The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-28
BOOTH-TUCKER PLAN.
In Conjunction With Judge Emery
and E. f. Moses, to Establish
an Arid Land Colony.


Kansas City, April 28-Judge J. s.
Emery of Lawrence. Kan, lecturer for
the National Irrigation congress. was
in Kansas City yesterday. He has just
returned from Denver, where, with E.
r. Moses of Great Bend, Kan, chair
man of the executive board of the irri-
cation congress, he spent a day with
BOOth-Tucker, head of the original
Salvation Army in the United States,
discussing the plans of the army for
settling in the arid regions of the west
the deserving poor of the great cities
The gentlemen wished to learn every
detail of the plan to determine if it is
feasible for the irrigatiOnists to Coop
crate with the army in the work. Both
have one object in common to make the
arid regions blossom as the rose.
BOOth-Tucker is making tour of the
west collecting information as to the
details of the great plan the army has
undertaken. The purpose of the army
is to combine the waste forces of pro-
ductiOn on the waste lands of the
country, relieve the cOngested pOpula-
ton of the great centers and increase
very largely the number of independent
home owners. The wise men of the
army are of the opinion that this would
aid largely in the solution of the vexed
social problem and in a great degree
would tend to quiet the social unrest of
the country. It would relieve the char
liable organizations of the cites, would
reclaim and make fertile thousands of
arid acres and would give honest and
profitable employment to thousands of
worthy people. Commander Booth
Tucker expects to secure the funds for
the original purchase of the land from
wealthy men who are backing the en-
terprise; the farm land would be in
small lots, five and ten acres for each
one; the land can be secured for tri1ing
sums and under irrigation would raise
quite enough to make the families in
dependent and give them a home and
place of their own.
iC Of no inf J,o+
the plan will materially benefit the
west, and he says he is in a position to
know that all of the great influences of
the west will lend aid. The great rail-
road systems, with their extensive land
ed interests, are all in sympathy with
the work, and coalition will at once
be effected between the National Irri-
cation congress and the Salvation
Army for the proper starting of the
work. This will be formally accom-
plished at the national meeting of the
when BOoth-Tucker will read paper
setting forth his plan of work and what
he expects to accomplish.
1t is not the purpose of the Salvation
Army to give the land to the people it
will send west to become farmers. The
land will be bought for cash. A plat
of five or ten acres, or more, as suits
the family, will be set apart a small
house built, a COW and some pigs put
on the place, some arrangements made
for the supply of water for irrigation;
Inen me FANNY VIII pc expected to
make payments on the inStallment
plan. Payments of 81 per week or Iarg-
er sums, as ability may warrant, will be
expected, so that ultimately the family
may earn its own home.
The plan is one that has my full
and hearty appreciation" said Judge
Emery yesterday. 1T touches at the
very foundation of the whole trouble
It puts on the land only the best classes
of the unfortunate, those who have
ambition to work and preserve their in
dependence. They would be chosen
from the farm colonies that are to be
established near all the great cities by
the army and on those farms thew
would be taught how to handle the bus
mess of the farms and how to properly
direct their labOrs. After going through
a course of training in these places they
can be put on the farms and told to
work out their own salvation"