The Detroit times., 1914-01-08
Boast in Sight for
Back-tO-Land' Program

estimated can be reclaimed by the
extension OF work now under way
and the beginning OF government pro
iects for which plans have already
been made. This increase OF the
amount OF cultivated land on govern.
ment irrigation projects will provide
homes for nearly $4,000 American
families now on government irriga-
ton farms, Most OF the farms 10 be
established on the lands will be 40
acres each, because IL has been found
that this amount OF land cultivated
under the intensive methods now
used in the west Will provide a good
income for the average family.
Secretary Lanes principal reason
for asking congress To provide for
500 100000 Is not based on his desire
10 see the mere extension OF the west.
ern reclamation work SO much as IL
Is on bis hopes 20 see the food supply
OF the country increased. and TO give
real encouragement To the back-to-
the-land movement This will bench.
every section of the United State.
as we'll as the west The government
census statistics show that the mum.
Der of people living in cities and
towns In the United States has IN.
creased from less than 80 per cent
OF all the population in 1880 To more
than SO per cent In 1910. while the
number OF people producing food on
the farms OF the country on the other
hand has decreased from more than
30 per cent In 1880 10 less than 81 per
cent in 1910. The same figures also
show that OF the total increase OF
I population OF 100000 between the
I
/ this increase took place in towns and
cities. whereas only three tenths of
/ the increase was recorded In rural
communities During the last decade.
| In only two states In the union, Mon.
tana and Wyoming, did the rural pop
ulation increase faster than the city
Statistics show that the Increase In
/ the country's food supply has not
/ kept pace with the increase Ia popu
lation. This truth applies not only TO
/ agricultural crops. but particularly 10
the mean supply of the country.
which is diminishing rapidly every
/ year
Secretary Lanes experts in the rec
} lamation service have estimated that
If water can be supplied TO 3.i9l1
acres now planned for In government
put under cultivation VIII be equal
10 nearly SO per cent of the cultiyat-
ed area OF all OF the New England
states on the basis OF crop returns
fer 1913. Besides. IL the amount OF
Sl00,000,000. TO be raised by bond
issue. is provided for by congress the
cultivated land on the extended area
OF the irrigation projects will yield
crops every year 10 the value OF s79,.
775.0O0. and the Irrigation engineers
point 10 this fact 70 show that the
proposed amount OF money 10 be-
spent In the west is amply secured
as an investment for the government.
The money will not be. OF course, In
the nature OF direct appropriation,
but the bonds will be bought and will
yield per cent interest. and the re-
turns from their sale will provide the
amount OF money necessary for the
extension or government reclamation.
me proposed plan OF Secretary Lans
is IN way an extension OF the pro-
visions IN the so-called Carter bill
passed two years ago by congress
and which set aside 500 900 900 10 be
used In the completion OF irrigation
projects on which the government en-.
siheers are already working.