Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-03-10
WOULD FORCE
SALE OF LANDS
Secretary Howell Calls Meet
ing in Olympia to Devise
Ways and Means
PROVIDEFO RIMMICRANTS
Would Compel Sale Of Unused
Lands Through Process
of Taxation

A melting called by Secretary OF
State Howell will be held in Olympia,
March q and 20, which will take steps
to get lands in Washington out Of the
hands Of spectators and into hands
Of immigrant settlers at reasonable
prices.
This meeting will be composed OF
delegates from the different chambers
Of commerce. commercial clubs. bank
ers. railroad immigration bureaus and
such land holders as can be prevailed
upon to appear and discuss the ques.
ton
The gathering is called through the
state bureau OF statistics and immi.
grafton. which is in the department
OF state.
Says Logged Lands Are Too High.
THE immigrants coming to us are
to be either an asset or a liability
said Secretary Howell yesterday. I'm
less we make some provision for their
location on lands where they may be-
come producers, we shall have to care
for them in huddled up quarters in
the cities. The present land situation
in this state is not favorable to set
Element by immigrants. from the fact
that it is mostly held by spectators
at exorbitant prices. l have discover
ed, through Investigations made in
my department, that the owners OF
logged-off lands ask $40 an acre for
|. ir holdings in large tracts. Some
say they do not care to sell at all.
Would Force Spectators to Sell.
II believe there is a way, through
taxation, to force these spectators to
sell the lands which they are holding
without improvement. II not through
taxation, then through some legisla-
tive measure The situation is acute
and demands drastic measures. I
have been encouraged in this move
of commerce and commercial bodies
of the state. In almost every instance
they have signified their intention OF
sending from one to five representa-.
tives to the Olympic meeting. The
expression generally is in favor Of
taking steps to force a reasonable
price to settlers on logged-off lands
held simply for speculation.
"At first it was not intended to in
vite delegates other than from com.
mercial bodies, but the movement has
gained such impetus, and has aroused
such general interest, that have de-
cided to get together at Olympia as
many as possible who are interested
in immigration from practical stand
point
State Has Duty.
"The opening of the Panama canal,
the Panama exposition, the new trend
of affairs in Alaska, are all going to
have influence in bringing to this stat"
immigrants. believe it is the duty
Of the state and the people of the
state to see that they are so placed
as to become wealth-producing cili-
zens.
Il have had many interviews with
men from the old country, men who
had plans to bring large numbers OF
good farmers and dairymen to this
state. | have tried to find locations
for them on lands at a price that
would promise living return, but sc
far we have failed. The land holders
most of them, got their lands at low
prices, either direct from the state Or
from the timbermen who bought them
for the timber and sold the land 70,
few dollars an acre. We believe
these lands should be improved. II
the holders act the dog-in-the-mangel
part, the Olympia meeting will pro
badly start movement that will force
their SALE"