Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-19
FARM FOR every SOLDIER
AFTER WAR WHO WANTS IT
Legislative Plans Now Being Whip.
ped Into Shape by Senator
Harding, OF Ohio.
GOVERNMENT TO ACT AS AGENT
Would Guarantee Certain Maximum
troflts-By This Means Millions OF
Acres Of Idle Land In This Country
Can Be Made Productive.
Especial to The Times-Dlspatch.l

Special to The Times Dispatch.1
WASHINGTON, November IS.---Evcry
American soldier. when he returns from
the war. will be given AN opportunity
TO become he owner of a farm. accord
ing 10 legislative plans now being
Whipped into shape by Senator Warren
g. Harding. OF Ohio. Tho plan in
wolves the government acting as n real
estate agent TO get farm development
companies and the soldiers together.
the government guaranteeing certain
maximum profits. BY this method.
Senator Harding says millions of acrea
made productive.
Every thoughtful man realizes"
said Senator Harding. that tho proper
distribution OF land is the very basis
OF national wcll-beinE. The land should.
as far az possible. be In tho possession
and ownership OF tho man who works
it, nation Of owners Of small farms
which support sturdy families Is the
ideal. Tho inagninccnce OF France
when tho supreme test came has been
due largely 10 the sturdy folk on her
farms. The weakness of England. the
inability OF that nation to feed her
self, the slums OF London have been
admittedly caused by the ON ncrship of
land by the few.
DRIFT AWAY IRON EARNS
DANGEROUS TENDENCY
TN tho United states tho drif, OF
tho people TO the citics. the drift OF
farms into operation by tenant farm
crs. into ownership in large acreage by
absent landlords. has been recognized
as dangerous tendency OF the times.
Out OF this war will grow many new
demands from the people. The man on
the street will appreciate his rights
moro clearly and Will be more ready TO
demand them. Among his probable
demands Will he his right to the land.
I'm the United states there are vast
quantities OF farming land near the
best markets which arc not cultivated.
In New England there arc 10000. 900
acres OF unused land that might be
growing crops. One Industrial plant
after another Is leaving New England
for the West TO get near the regions
where food and raw materials arc pro-
duccd. and that section realizes sha
must set people on her farms to hold
her factories.
There arc 100000 acres In tho
Middle Statca th.t might lie farmcd.
but which are lying idle. In the Pa
cific Coast states there are 10000. 900
acTcs Of unused land. In all. there
arc 800. 000.Cho acre. Ct land lying idle.
TO say nothing of that which Is made
aua;ei% farmcd.
There is no proper agency to bring
these men and tho land together. There
Is oniy tho land agent. whosc name
has often become one OF rcproacn TIE
government should soc to il that the
lar I ,s al
Is plenty OF available capital THAT e.
rc1dy for investment in that lnud IL
proper arrangement is made. for its
development and sale. il probably viii
not be necessary for the government
should be- handled under government
:upervisIon with a guarantee II .-r-
tain maximum profits
Let us take an example Outside Of
New York. thirty miles away. th-ic
is tract Of idle land 500 acres in
extent Tho soil Is good. There has
Sbcen made available. through funds
seeking investment. tho necessary
backing to handle this project The
land is bought and divided into ten
aero farms. On every farm is placed
a house and barn. horse. COW, two
niss. flock OF chickens. Every detail
- charged up against the farm To
the money expended is added profit
which pays interest on the investment
and makes tho development of the tract
sound business undertaking. THIS
profit and no moro il the developing
company allowed to take.
This is but rough sketch OF the
plan. The situation is different every
where, and requires that adjustments
he made. When tho 1000. 900 men come
out of the war. there will he an un-
paralleled opportunity to work ont
this scheme on "A wholesome baciy
These 100000 men will be fine. sturdy.
young Americans. with the discipline.
tho training. the efficiency developed
by their service Every one of them
could SO on one of these farms and
mako himself Il good home"