HOME OF A PROSPEROUS COLORED FARMER 



to read and write, the majority of them as industrious, and many of 

 them as obtaining and holding property. The conditions here are 

 exceptional, however, and our present remarks are applicable to the 

 remainder of the county). It was frequently suggested to the investiga- 

 tors, as a profitable field for study, that they endeavor to ascertain just 

 what sources of income certain colonies of negroes had, as they were 

 popularly believed to do no work. 



But if the negroes of the county are to any considerable extent illiterate 

 and indolent, at least a part of the blame should be put upon the white 

 population, who appear to have taken it for granted that such conditions 

 will always maintain and to have made no especial effort toward im- 

 provement. They have neglected the colored schools, have given no 

 encouragement to the colored churches, and have made no systematic 

 effort to better the economic condition of the negro. 



This cannot be said to be a growing problem, for in the last thirty 

 years the colored population has remained stationary while the white 

 population has increased nearly 50%. But it is none the less an urgent 

 problem which should constrain us to remember that the while popula- 

 tion is charged with the responsibility of helping the colored population 

 until such time as it can care for itself in adequate fashion. 



Industrial Types 



There are 2,442 farm operators in the county, of whom 2,042 are native- 

 born whites, 51 are foreign-born whites and 349 are negroes. Forty- 

 five physicians live in the county, 42 having local practise. There are 

 20 practising lawyers. Other professional men who make their income 



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