The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-28


to increase or decrease their wealth.
but by hard work, painstaking pa
thence. raise from the ground that
which can absolutely create wealth.
In Kentucky. West Virginia and Vir-
ginia. we have the lagest coal fields
OF the world. 1t Is estimated that the
coal reserve of these three States Is
two hundred and seventy-ive billions
of tons. one-half oof the whole of Eu-
rope. and the great oil resources of
West Virginia have been hardly touch
ed.
In banking. our people are just be-
ginning to know a savings bank, a
factor in the old States of New Eng
land that has been the original cause
OF that sections great financial and
manufacturing development Every
warehouseman has an opportunity to
cooperate with the banks and teach
the farmers TO deposit their money.
The financial system that has been
just inaugurated is goinEato be of un-
told value to all sections of the coun-
try. No more will we hear of money
panics. and everyone. whether ne be
merchant. manufacturer or farmer.
should hear 20 more doleful story of
the banker that he would let you
have the money If he had it. No more
should we hear of eight and ten per
cent interest. The twelve reserve
banks being scattered over the different
parts OF this great country puts them
ali on an equal plane This has been
the greatest legislation for the West
and South that has been enacted since
the war. There is no trade more so
than ours that will be benefited by
this system. that will enable money to
be forthcoming when needed. and this
should be n factor in stealing values.
We want to express our appreciation
of the membership of our association OF
the railroads and steamship companies
Wa especially welcome the represen-
tatives of these transportation COM
panies to our midst.
Perhaps there is no business that has
as little trouble with the railroads as
the leaf tobacco business, although a
few years ago they did try to make us
pack all our tobacco in square boxes
but II did not take very much arFu-
ment to make them recede from this
position.
What the Interstate Commerce com
mission Is going 10 do. no one can tell
It no doubt will be finally solved by
giving those roads that really need
1t, the advance in freight rates We
all must recognize that the increa sed
cost Of operating the railroads has
years. but how much of this increase
the roads Will be able to hold even II
obtained Is an uncertain question.
There are two very important fac
tors connected with our calling which
might be right TO touch on at this
time, One of which Is the establishing
of fair and proper auction values of
tobacco. In the tobacco trade of every
species and grade, there are certain
a. 4lut IT,
age that what their ideas are must
result In values established thereby,
and just in proportion to the magni-
tude of their influence, liz the ohliEa-
ton placed on them 70 establish proper
values. We must all admit that this
Is hard to do. hut these interests are
accustomed 70 solving hard PROPOSE
lions. and the application OF their best
talents to this very important sub !
ject TO the tobacco trade is hereby /
most sincerely suggested.
The other is; since the general Gus. /
tom OF. selling tobacco on the loose
warehouse floor has come into opera
ton. the short time IN which all the
growers try to put the tobacco on the
market renders proper~ handling. and
at times proper consideration to the
tobacco. almost Impossible.
The great bulk OF the bright tobac-
co is now sold in less than nirety
days, and the great bulk OF hurley to-
bacco is sold IN less time than this
which strains everyone connected with
the business to the uttermost capacity
of tai ing care of IT. and stretched over
thirty more days of time would Ger
tainly be much more desirable from
every point of view. but how this can
be done when every farmer Is acting
on his own initiative in bringing to-