Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-02-01

'' low VIII mike Gu,UUU,UUU
acres of land in Eastern Oregon
available for cultivation and win add
$50, 100000 annually to the produc-
tive capacity of this state. Senator
Bourne has issued the following let
ter TO many prominent people in the
state, and will try to reach the en-
tire mass of the people through the
mail and the newspapers.
Letter to the People.
Washington, d. c., Jan. %, 1910.
Dear Sir: l am sending this gem
eral form of letter to many newspa-
pers, oranges and commercial organ
izations of Oregon for the purpose
of getting before the people the idea
l have embodied in bill shall In
troduce In the senate. that production
of crops. rather than residence upon
homestead, is the essential of sue
cessrul and most efficient develop
ment of our resources. Lhave done
this in the hope that the people Of
Oregon will favor their delega-
tion here in congress with their
views as to the wisdom of the pro-
posed legislation.
am informed by Mr., William
Hanley, an extensive stock raiser In
Harney county, that there are 90, =.
100000 acres of vacant land in
Eastern Oregon incapable of irriga-
tion, but nearly all susceptible of
cultivation under the scientific meth
DDS of dry farming" Mr.. Hanley's
suggestion of substitution of crop
production for actual residence as
the consideration for obtaining title
increasingly impresses my mind.
If the bill which l have prepared
should become a law, the homestead
er on non-irrigable land in what Is
known as the arid region need not
live upon his land at ALL, but must
live within the state. He must cul-
tivate it either personally or by rep
resentatlye, and he must show by an
nual proofs that within a period of
J five years the land has produced crops
of total value of $500.
Assuming that Mr.. Hanleys esti-
nate of 2Q.OOO,OOO acres Of vacant
land in Eastern Oregon is correct and
thaJ same can be brought under cul-
tiyation by adoption of what is
known as dry farming" this area Of
land would furnish opportunities for
10000 homestead entrymen, who
before they could acquire title, would
be obliged to produce crops Of total
value of $9O,OOO,OOO Thus it will
be seen that the nation, state and
community would be benefited In
the development of our natural re-
sources, wealth increased, and, what
is more important, a class of citizens
gained who would be Obliged to pro-
duce, Father than merely live on the
land--a population Of workers.
In It's present condition and in Tho
present state of settlement and Of
transportation facilities most of this
land is not suitable for homasteads.
though it could be cultivated by men
who would make their homes else
where, or upon the land through only
a part of the year.
My bill is based upon tho theory
that If tract of land is made produc-
tive it will provide some family with
a home, even though that family /
lives in a town near the land, rather
than upon the land itself, and that.
therefore, all of the essential objects
Of the homestead law will be accom-
plished. The great difficulty under
the present homestead law is that n
great many men who settle upon land
ander the homestead act do as little
as the law will permit
and avoid as many as possible of the
governments requirements, and their
and is not made productive.
Believing that production is the 4.
'eal essential, I made that the most
important feature of my bin. Land
uitable for dry farming" is fire.
uently such as a man would not care
make HIS home upon for / 2 months
the year, but the present law per.
hitting 800 acres requires actual res
ience, and, believe. without accom-
fishing any desirable end by such
equirement.
Under the plan proposed by my bin
n entryman under the 32O-acre
omestead could keep his family IN
ny town Of oregon. where his chill
ren could go 10 school and all q
MEMBERS OF HIS family have the ad. Z
antages OF attendance at church and 4
petal functions, and. at the same q
me- by complying with the law re. q
arding cultivation and nroducito,.