The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-07
WHAT IS NEEDED IN
GREAT SOUTHLAND

sponsible for this depleted population.
and until our business men and large
land owners become convinced OF the
havoc that their present attitude Is
working throughout the Southland. and
revamp their business methods. make
attractive inducements for the location
of new coming settlers. offer TO sell
farms and other real estate on long
time and easy payments, and arrange
for the extension OF line OF credit
when needed, or the loan OF some funds
at n reasonable rate TO these new
Corners: until these things are brought
about I say. the South will continue TO
contribute the very flower OF their
young manhood and wornanhood. along
with large amount OF its potential
prosperity and productive ability TO
other States that arc making induce
ments to the stranger y no comes with
in their borders. which our own home
states do not offer their children.
No Croakcrs wanted.
Next TO the country districts, tho
small towns and villages OF from 100
10 10000 population. have suffered nost
BY reason OF this emigration. and II
Is because the environment offered By
the farms and the small towing Is so
exceedingly unattractive that the
young people have left them IN greater
numbers than they have the larger
cities. The old time. oss!aed obstruc-
ZIONIST, who goes through tho com
munity croaking and andlng fault
about everything in general. lament!ng
the eXtravagant ways OF the younger
generation, and bemoan!ng the pass
Ing OF the day when a hand could be
hired for s. month. including 4
ration OF half bushel of meal and
twelve pounds OF side meat This old
grumbling. snarling t!ght-wad IS
found In every community, IN greater
or less numbers. and unfortunately he
is frequently one of the wealthy and
influential men IN his section Pco-
pie look UP 10 him more or less, and
his Views freely expressed come TO
permeate and direct the life OF the
community to a large degree That
is why we have so many old sleepy
hollow towns and villages IN Virginia.
North Carolina. South Carolina and
other Southern States That IS why the
Southland. through It's representative
progressive citizenship has got to
adopt some radical measures TO over
come this corrod!ng. demoralizing and
deadening inertia, or witness a con
tinued decadence In many sections
that is not pleasant to contempla te.
We are prone TO compliment our
selves very frequently. where, II we
would spend a little time IN compar-
ing our accomplishments with those
OF other sections, we would hesitate
before indulging In this self congratu-
lat!on. 1t behooves our people TO take
these matters into serious considera-
ton, and to demand from our legs-
latorS that the State Itself take cog
nizance OF the situation. and endeavor
to work out some systematic and eff
cient plan whereby the tide OF emigra-
tion may be turned back into return
tide Of immigration, from the Northern
and Western States TO the old South
land.
The Demands of the Day.
The great demand at the present
time Is for small farms that be
intensively and profltably cultivated.
Most of the Southern plantations are
too large for this purpose, until sub
divided into farms OF from forty acres
up. Here is the opportunity for the
business man and investor. who can
see the vision and with energy, fore
sight and business ability, transform
it into a reality by the acquisition OF
these large plantations and tho intelI-
gent subdivision and sale OF them %
small farmers and fruit growers. This
IS the secret Of the successful coloni-
cation and settlement Of most of the
western States, and we need moro OF
1t in the South.
Put the land-less man on our man
less land, give him timo to work out
his problems, help him TO find markets,
| encourage him and assist him financi-
ally when needed: do this. as has been
| done elsewhere, and our waste lands
and idle plantations will blossom forth
| again into the full. fruition OF which
| they are capable.