Eastern Virginian, July 7, 1876

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fields -- Crops - White potatoes : Markets

At Boggs' wharf, yesterday, the steamer "Helen" was about to leave for Baltimore, where to tap the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for Red River is an easy matter. The smoke was rolling from the chimney of the craft, and the sturdy roustabouts were savagely seizing huge barrels of potatoes and conveying them on the boat, taking particular care to let them stop as suddenly as possible. Lew. Smith, the first mate, stood by the gangway, urging the men to hurry up, and singing, "I want to be an angel." The second mate was upending well filled barrels with the bottoms out, and joining in the chorus whenever the freight was dumped from the truck too quick.

Accomack Agricultural Society

Farmers -- Farmers' organizations

Meeting at Pungoteague -- Eloquent Address of the Hon. John Neely.

It is our pleasure to be present at a meeting of the Accomack Agricultural Society at Pungoteague on Saturday last, when an address was delivered by the Hon. John Neely.

Mr. Neely began by congratulating the Society on its organization, and spoke of it as a means of intellectual culture, as well as a benefit to the calling of those whose especial interest it was organized to deal; of the great debt, society, the business world, government itself owed to the plow and harrow; they were the only certain producers of wealth; the basis of all true political economy: the sheet anchor of society; the solid rock upon which government rested for prosperity and power, appealing to his audience, and, through them to every farmer in Accomack, to recognize the great responsibility upon them as tillers of the soil, that they make the most intelligent effort for the advancement of its interests.

Proud cities rise in every land,

Fine churches show the builders hand;

The student burns the "midnight oil,"

Metal is wrought with skill and toil;

Fair ships set sail from every port,

Brave soldiers guard the town and fort;

But rich or poor, or great or small,

The men who farm must feed them all.

Mr. Neely advised in connection with this the purchase of a Library and the patronage of our local paper not only by liberal subscription and advertising, but by contribution of original matter to its columns. The paper which we have is the only one that was ever successfully published in our midst, and he appealed to the Society not to neglect the advantages thus afforded, but to give it a liberal and free support as above indicated and thus utilize their own interests.

The speaker then alluded to the peculiar advantages enjoyed by farmers in this country over those in other countries, where the great body of land was held by a privileged few, whose numbers were kept down by the law of primogeniture. Here the farmer was the slave of no man -- he was the lord of the earth and it was in this country alone that man stood forth in the strength and perfection given him by his Creator, who had made all things subject to his will, conditioned only that he should be faithful over all. The advantages of Accomack for agricultural purposes were inestimable, and the thrift and energy of its inhabitants, while it rendered us one of the most properous agricultural people in the country, the great results which would flow from intelligent effort, such as it was the object of this organization to promote, would unquestionably place us far ahead of those in any of our sister States.

Mr. Neely also touched upon the "hard times," attributing them not so much to any special need, either of "expanding" or "contracting" the currency, as of contracting our individual expenditures. In this connection he said that the spirit of extravagance engendered by the flush times of the war in the North had, by pervading the South since the close of the war, done more permanent and wide spread injury than all of Sheridan's raiders and Sherman's bummers. The orator here impressed a wholesome lesson on the minds of his hearers, urging that the solution of this great financial problem should begin at every man's hearth stone. This should be one of the great principles inculcated by the Society, and concluded with a brief reference to the prospects for better times opened up by the St. Louis nominations.

Mr. Neely spoke by over an hour in his usual polished and eloquent style, and abandoning the visionary theories harped upon so much by others, he confined himself to the practical, expressing himself in that clear and lucid manner which cannot fail of a wholesome effect. We trust the Accomack Agricultural Society will consider seriously his remarks and act upon them. The EASTERN VIRGINIAN invites their subscriptions and their contributions.

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Professionals -- Commission merchants

To Shippers.

Swift Brothers, wholesale Commission Merchants, No 80 Light Street wharf, Baltimore, solicit through the columns of the EASTERN VIRGINIAN a share of the patronage of our farmers and shippers. Mr. Lew. Swift formerly of Clark, Swift & Co. is one of the firm, and his well known industry and fair dealing heretofore is of itself a guarantee of promptitude and satisfaction. Long experience has enabled Messrs. Swift Bros., to build up a trade of the most extensive dimensions, and among buyers of the first class. This, while it enables them to at all times place consignments to them to advantage, has the additional advantage of insuring for their produce the very highest market prices. With their excellent facilities for handling potatoes, peas and other vegetables, fruits, &c., they offer the most substantial inducements to farmers and others. The highest market prices are guaranteed with prompt return of money and empties. Extending thanks to those who have heretofore favored them with their shipments, they solicit a continuation, and an increased patronage. Stencils and cards will be sent to those desiring them.