epuipment.
1t can be expected that the agricnl-
turalists employed by the state will
i, y, {, ,ri, NJ
more power and prestige.
Even our Governor in his zeal for
the farmers invited all the presidents
of the railroads to n conference In
Richmond, the result of which the
K Western Railway has agreed
to put down the freight rate on ground
limestone to a much lower rate than on
lime. Is not this an in
justice to the lime people?
we know that one crushing plant,
$4,000, would not meet the demand
at present. and each succeeding Legis-
laturc would be asked to increase the
appropriate ton.
If our state were paternal govern
ment this course would be justifuhle
Under our theory OF government. and
even under our Constitution. the Leg
islature Is prohibited from engaging
in works of internal Improvement
The great debt. scventy-fivc years
old, and under which we now labor.
was contracted. largely on works of
internal Improvement.
| am one OF the farmers of Giles
county. ain member OF the Farmers
Institute. and am also interested In q
lime plant, and feel that i do not want
the State to do anything for the one
to tho injury OF the other
am one of the farmers of the State
who has no sympathy with the legIsla-
tors who favor legislation that has
the name of farmer. free school. or
old soldier. attached, irrespective of the
merits of the measure.
Yours very truly,
D!hN'L w. MASON
Pearishurg.
Value Of the Robin Ia the Farmer.