The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-06-17

one been seriously threatened, each
race treats the other with respect
and the leaders on both sides try
to be fair and work together for the
advancement of all and the highest
development of the State.
For many years 1t has been very
difficult for Negroes to buy farms
and homes in the most desirable
sections of the State because of
the high prices demanded, especially
has this been true of the best farm
ing sections When the 1920 Cen
sus report appeared showing that
there were only 504 Negro farm
owners in the State, a decrease of
204 during the past ten years, sew
eral of the leaders became alarmed
and began to look about for good
farm land which could be purchased
by Negroes on the easy payment
plan. A group of white financiers
had purchased 10000 acres of virgin
land in the blue grass section of
Pocahonta County, W. Va, and held
an option on 1900 acres more in
the same section. This land is To-
Gated In the best farming and cat
tie raising section Of the State and
1t was the purpose of the purchasers
to cut 1t into farms of from so to
100 acres and sell it to white natives
and foreigners. The writer and two
representative Negroes approached
the representatives of the owners
of this acreage with the proposition
of cutting the land into ten acre
farms and cup up lots in pro-
posed town site and give Negroes
the opportunity of buying upon the
easy payment plan. 1t was with
great effort after many conferences
that the owners were convinced that
Negroes would purchase farm land,
but, finally, Messrs. Jas. S. Kahle,
Bluefield, and j. q. Woodson, Prin-
ceton, represting the owners, agreed
to give Negroes a chance to get this
valuable land upon the easy payment
plan.
Surveyors were put to work, the
town of Watoga, was laid off, the
10000 acres were laid off in ten
acre farms and the Watoga Land
Association offered Negroes this val
liable land with lot in the propos-
ed town.
The promise that Negroes would
buy farm land is being kept. To
date more than 200 West Virginians
have purchased from ten acres to
100 acres and nearly 100 are clean
ing up and cultivating their tracts.
This is the first opportunity Me-
groes in large numbers have had
in West Virginia to purchase de-
sirable farm land in either small or
large quantities upon the easy pay
ment plan and when all of this
acreage is sold they hay never have
such an opportunity again. This land
| is the best farming and grazing
section of the State, a railroad
runs through the entire length of
! it with regular stop at Watoga,
1t is touched by an important State
road which will be hard surfaced
at an early date, it is near to sew
eral large and small cities and
| town and within six hours ride to
three of the larger cities of the
State, it is within 20 miles of the
great White Sulphur Springs re-
sort and there is ready and con-
venient market for all of the pro-
4 duce the farmers have to sell.
The ownership of farm, however
small, makes a more desirable and
dependable citizen, gives him more
independence and self reliance
makes him better able to live COM
fortably through business depression
and to face old age with serenity
Where farming communities have
good schools and churches and are
convenient to towns and cities, they
are the ideal places to rear strong
healthy, clear children who will be-
come producers as well as consum
ers.
The Watoga Land Association of.
fers Negroes the one big chance Il
get some of the earth upon which
to produce some of their food ii
the greatest, best and fairest Stat,
in the United States.