Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-03
WILL BUY LARGE TRACTS
FOR USE OF SETTLERS
Plan to Subdivide Big Plantations
Into Forty-Acre Farms
Is Approved.
CONFERENCE HELD AT CHAMBER
Will Work With Southern Settlement
and Development Organization In
Rcpopulating Waste Places of State
With Desirable Settlers.

Stops looking. to the organization OF
a farmland company for the purpose
of acquiring tracts of land and divid-
ing them into small farms in order
to bring desirable settlers to agri-
CULTURAL territory around Richmond
were taken at a meeting of the aEri-
cultural and Immigration committee Of
the Chamber of Commerce Yesterday
afternoon. If the Southern Settlement
ana Development Organization, which
Is aiding in the movement will locate
colony OF satisfactory farmers who
desire to come to Virginia. the COM
mittee will undertake the organiza-
ton OF n company TO secure the land.
John c. Easley, chairman OF the
committee: W. 7. Reed, president OF
the Chamber of Commerce, and .. D.
Sands were named to draft letter 10
Il. NJ. Darlington, president OF the Vir-
ginla branch of tho settlement organ
ration. This letter Will cmbody the
views of the committee. and will give
assurance that its members arc willing
and anxious to cooperate in seeing
that the agricultural resources of the
country around Richmond are properly
developed.
SUBDIN,IDE LARGE TRACTS
INTO FORTY-N FARMS
w. II. Manss, of Baltimore. vice
president and general manager OF tho
Southern Settlement and Development
OrSanization, was present. and QUIZ
lined plans which have been carried
out successfully in other localities
The general idea expressed by MIR
MansS was the formation OF a com
pany with capital sufficient to acquire
tract Of available land, subdivide IL
into farms of forty acres each. and
make such improvements as would at
tract n colony of desirable farmers
such plan has recently been put In
operation In Maryland, just outside Of
Washington, and within the last few
days a colony OF ten farmers has been
located near Williamsburg through tho
efforts OF Mr.. Darlington
Mr. Manss said the organization was
anxious TO get the plan started in
Virginia. and members OF the commit
tee agreed with him that the country
around Richmond presents the best OPP
portunity for its development. How
ever, the members were unwilling to
proceed with the formation OF the com
pany until they were satisfied that q
colony could be secured, and this fca-
ture OF the situation was readily under
taken by Mr.. Darlington and Mr..
Manss, who already have number Of
INQUIRIES for farm locations In V!r-
Ginia.
otTGR0WTH OF WESTERN TRIP
OF GOVERNOR AND nLuES
w. i. Dabncy, business manager Of
inc chamber. outlined the purpose of
the conference, which Is an outgrowth
OF Impressions gained on the transcon-
tincntal trip during July of Governor
stuart and the Richmond Blues. The
Governor and Mr.. Dabney, who was n
member of the party. In addresses at
the city Auditorium following their
return, urged that steps be taken to
develop the agricultural resources OF
tho State through promoting the i'm
a q 10 fl
Mr.. Darlington spoke for the Vlr-
Sinia branch of the settlement organ
ization. which has no other interest
than to develop the resources OF tho
state He assured the committee OF
his cooperation in every way possi-
bile. Within a short time the Virginia
branch VIII have an active mana ger.
who will give his entire attention to
the work of the organization
MANSS WARNS AGAINST
buying: "CIIEAP" LAND
The most effective way OF bringing
in settlers. said MIR. Manss. Is tho sta
bility in the price of land IN the sec
ton selected. n guarantee OF title and
the offering of n tract sufficiently largo
to attract n colony Of ten or moro
families. He warned against Cheap"
lands, which are not wanted by an
energetic class of farmers. While the
plan outlined deals more particularly
to eliminate the individual settler. who
can be taken care of in other ways.
Mr.. Reed. Mr.. Easley and Mr. Sands
each expressed themselves as heartily
in accord with the movement. and none
appeared to doubt the result OF their
efforts once the proposition assumed
shape in which they could under
take the formation OF n company. John
D. Sheehan. who came to Virginia sew
eral years ago from Chicago, gave
several instances of the successful
handling of agricultural lands In coun-
ties around Richmond.
On September Q the committee will
meet DR.. Joseph Capri. an Italian ac-
credited by the Italian ambassador ut
Washington. who Is interested in To-
eating families OF his countrymcn in
the rural districts and taking them
from the crowded cities. DR.. Capris
itinerary is arranged by the Southern
Commercial Congress- and Charles ].
Owens. managing director. requested
President e. L. Layheld, OF the Advcr-
Users Club, to arrange for his visit
to Richmond