The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-02-28
TO ALLOT LANDS
UNDER new PLAN
New Scheme Will be Tried by
the Government at Los An
geles Tomorrow.
TERMS OF PAYMENT ARE EASY
According to New "Land Lottery" Ar
ransements Applicants Will Not
Have to Go Through the
Usual Hardshps.

Los Angeles, Cal, Feb. 2S.-The
largest available hall i'm Los Angeles
has been engaged in which TO conduct
the initial steps in the Yuma Irriga-
ton project 'land lottery" tomorrow.
The plan decided upon for the allot-
ment of the Yuma lands is an en-
tirely new one and representatives of
the General Land Office at Washing
ton are here to observe its workings
with a view to it's adoption i'm the fu-
ture distribution of all public lands.
Early tomorrow morning the several
thousand persons desirous of filing
claims will assemble I'm the hall hired
for the purpose. Cards will be dis
government, and on these the pros
pective claimants will be required to
write their names and postoffice ad-
dresses. At any time during the next
ten days the applicant may appear at
the land office i'm this city and, upon
being identified by the card. may make
application for any of the 173 farms
that the government is to give away.
The necessity for the new plan
arose from the anxiety of claimants to
be first on the spot when allotments
were made. AS early as two weeks
ago several hundred men and womer
had already formed in line before the
land office here, with the evident in
tention of sticking fast To their posts
until the day when the allottments
to prevent the hardships which must
necessarily result from such an en-
durance test Secretary Ballinger di-
ected that the new plan be adopted.
The opening of the Yuma Irrigation
project to homestead entry will mark
the birth of new agricultural district
in the southwest. whose growth and
Development are certain to be rapid.
The project. which has been completed
by the government at an expenditure
of about $5,O0O.O00. provids for the
diversion of the Colorado River on
both banks about twelve miles north
east of the town of Yuma. II will re-
deem 1900 acres of an Indian res
ervation on the California side and
about $4,000 acres of public land on
the Arizona side.
The Yuman valley lands are espe-
cially adapted to the growing of aifal-
ia. When the alfalfa acreage is suffi-
ciently increased, the valley Is expect
ed to become the feeding place for
cattle in transit. Dairy'ng is expect
ed to become another profitable enter
prise, as stock requires little food 9TH
er than alfalfa. The climatic conai-
tions are excellent for poultry raising
and bees. The Yuman valley is des-
among the horticultural districts in the
Southwest Many decduous fruits
such as figs, apricots, plums, peaches,
pears and olives, may be raised.
One hundred and seventy three
farms of 40 acres each are to be allot-
ted by the government. The charges
are as follows: Ten dollars per acre
for the land, which amount is to be
credited to the Indians who belong 20
the reservation; $55 per acre, which
represents the pro rata cost of the
irrigation works; 81 per acre for
maintenance and operation Of the sys-
tenn for 1910; total. s66 per acre.
Easy terms will be made for the
payments. one dollar per acre per an
mum is to be paid for the Indian lands,
$3.50 per acre per annum for the wa
ter right charges, and 81 per acre an
nually for actual maintenance. No in
terest is to be charged on deferred pay
ments. The entryman who selects a
4O-acre farm. all of which Is irrigable,
will be required to pay at the time
of filing the sum of $500, and each year
thereafter a like amount until the full
charge of $4,000 is paid. I'm other
words. a 4O-acre farm will cost $4,000
with ten years i'm which to make the
payments.