Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-08-21
ANNUAL VISIT TO
THE old HOME
BotetOurt Still Pushing to the
Front-Big Income From To-
mato Crop.

eeSuiHB tne FARMERS institute, at the
old home near Hollins. This pilgrim
age to Mecca" is made usually in
October, but to vary the trip it was
made in August this time. / wanted
to see how the country looked in mid
summer. The effects of the drought
were not so noticeable as in other
parts of the country, although it had
been severe and destructive. The boys
were busy gathering and marketing
vegetables. The output is something
amazing. 1t is not an unusual thing
to sell from three hundred to four
hundred dollars worth of tomatoes
from half acre of land. In the begin
ming of the season they sell as high
as five dollars bushel, and some
times more. Later, when the full
crop is maturing the price comes
away down. Last week, for instance,
the boys sold their loads for as low
as 25c. bushel. Later say in Sep
tember and October, canning will
begin, when the crop and culls will
be put up. Beans, potatoes, beets-
in fact, everything that can be grown
in the garden, is sold at good prices
in the Roanoke market.
Of course, the community is pros
porous. Good houses but plain-good
teams and vehicles, good cows-are to
be seen on almost every farm. The
"boys" have bank accounts and are
as independent as wood savers"
There has been a wonderful change
since 1 lived there, n boy on the
farm, when it was difficult thing
to make buckle and tongue meet,
and not infrequently the attempt to
effect the union between said buckle
and tongue, something would "bust.
No trouble now. The boys have learn.
ed how. But it takes work and lots of
it. The distance to Roanoke is about
IL miles. The vegetables are loaded
during the day, and the wagon start.
ed about 10 or ii o'clock at night,
reaching Roanoke about 2 n. m. The
load is driven to Market Square,
backed up to the proper place, the
team cared for, and then the driver
curls up in his wagon and sleeps until
morning. BY dinner time he is back
home. In the meantime another load
has been gotten about ready for an.
other trip. 1t is hard work but it
pays. A load of vegetables will bring
anywhere from 25 TO 100 dollars, de-
pending upon the market. Making
and gathering vegetables is work
which women and children can do
ShSiiyy ing IL lOI
often necessary. And so, the coun.
try is building up.
The little "Cove" is growing in
prestige and reputation as we'll as
in material wealth. Senator John w.
Kern has u fine summer home there.
A short time ago Senator Kern, Vice
President and Mrs. Marshall, were
all there, and on Sunday Mr.. Kern
and Mr.. Marshall attended Sunday
school at the little country church,
and made speeches and shook hands
with all the people. My old chum and
boyhood friend, Jim Layman, the
superintendent, made little speech,
the best h could, and introduced the
distinguished speakers. Jim has been
magistrate in his community for
years, and has faced various crimi.
nails, lawyers and trying situations,
but this was his supreme test. He got
through with it, they said, all right,
although his knees smote each other,
and his tongue, usually ready and
glib, threatened to cleave to the roof
of his mouth. He began by saying:
"My friends, brethren and sisters,
ladies and gentlemen, we have with
us. tonight-er-.today, our distin-
guished fellow citizens, the Hon. John
w NELLY WIN 10 OHiICu DldbGS SOCusl-
tor from Vir-Illinois, beg pardon,
Indiana, and en- Mr.. Marshall, Vice
President of the United States of
America, the next biggest man to
Mr.. Wilson. We are proud to have
these gentlemen in our midst, and
hope they will favor us with a few
remarks. The children must keep
quiet while these men are speakin'.
The Court decides and orders that
Senator Kern shall speak first, and
after he is though, the Vice-Presi-
dent will get in his say. At the close
of his remarks, it is further ordered
that Bud jenkins take his position
near the door beside the Vice-Presi-
dent, and introduce the people as they
pass out, and let everybody shake
hands with the gentleman. 1t will be
a great honor to him-er-you, to do
so. Mr.. Kern needs no introduction.
Of course, Jim did not put it that
way, but got through with the job
with much credit. To Mr.. Jenkins,
whose wife is a relative of Senator
Kern, was assigned the honor of in
Producing the people to Vice-Presi-
dent Marshall, who held a short re-
ception after the service. 1t was a
good day, one to be remembered, in
the history of the little school. Mrs
Kern, who spends most of her time at
her summer home, has a class OF
young men in the school and is pop
ular with all the people.
DIR. Geo. B. Taylor, the popular
pastor at Hollins, breaches here once
a month, and the people like him. On
visit enroute home, to my niece
Mrs. Annie Obenchain, l was more
3 than pleased to meet him. He was
visiting and playing tennis at the
summer home of Mr.. and Mrs. Ora.
watt, not far from Roanoke. Mr.. Tay.
lor and Mrs. Gravatt did me the honor
to call, which / appreciated. / was al
school with George Taylor. He looks
and feels about as young as when
saw him last, 20 years ago. Mrs
Gravatt is daughter of the late
Rev. o. Il. Flippo. who was, 1 believe
the first pastor of the Baptist church
in the civ of Rnanake and inharit.