Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-10
CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN
THE PIEDMONT REGION
People Think II Garden Spot OF All
This Big Country-Fine
Crop Yields.
VALUABLE WATER POWER
Churches, Sunday Schools and Splen-
did Public Schools Abound-lntcl-
ligent, Progressive and Happy PEG.
pie Welcome the Stranger.

or Piedmont. Virginia. one of the most
beautiful sections of the United States
so its people claim. Cumberland was
cut off from Cioochland 10 years ago,
and has since had some OF it's original
territory cut off to straighten lines
etc. AS il now stands, it is bounded
on the north by the beautiful James
River, which separates II from Gooch-
land and FluNanna; on the cas-, by
Powhatan and Amelia; on the south by
the placid Appomattox River separat-
ing it from Prince Edward. and on
tho west by Buckingham and F.uvanna
Counties.
The county is thirty-four miles long
from north to south. with an average
width of about ten miles and an al,i-
tude OF 4I4 feet The territory is we'll
watered by Willis River. the James
and Appomattox and numerous creeks.
also by innumerable good springs.
most farmers having several, frequent
ly one in each field. There are also
number of medicinal springs over the
county said TO be of good quality.
The population is abou, 10000. mostly
natives. but number OF immigrants
have recently settled in tho county.
mostly thrifty German families. who
have set the people good examples Of
thrift and economy
ALL THE STAPLE CROPS
AND MUCH TOBACCO
The climate is good, the soil mostly
gray. with substantial red clay sub
soil, which will grow all the staple
crops of this section Of Virginia,
especially hay, corn. whoa. end tohac-
co. Tobacco has long been the prin-
cipal money crop. but there is cunsid-
erably more diversity of crops shown
among the farmers now. which is "a
good step forward. The land IS capable
or producing as large yields AS any
in the country. Records snow yields
OF corn over 100 bushels per acre. to.
bacco, 1000 pounds; wheat. forty bush
els per acre. and rs much as five tons
of hay per acre. These are among the
best. however. and under very favor
able conditions. The land is very easy
to improve. and will remain good with
fair treatment
The canning industry is making a
good start. One small cannery started
up last year; two larger ones will
operate this season near Cartersville.
tomatoes being the principal crop used
by them
There is considerable manufacturing
in a small way. q. NJ Garrett. whose
nome Is in Gainesville. has A large
lumber plant Just across the river.
He does large business over the
north end of the county, shipping most
OF his rough and dressed lumber TO
Northern markets. There are a num-
Der CT smaller mills situated over the
county with quite lot of standing
timber yet TO be cut a large business
is Go1e in the milling of grain A. r
Moon, at Tamworth; r. ]. Trice, at
F'lannaEans Mil; r. q. Garrett. at
cumherla nd. and p. 4. Keller. At
Hatcher. all do splendid business
in grinding wheat and corn and sell
ing hour and meal
OIL is supposed 20 be plentiful IL YOU
20 deep enough. One firm is boring
a we'll near Willis Mountain. and
number of leases are beins taken ali
along Willis River
VALUABLE WATER POWER
THAT GOES TO WASTE
There is great water power going to
waste along James and Willis Rivers.
The writer knows OF one poin, on
Willis River that by building a dam
500 feet long one can develop 500 horse
power. enough to run trolley cars from
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. on
the one end, across the county TO the
Norfolk and Western on the other and
furnish light and power for the
county.
There have been recent great i'm
provemcnts in clearing and improv-
ing land by the farmers, making much
larger yields. The farmers arc using
better machinery and general improve
ments.
cartersville and Cumberland are good
towns. each having a number Of we'll
Kept stores which are doing good bust
ness. and strong banks. Cumberland.
the county scat. has large tobacco
market. which is great help to the
farmers, and gives employment to a
number OF people. There are a num-
Der of smaller villages. with nice bust
ness scattered over the county
There seems 10 he an unusual effort
10 produce large crops of food through
ou' the county this year. With peas
and new potatoes on the table and good
prospects for large vegetables. the peo-
rle can live largely from the garden
and ship more Of the staple crops. all
ri which are bringing enormous prices.
GOOD PLACE FOR CITY
FOLKS ~ SUMMER TIME
Taken AS a whole. Cumberland is a
Z hne county 10 live in With a little
/ help now ana then. draft dodgers If
there DC any. could live Oh berries and
fruits. for the prospects for these are
hhc' Climate. water, scenery, society
ana sport are all good in Cumberland
! INC transportation facilities arc prom
is'd by the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-