The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-08
NOTABLE GATHERING
OF C0L0REO WORKERS

tspecial to The Richmond virsinian.l

Especial to The Richmond virginian. }
Lawrcnceviile. Va. Aug. THE
Eleventh Annual Session OF the st.
Paul Farmers Conference. held here
Al the Sc. Paul Normal and Industrial
School. was full OF interest and va
riety. The conference is an organiza-
alton of zoe negro farmers and work.
ers. organized and fostered by the
school for the purpose OF social ma
terial. moral and religious upiift
Through the medium OF the confer
ence the great work of the School In
maintaining helpful relations between
the races, securing better school ia
'ciitsiea improving farm methods,
elevation Of morals. and encouraging
thrift and increased self-respect is car
rted into every nook OF the country,
with the result that negroes of Bruins
wick are among the best behaved,
most thrifty. law-abiding and In
dustrious in the State.
The conference gives attention TO
such practical and helpful things as
better methods of farming. better
homes. increasing the length Of the
school term by local taxation, buying
land. repression Of crime, payment of
capitation taxes, sanitation and main
tanning good relations between the
races. The county is divided into
conference communities correspond
ing TO the schools and representatives
from these are asked TO report upon
community conditions There are
fourteen questions asked, embracing
such subjects as the school. the home.
neiEhborhood morals. amount of
money raised by extending school
terms, number of acres of land bought.
numbe newly built houses or re-
modelled. repaired. painted or white
washed; whether frame or log. num-
Der of rooms etc. and upon the crop
increase, etc. or decrease of acreage.
soil Improvement giving or crop liens
growing corn, raising hogs, chickens,
stock, production of milk. butter, etc.
Interesting Phase OF Work.
The questions are a most interesting
phase of the conferences work, as
they reflect the real life and purpose
of community activities. The replies
are Illuminating and interesting. show
ing that thirty-f1ve new houses had
been built at a cost of from s400 to
$1,000, and others remodelled, re-
paired and painted. Over 1000 acres
of land purchased since last confer
ence, two new schoolhouses built by
cooperative effort, $500 raised to ex-
tend the school term one month: ST.
bVU raised Dy Sn DNCrfptiOn or paid IN
cash for prospective new schools or
for various school improvements. such
ms new desks, industrial material etc.
In the matter of food supplies the
questions brought out that more farm.
ers were attempting to raise food for
themselves and stock. more hogs being
raised and the acreage in corn prac-
ttcally doubled. As to the money crops.
tobacco, cotton and peanuts still hold
first place. but more farmers are get
ting away from the strictly money
crops and are diversifying their farm
ing.
/ Governor Unable TO Attend.
Apart from the questions. the
feature OF the conference is the spien-
did and helpful addresses on subjects
of vital importance. The chief ones
are the conference address. the ad-
dress to the Woman's Conference and
| the presidents address. This year
Governor II. G. Stuart was expected
TO deliver the principal address but
pressure OF business prevented his
coming. The Governor hoped up to