Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-10-20

itsy depends. largely upon the farmer
and see in Virginia an opportunity fol
THE Development Of the IDEAL rural
life which has been responsible fol
$50 many great leaders in our national
history. It must begapparent to all
THAT there IS no greatas,facto for
prosperity than good crops, and
There is no surer method of increas-
ling the wealth and well-being of the
commonwealth than by increasing
FIFE yield Of. our products. Farm life
fihr Nirgnia should be m4def more
EBpftsbts hy giving the boys and
fgfrls y living: lin the country
igreater, opportunities to e educate
themselves along; practical lines BY
increasing the facilities of the couni
Ety or district high schools, so that
AGRICULTURAL technical and domestic
fseishca coarses may be important fac
borst where the hand rHay he taught
lin conjunction with the brain; where
efficiency Will be regarded as the
ftadinaI virtue. Larger appropria-
ltf6fss for The rural high schools
shoald BE- Urged by the newspapers
Eof TIE State
To keep the boys and girls on the
farms drudgery must be removed
from farm life, and here another OPP
pdftunitS presents itseff. The doc
time ST lab1r-sating machinery for
the farm wife in her dairy, her kit
Echert and her household should be
preached, as well as for the farmer,
who already is becoming more and
more educated to the need of the
--latest improved reapers, binders,
Fdflls ans spreadcrs. The removing
[of lonesomchess from those living in
Fthe country will do much to make
people more contended to live in
|;tural districts. Good roads, bringing
(t6mriunities in closer touch with one
fanotller and making possible an in
terrhange Of social life, will make
living conditions on the farm more
acceptable.
Development Of The community
Interest by advocating the school
Houses said churches as cehtefs
Eafouhd which will cluster all the ac-
|tivities, Of the county, the establish
E,raent of boys corn clubs ana girls
Ecanning clubs, debating societies,
mothers meetings and fraternai or
CARNATIONS, should be fostered by
the newspapers of the State, espcc-
tally those in county seats.
The development of the towns, and
Cities Of the State will naturally fol-
low the prosperity of the rural dis
|lricts, but It is easily seen that upon
the newspapers of The State must de-
pend much of their progress EfIic
|iency in municipal affairs must be
the watchword; an efficient city gov
eminent, 10 place of the cumbersome
which clog the administra
tive work in many towns and cities;
efficient schools, where boys and girls
may be prepare for the struggle Of
life; eilicIcht publicity so that the
advantages Of each community may
be widely advertised, ard men and
capital thought to assist in its de-
Heiopnlentt.
Tier. arc ntany other factors ..at |
ant needed u itr upbuilding Of the /
Commonwealth. Perhaps of all
things the most important to do at !
once is a revision Of the tax laws Of |
the State, nl,th are at present anti
igiated and Unjust. This is a problem
that deserves The most serious con-
sheraton OF Our people and a State
for ihn purpose of revis-
ing our methods of taxation should
DC urged
These are some If the things c!es-
tired to Firing Virginia into its own.
But never ~kculd be forgotten the
traditions Of the pest; never for a !
second should be overlooked that the
growth Of the Commonwealth de- |
ponds upon the high ideals and Chris F,
tan character of its men and women,
and the constant rcitcration of these
principles by the press of Virginia,
teaching obedience to the laws of God
and the State, the condemnation Of
all that is shady and untrue, must do
more than anything else to build up
tho Commonwealth.