Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-11-08
FOR THE HomEsTEADER
BY D. clem Dsaver. Omaha. Neb.

The family home is the basis OF our
civilization. The larger percentage
of home owners we have, the strong
er our government.
We have thousands OF families IN
our cities whose condition III life Is
not satisfactory. Many city men who
were raised on farms, who have wives
that were raised on farms, are now
drawing salaries OF 500 per year or
less. trying to raise their children 10
be useful citizens. Many are discour-
aged and have given up hopes OF get
ting homes OF their own, or dong
yery much for their children. Most
of these people are worthy. lhey
want to get back to the land but
on account OF lack OF funds they can
not do so. To help these worthy
people. who really need help, is the
most noble work men and women can
engage in. hereby appeal to you ior
your moral support to the high pur-
pose OF making conditions better for
these worthy people.
How can we help them! BY get
ting congress to pass L bill providihs
for a National Board OF ilomebuild-
ers, to consist OF the vice-president
OF the United States as chairman. the
secretary of the treasury as treasurer,
and an executive secretary to be ap-
pointed by the president; said board
to receive applications from persons
whose property possessions, outside
of their personal wearing apparel and
hous ehold goods, does not.eNceed 81
900 in value and who, at the time OF
signing application, express a desire
10 own a small lfarm home and will
ingness to pay for it in long time year
ly payments covering period OIL say
20 years, all applications Tor small
farm homes to show by affidavit OF
applic alton and two OF their neigh
bors who bear good repute, that ap-
plicant is not addicted to the use oil
liquors or drugs of any kind, that ap-
plicant is of good moral character
and worthy in every way; IN othei
words, require about the same recon-
mendations as the government now
requires when persons make appii-
:ation to the government for employ
mcnt, and in addition require show
ing OF the number and ages OF child
rem OF each applicant.
: In this way congress can ascertain
about how many city people really
want to get back to the land and
his government could do no more
important work tl.an provide means
ior such people to return to the land
With such a board established this
government could well afford to Is
,uc bonds for SI,ooo.ooo,ooo to bt
spent in buying 81. 500 homes ior these
people. or some OF these people. One
hundred million dollars would buy
Se.5oo small farm homes for forty
thousand families. Does anyone
doubt that this government could and
would easily, soon spend hundred
million dollars in case OF war: !
guess not. S not home building a.
important as war? With such a
BOARD established have no doubt
that such men as Mr.. Carnegie and
Mr.. Rockefeller and many, many 9th
ers, would find with this nationa
board a safe place to leave their sur
plus money for good and worth,
cause Each state could establish
such board to work in smaller
field. while the federal board woulC
operate in all states.
This would not be giving anybody
anything as they would be required
to pay it back and it could be useo
over and over again as long as the
government lasts and our govern
ment is liable to last much longer il
we take an interest in the worthy peo
pie who, through. no fault of theil
own. really need help to establish
themselves in homes of their own
the laudable ambition OF every gooe
citizen.
1t is reasonable to believe that i
such a board is created, at least hal
billion dollars could be placed ii
such fund dnring the next ten year:
and that amount OF money would pro
vide S2,5oo homes for two hundred
thousand families, or one million peo
pie and the removal of these people
from the cities would improve thu
chances of those remaining. Woult
not this strengthen our government
Would not these farms be goot
places to draw soldiers from in cast
Uncle Sam should need soldiers fol
war?
submit that this is a practical plar
for home-building and if the readel
agrees with me please send me you
,,,,,a and address that I NAV keet