The Washington herald., 1917-03-18
SEEN AND HEARD BY GEORGE MINER.
FREE FARMS FOR EVERYBODY
Land Distribution in Yucatan and How Is Working Out in
Actual Practice.
By GEORGE MINER.
~, BY the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

and other public utilities, As q rule in
founding these new towns they try to
arrange 1t so that II there are any for
eigners in the new colony their lots will
alternate with those of Mexicans. The
idea OF this is to prevent the different
nationalities from focking by themselves
and forming cliques which would soon be
antagopistic to each other. Alvarado
wants them to blend as they do in this
country.
These new colonies will be exempt from
the 2ia per cent tax for two years.
During the first ten years of occupa-
ton the possessors must introduce grad
ual improvements OF landed, immovable
property and elements Of husbandry, up
TO an amount at least equal to 30 per
cent Of the intrinsic value OF the land.
These improvements must consist OF
fences, wells, houses, machines, instru-
ments OF labor, etc.
During the first year all that Is re-
auirsd is the cutting down Of timber and
the cultivation OF any part Of the lot
that Is ready for cultivation.
During each year OF the following
eight years there will be demanded such
improvements as are worth per cent OF
the land tntrinsically, and in the tenth
year. the improvements which are In
troduced should be worth 10 per cent of
this value. In the following years these
improvements must be conserved.
As no mortgage can be placed upon the
lands and they cannot be speculated with
In any way. the government has come to
the front to supply money to farmers
who need it. When the small property
holder becomes in need of money to in
crease his production. the government, or
the institution for rural credit which has
been organized, will be able to advance
funds proportionate to the improvements
introduced for the working capital or for
the harvest. Thus the big premiums which
keep the farmers poor in all countries will
be done away with.
In order to make this plan effective the
state Is now establishing agricultural
banks for the use Of small property hol-
ders.
The State has agreed to place its credit
at the service OF the community and will
secure sufficient money to effect the work
of irrigation for the benefit of the ma
jority, collecting the water by means of a
tax. These taxes will be paid only by
those directly benefited and the works
will be established on an economical foun-
dation.
The State will make every effort DOS
sible I'm order to urge the small farmers
&c form societies for education which will
be cooperative for production and CON.
sumption. 1t will encourage them to joii
tosether in the purchase of machines.
useful to all. but too expensive for on
man to purchase. Already it has got them
to meet In the public schools once a week
and discuss their needs. Within the last
month they have even taken up the ques.
ton OF intensive cultivation.
This sounds like q fairy tale when we
stop to think that for centuries agricul-
tural development In Mexico was almost t
at standstill. and that the methods
used were little better than those II e
spaniards introduced there at the time Of
the conquest.
Until only a few months ago this land
had only been scratched. It's now being
cultivated.