El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-17
HE[PFARNER To
ESTABLISH SELF
DR.. Mead Says Legislation
Should Aid Farmer and
Not Spectators.


One Of the possibilities in helping the
small farmer establish himself on west
ern land may be found in the establish
ment of a federal rtral credit bank, the
office Of which viii be the lending Of
money to little agriculturallsts on long
time payments, giving him opportunity
( to get under way with the development
of his new property. This is the belief
Of Dr. ElWOod Mead. of the university
of California and one or the recognized
rural credit authorities in the world
He is here to study farming conditions
under the Elephant Butte dam
Finance Farmer.
The first question facing SDeopIe IN
the western irrigation sections. said
Dr. Mead. lis to finance the small farm
er while he is engaged in using money
to develop his land and make 1t pro-
ductive- And the first step in the sOlu-
tiOn of this problem in this country is
an investigation into the methods and
results in land settlement in this west
ern country
perhaps the best way can put it
is to repeat that the Australian gov
ernments system in buying the land,
classifying it. selling II TO the settler
on a small initial payment, leaving him
money Of his own TO make improve
ments, and then lending him funds for
developments. is as near the ideal as
we have in the world today.
Conditions have arisen in certain
sections of the United States in recent
opment and making II more and more
difficult for farmers OF small capital 70
become owners of the land they culti-
vate." added Dr. Mead These cOndi-
tons include higher prices for land in
private ownership. higher cost of irri-
cation, higher cost Of living. higher
wages and larger outlay to improve
and equip farmers The influence OF
such conditions is shown in the falling
off in land settlement and in the in
creasing number Of failures among
1nngs Sc 81 In rzah a-
sections OF the country, by the decreas-
ing number of farms cultivated by their
owners and in colonizing of rural dis
tricts with people who are able to pay
higher rent because they will accept a
debased standard Of living
Legislation Needed.
Il believe that the remedy for these
conditions existing IN the irrigation
sections is to be found in legislation
by the states, or by the nation and the
states which viii provide money to be
loaned settlers TO aid in the prepara-
ton Of public land for cultivation and
TO the purchase of such privately owned
land 70 be resold to ~ottlers under
methods and C nditions similar TO those
now IN successful operation IN Aus
tralia. New Zealand and other coun-
tries.
Commission of Five.
Il favor the appointment OF com
mission Of five members TO investigate |
the methods and results of land settle
ment in the west as well as the causes
and results Of tenant farming IN tie
entire country and prepare a report &
with recommendations as 10 the meas I
ures needed to remove the obstacles TO (
farmers.
lis Bills in Congress.
There are lis bills, or more, for ru- 4
raj credit systems before congress at i
the present time Many of these bills
contain wise provisions which should 4
be enacted in the laws of this country. (
am confident that, with the undoubt i
ed Sentiment for better credit facilities ,
expressed In no uncertain tone by the 4
farmers Of this country, that congress
will enact, at this session, some legis-
latiou along the line OF rural credit !
I am on record as eadprsing only such