Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-23
PLAN To LOCATE
EX-SOLDIERS ON
FARMS IN j. s.
Meeting Held Here Yesterday
to Discuss Important Sub
ject; Must Do Something
to Encourage Agriculture

Plans for carrying out the scheme
preached by Franklin X. Lane, sec
rotary of the interior last May for
placing soldiers on farms at the end
Of the war were discussed at a meet
ing held at the Chamber of Com
merce rooms yesterday, attended by
a number of Albuquerque business
men, railway men, Or. A. D. Grille,
president of the state college, A. c.
Cooley, director Of extension work at
the state college. and others.
The railway men present were C.
l.. Seagraves in charge of agricultur-
al development along the lines of the
Santa Fe system; r. S. Trumbull, ag-
ricultural expert for the +. p & s.
W., and A. Jackson, who holds n sim
liar position with the Rock Island.
The meeting was presided over by Mr..
SeagraveS.
Lanes Plan in Bricf
As outlined by Mr.. Seagraves. Sec
rotary Lanes plan in brief is TO place
returning soldiers on farms when
they show a disposition TO take up
such life. But before this can be
accomplished intelligently it will he
necessary to have a thorough survey
made Of the United States, where un-
occupied land is located, determine
the approximate acreage available for
new settlers, where it is located
whether it is swamp irrigab Bile, arid
or cut-over land and all other facts
pertinent to the matter. An estimate
would also have to be made of the
cost of draining swamp lands, of ir-
rigating irrigable lands. and of re-
moving stumps from cut-over lands,
the object being to determine at what
price acre the land could be sold to
prospective purchasers In the case
of soldiers, the federal government
wou&d arrange to render financial aid,
giving settlers perhaps thirty or forty
years to repay the loans.
Z. S. Must Encourage Farming
After reading the details of Secre-
tary Lanes plan. Mr.. Seagraves state
ed that the United States must do
sonnet hing to encourage agriculture.
Canada, for instance, has had agents
behind the lines in France and Bel
GUM almost ever since the war
started giving lectures, distributing
pamphlets and in other wavs calling
the soldiers attention to the liberal
policy adopted by the Canadian gov
eminent for the benefit of those who
are willing to huv farms in Canada.
In addition to this, the Dominion Of
fcials have caused to be spent in the
United States as much as 100000 in
single year advertising Canada and
nersuading farmers and others to
leave this country and locate In our
sister country on the north. Mace
donna is paving more attention to ag-
riculture. Italy has sent to the United
States for an agricultural expert.
Australia is selling land on long pay
ments to farmers, and even Argentina
and Brazil are holding out exception
al inducements to those who are will
ing to harken to the back to the soil'
cry.
Must Feed Europe.
Russia, once one of the leading
countries agriculturally. is PROSTATE
and starvation faces the inhabitants.
She lost approximately million men
in the war. Germany, Austria and
the other European countries are not
in such sorry plight, but Europe
must depend upon the United States,
South America and Australia for
foodstuffs for the next eight years, at
least
1t developed during the discussion
that followed Mr.. Seagraves' talk that
q committee. appointed by Governor
Lindsey, is already at work in New
Mexico carrying out some of the re-
made by Secretary
Lane.
1t was the consensus of opinion
that New Mexico will do her share
and endeaver to have some of its va
cant land occupied by returned SOL
diers when the proper time comes.
1t has been estimated that at least
40 per cent of the men now in the
army and navy will want to go on
farms when they are released from
the service. Many of these, of course,
were farmers when they joined the
colors. Others were city residents
who, after enjoying outdoor life for
several months, have come to realize
that high mountains are a feeling,
but the hum of human cities torture