The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-01
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CONE T0'alD VIRGINIA
An Effort Along This Line May BE
Of Great Mutual Benc.
A LETTER AND IT'S MEANING
Richmond Woman Who Travelled in
Europe Found Out Some Good
Things About the Beleians--She
Offers Wise Suggestions.

| The suggestions contained in n letter
written to BENJAMIN L. Purcell. Dairy
and Food Commissioner OF Virginia, by
good woman, recently returned from
| n rather exciting tour Of Europe, but.
perhaps. more directly to the public,
are especially timely. a friend. who
is constant reader OF The Times Dis
; patch, fncloses 1t to the Industrial
] Industrial Section of The Times Dis
: patch has tnken 50 much interest in
tho development OF AGRICULTURAL Vir-
ginia, am sending you the letter. OF
Mrs *. p. NJ. with the request. and
F, the hope that you will publish II in the
Sunday edition. feeling that it will do
much good" The letter Is as follows:
/ "One OF the most serious obstacles to.
the development OF agriculture In Fir-
ginia is the scarcity or absence of farm
fers more on account OF this deficiency
than other branches of agriculture,
since 80 many details, requiring moro
than physical strength. are to be met
! and dealt with than you meot' In ordi-
nary farming. Tho present available
! help for the dairy farms of the State
must be largely obtained from our
negro laborers. Experience has shown
I this class of labor to be, IN the ma
jority of cases. not only unsuited, but,
with some exceptions, entirely unre-
/ liable.
/ ONE OF POSSIBLE RESULTS
/ OF WAR IN EUROPE
! The European war and the devasta-
I tion 1t has brought TO the Belgians
may open the way to Virginia farm
ers to help solve. one of the most
serious problems confronting them. and
give to them the opportunity OF ex-
tending timely practical assistance. to
the people OF that desolated nation.
The Belgian Ia proverbally thrifty,
intelligent and moral; agriculture and
n 1.-Two -fnrn oil Ia
, fully followed by them, and there Is
little doubt many desirable Belgian
families could be induced TO locate in
this State, some in colonies and others
as individuals The Idea is submitted
| for the consideration OF our dairymen.
| IF II appeals to the farmers OF the
State. suggest we at once get to-
gether at some central city and start
tho work that will bring this most
/ desirable farm labor to Virginia. II
| you are interested. communicate at
once with Benjamin l.. Purcell, Dairy
and Food Commissioner. Richmond. Va,
and offer such suggestions as to n
meeting place, etc, as may occur to
you.
TunS THE STRANDED
! DELGfANS TO OLD VIRGINIA
The sending Of Christmas ship to
! the wretched Belgians. stranded in n
foreign iand-desolate and destitute
has interested Richmond people so gen.
orally. that venture to ask that you
| get space in The Times Dispatch for
q further suggestion In regard to these
hapless victims OF hideous war. In
| a communication from Europe Il
week. Or. perhaps. ten days ago, II was
stated that 100000 Belgians would ut
oace emigrate to America, II only they
| had the means.
These people are noted agricuitur-
lists They have long enjoyed a repu.
/ tatton for being thrifty. honest, indus
! trious intelligent-in word, just the