The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-16
RURAL SETTLEMENTS
Commander Booth fuckers Paper in
Irrigation Congress.

Ell Paso, Tex, Nov. 16.-The Ma
tional Irrigation congress is today d.
vided into five sections and each sec
ton is meeting in a different han-
They will come together again tomor-
row in general session and report re-
suits of their work and any conclu-
sions arrived at.
The executive committee, in accord
ance with the instructions given last
year, today reported a number of sug-
gested amendments to the consutu-
ton, but none of them is of material
importance.
A paper on the subject of Rural
Settlements by Commander Booth
Tucker has been presented to the con-
gress. 1t is as follows:
India, we are told, has expended
something like 125 million dollars on
its colossal irrigation enterprises,
combining with it systematic plan OF
rural settlements, and colonization
which has in nine years resulted in
arid and abandoned lands. The fact
that the government has not only
been able OF meet all interest pay
ments and carrying charges, but to
make a clear annual profit of three
and one-half million dollars, surely
speaks for itself and requires no COM
ment. A-~
Second, perhaps in this remarkabl
march of nations, should be placed the
great advance which. thanks to the
energetic action of this congress, have
taken place in Arid America.
While last, but not least, upon the
list is the remarkable action of New
Zealand in its expenditure of some 20
million dollars under its advances to
settlers act. Here the possibilities
that lie before systematic colonization
have been demonstrated in an alto
gether remarkable manner, as will be
seen from the copies of the act, and
the official reports upon it's operation,
which have taken pleasure in sub
T17iffincr dol 20 I7ofr
consideration.
The fact that the state of Oregon
has invested some four million dol
lars of its school funds in advances
to the farmers of that state at six per
cent, and this without mourning as I
understand, and losses, seems to me
to further demonstrate the safety and
wisdom of policy which shall extend
TO our rural districts and would-be
bona-fide settlers a system of credit,
without which our commerce and
trade would anguish, and be COM
pelted to yield the palm to the other
nations of the world.
Our own Salvation army farm col
onies bear out the same deductions.
Crippled as we have been by lack of
capital, we have, nevertheless, been
able to establish three farm colonies
with a total acreage of 5000 acres
and a population of $50 souls With
a total expenditure. of about 100000
the repayments have amounted to
ony a thirty-acre tract was recently
sold at the rate of $155 per acre, while
one of our Colorado farms has Just
changed hands at $115 per acre, and
the owner says that he would not sell
it for 5000 per acre. On our townsite
in Colorado, lots have been selling at
an average of 5000 per lot. or $4,000
per acre, while the business turnover
for the year amounts to about
100000.
A working peoples sanitarium for
conSumptiveS has been esta blished I'M
der the supervision of an expert
physician, where for popular prices
good treatment and excellent climatic
advantages can be obtained within the
limits of any working mans capacity
1t is hoped that ultimately the sani-
tarium will constitute ahome market
for the colony, while the colony will
provide light work and outdoor en-
ployment for the patients.
Gentlemen, it seems to me that the ex-
perimental stage has been passed and the
time has come for action on an extended
scale.