Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
.BELC|ANS SEEKING HOMES
IN GOOD OLD VIRGINIA
Chance for Us to Get Some Very De-
siIable Settlers, Who Know
a Thing or Two.
TIME is RIPE FOR ACTION
Virginia May Profit Indirectly and
Very Largely by the Great War
Now Devastating Europc-Neces-
sary to Strike While Iron Is Hot.

A good man, OF Richmond, who has
been making a study OF the subject in
hand, but who is so modest ne forbids
the calling OF his name, writes the In
dustrial Editor as follows:
AS per your request to tell you some
thing about the Belgian farmers that
are looking for homes I'm Virginia. LAS
an eye-opcner" I Will say that that
little country OF Belgian is only one
fourth in area the size Of Virginia: but
before the war begun she had Il popu-
lation of 100000 people, while Vir-
gina has less than 100000. Every
square inch OF land in Belgium is un-
der cultivation. Her farmers are world
renowned as most thrifty and in
dustrious people Since this unfortu-
nate war has broken up their homes
and business, large percentage Of
them are looking for homes In America.
He has. been making n study of this
problem ever since the war started.
and he has been in communication
with number OF friends in Belgium.
holland and England. urging them to
tell the good people of Belgium to come
10 Virginia where they would receive
a welcome. This work is now showing
results. as twenty Belgians have ar
rived within the last month. Another
bunch of fifteen Will arrive within 4
few days. and he is expecting some on
nearly every steamer that arrives from
Holland or England.
These people are above the ordinary
class of farm laborcrs. They are we'll
educated. Some of them can speak sew
eral languages. They own property in
Belgium, and have left a member OF
their family there to protect 1t until
the war is over, when they will try to
recover what is left OF 1t. They want
to make their permanent home in Vir-
ginia on farms. They wish to buy
small farms in the same community, SO
Churches schools. etc. They don't ask
for charity, and won't accep: of it.
They only want such help as will en-
able them to help themselves.
This Is good opportunity for Vir
sinia 10 get n good class of citizens.
without expense. and they will make
this old Dominion bloom like rose
encouraged and given chance TO show
what can be done with the old idle
fields now in Virginia.
AT present there are no small farms
suitable for these people to be had at
reasonable prices, therefore this is a
good chance for some Of our good
citizens who want to build up the State
to get together and buy up some of
our large farms. that are not paying
taxes and subdivide them into small
tracts. then sell them to these people
at a small profit. If these little farms
were TO lie had at once we can have n
new town in Virginia by the end Of the
year with IA couple OF hundred people
living in il.
At present those who have come here
have been placed on farms near this
city. where they will work until they
have saved sufficient funds TO buy their
own homes. The young women In the
families want positions as seamstresses,
maids and nurses for children.
Give these good people a chance and
they will show our native farmers what
is meant by intensive farming and
what n twcnty-fvc-acr farm can be
made to produce.
convenient to Richmond at a reason
able price, or who want to employ good
honest labor should communicate with
Anton II. Thiermann. Richmond, Va.