Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-12-27
A Ut0pian Scheme.

"a t0plC ilbo
introduced a bin i'm congress which he
believes, if enacted in a law, will do
away with undeserved poverty in this
country and will give employment to
the unemployed, who van to work, but
can find no work.
The bill provides that the secretary of
agriculture be authorized to select from
the best situated public lands of the
United States 5000, 900 acres, grouping
the same together in ais large tracts as
possible, three-fourths of which shall
be Of the best quality of arabic lands,
susceptible to irrigation. O~ne-fourth Of
these lands is to be of the best quality
of timber, coal and mineral land.
1t is to be suggested that these pub
lie lands be chosen from unclaimed dis
tricts of Colorado and New Mexico. In
addition to the 5000, 900 acres to be Sc
lected, all necessary water reservoir
sites, roadways, and other necessary
lands to provide roads, irrigation and
wafer power are all to be provided
The bill declares hat the lands referred
to should be Immediately drawn from
the market and the title to same should
remain with the government of the
United States, to be used at the discre-
ton of the administration; that the
secretary of the interior should, upon
notice by the secretary Of agriculture,
withdraw from the market and settle
y,Q1t all la ro6c cnncifnd in caiI Motion
The bill also empowers the secretary of
agriculture to proceed at once and as
soon as a suitable tract of land could
be selected to begin the preparation and
improvement of the same, fitting it for
homes by constructing suitable irriga-
ton sites, dwelling houses and other
buildings, together with suitable indus
trial plants. 1t further enables the Sec
retary of agriculture to appoint
ayers and laborers from among the poor
and homeless people of this country in
necessary numbers to carry out all the
provisions of this act, regulating the
price paid to said managers and labor
ers by an equitable measure, according
W llIo pCSt Juu6AlSIl, SlNIIlS " euCu
one the full value of the product of his
or her labor except that necessary to fill
the accomplishments of this act, or he
shall deduct from each employees wages
to repay the United States government
for funds expended for his or her bene-
fit under the ruling of this law. AS soon
and as fast as the arabic lands can be
supplied with irrigation and buildings,
a part of the same shall be ~subdivided
into small home tracts of suitable size
to employ and support n family each
to each of said subdivisions, the balance
to be formed collectively ON equitable
terms to the workers.
Secretary Wilson shall provide all
for the use of the people in all depart
ments of work as herein provided, in
Guiding that of the cultivation of the
lands, on such terms as will equal the
cost of repairs INC renewals, except in
the matter of manufacturing n~ecessi-
ties, when he may enable the employees
to make all kinds by hand, the depart
ment supplying all requisites thereto,
as we'll as necessary instructions.
Every homeless man and woman in
the United States who would wish to
avail themselves of this opportunity
would be accorded all the necessities of
life, and some of its comforts, until they
shall have the time in their national
homes to become self-supporting. 1t
would also assist all employees to make |
themselves and their families se,f-sus-
tanning. There would be managers who |
would aid and direct them in accumu-
lating to their individual credit out Of
their WI products a sufficient amount |
to enable them to secure and equip for /
each of themselves a home and indie
pendent employment. free of all debt.
AS fast as they shall acquire independ-
ent standing they will be compelled to
.relinquish right of employment under
this law in order that others less for
tunate might fill their places.
L