Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-01-11

years needs only to be mentioned in
order that the present generation NAV
nave full realization OF its duty
am, therefore, IN full sympathy with
the work that is being done by the
tuOllc DOMAIN Commission Reforest-
ing the non-agricultural lands and pro
tectlng growing timber from fire. con
stltutes part of the great work OF
tnis commission. The plan of this
Commission for encouraging the SET
tlement of the good agricultural lands
py actual home seekers and the pre-
yention, so far as possible. Of the set.
uement OF these lands which are not
suitable for agricultural purposes. IS
imperative. recommend that a con
ttnnons appropriation &c made 80 ;i,al
the splendid work of this Commission
may be protected and carried 20
successful conclusion.
A Soil Survey
The State Geologist says that fullv
40 per cent of the land area OF -
State is agriculturally unoccupif I ns
this amount, approximatel@'o go o 40
acres of good agricull<I S ;o's ~
now; or soon will available 5f'' FOR n
is being do9~ - u,S - uone ana ie
tbese x~Spment and settlement OF
thyTands refer to the work OF
sarious development bureaus. the
<ublic Domain Commission, the Geo
logical Survey, many corporations and
individuals There are some corpora.
tions and individuals, however. who
are interested in the sale OF Michigan
lands solely for proft and who choose
to conduct their operations with utter
disregard OF business ethics ana ordi-
nary decency These operators deal
almost entirely in very poor and
worthless land which is sold to intel
ligent a. we'll as 20 more credulous
persons through persistent misrepre.
sensations These operators, as well
as their victims, are mainly residents
Of other states Few of us realize the
extent Of these operations in Michi.
gan or the irreparable damage which
is being done by them 10 the peOpling
and settling of the good unoccupied
agricultural landB How can we pre-
vent the sale Of agriculturally worth
less lands for agricultural purposes?
II in the future the State Is cOing to
exert any important directive in
fuence in the settlement and devel-
opment of it unoccupied lands IL goes
without saying that il should require
adequate and accurate information
concerning them. It should know how
much unoccupied land there is, where
II Is. how much is good how much is
fair how much poor, and how much
Is agriculturally worthless II should
know how much is now available FOR
settlement, and how much of the tim
bered area will eventually make
farms. OF the swamp areas II should
know how much can be drained, and
how much would be At for farming
were drainage accomplished. This in
formation is not only needed by the
State but by everybody in any way
concerned with these lands. IL is need
ed for the guidance OF prospective set
tiers land dealers, county boards
banks, loan associations. development
bureaus, commercial organizations. ex-
pertinent stations, the Agricultural
College. county agricultural agents
and railroads. II should be the basis
Of all cooperative effort in directing
| development into the most feasible
channels. This information can be
obtained only through an actual eX.
animation and soil survey of those
/ parts OF the State which contain the
unoccupied lands A scientific soil
survey means a greater and better
Michigan. recomend to your favor
able consideration immediate action
along this line.
Good Roads
All OF the citizens of Michigan are
enthusiastic over. good roads. In the
past ten years little less than a rev.
olution has taken place in the attitude
OF our taxpayers. While they some
times And fault with the total amount
of taxes they have TO pay. they rarely
complain of taxes that contribute TO
the building of good roads. Now. that
the Federal Aid Road Law. which was
passed by the last Congress-. will
bring 10 Michigan during the next Ave
years 81 tS6,755. which must be match.
ed dollar for dollar by the State. this
movement must inevitably go forward.
| No one thing il more important for
the further progress Of our cities and
especially for the further progress of
our farming communities than good
roads. Even our schools and churches
| depend for their success. in no small
degree. upon good roads | bespeak
Tor this important feature liberal pro.
visions and the kind OF legislation
that will promote rather than retard
this great Improvement
Public Health
The Legislature of 1916 made an
appropriation OF one hundred thousand
dollars fof The purpose OF ultimately
stamping out tuberculosis in the State.
The expenditure OF this money has
been under the direction OF the State
Board OF Health. As a result OF this
expenditure there has been q general
awakening in the State 10 the posi-.
bility OF practically eliminating the
White Plague. The bi-products of this
campaign are not second in value to
M primary object When people are
awakened to an appreciation OF the
methods that are necessary to stamp
out tubercul isis, they are Of necessity