The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-24


before the annual meeting OF the Viz
GINA Association Of Real Estate Men,
at Lynchburg. Thursday night. f. Ill.
LaBaume, agricultural and industrial!
agent OF the Norfolk and Western
Railway, pointed out some Of the ham
dicaps against development of the
South and showed the necessity for
cities, towns and communities
throughout the South 10 put into
practice some OF the things they
preach. Mr.. 1.aBaume said:
Returning from a trip. to Florida
a week ago, sat in the observation
car at the end of the train from day
light until dark carefully noting the
character of the country. t.ne farm
houses. the towns and the people as
we came through.
There Is no doubt but what the
cotton situation Is more NJ Jess re-
sponsible for the Lack Of activity in
that section at this time hut the low
price of cotton this year Connot be
responsible fo~ the general down ut
the heel appearance Of practically all
the territory from Florida clear
through to North Carolina. There Is
no doubt also hut what the large pro-
portion Of negro population is rospen-
sible for much Of the siouchy lndtf-
ference, the inefficient farming ana
the general poVerty-stricken atm0s-
phere Tat permeates his country.
The country districts that we passed
through were continual stretches OF
barren finids, tumhled down puthuiid-
f5urs rtrketv fences and uupaiHted.
miserable houses. 4 painted house
In the country districts was ~ rarity:
& venture to say that tess than hVe
houses in u hundred had ever seen
paint. The towns and cities showed
m Improvement on the country us
I'll nlud-gulped streets.
with trash filed bitches and weed
covered banks prevailed everywhere :
stray hogs. hounds and lazy negroes
made up 90 per cent Of the popula-
ffoa .nat greeted MS AT the stations
as we passed through Dirt trash
ard rubbish Of all kinds were co'a-
rpicuouS in the streets OF most of the
4tewns along the railroad, and the
stranger riding through could come
+ To only one conclusion. namely; thht
the peopse and the country were snf-
fering frpr-a a lack ~ initiative en-
ergy and the ability to recognize me
/ situation and do sqnetAn2 ~ im'
Opportunity Presented
~ believe that North Carolina and
f s. Z
dye along these lines thar Ell ut a
the States farther south, but | van
Ia assure YOU. gentlemen here today
that we have an opportunity pre-
scented uS for rehabilitation ~ naF
towns and country districts that y
sadly needed, even here in 'His sec
tion.
i Il came up from Norfolk the other
day and rode the hack end of IN.
rain ali the way mp to get view ~
the section bordering the Norfolk and
through. was gratifed AT the won
derful development Of this TERRITORY,
in the past te~ years To-day wei
kent Acids. newly erected fences
painted homes and outbuildlngs and
a general air If cleanliness and com
+fnrt meet one almost universally ~
! the country districts bordering rae
railroad Manv Of the towns nave
done more along lines Of civic snl-
provement in the last FIVE or ten years
than had been accomplished in the
nrevious nifty Money and labor have
bern expended efficiently N the con-
struction of better roads both In the
towns and The country districts; good
schools with modern buildings pre-
vail almost everywslere. and the very
atmosphere today is impregnated wltf
n spirit OF cooperation and accom-
plishment. but we stjll have wide
margin for further improve ment be
fore we command the fact s4---- IA
we are entitled to Did II ever occur
10 YOU that towns and communities
have their personal characteristics Il
as great ar extent as the individua
has, I want TO present TO You All II
Illustration of this:
"A week ago | received iettel
from a gentleman who had recently
come from Minnesota. and on tn'
strength Of correspondence with on'
Of our real estate men in certain
town In Eastern Virginia. had gon'
direct to that point 70 look the sec
ton over with the idea OF settling
He wrote me as follows
~ have come here at the solcita
s;op 81 Mr. So-and-so whom | find Il