The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-14
PUBLIC LANDS FOR
RETURNING TROOPS
Secretary Lane Will Have
Congress Open Up
Land for Entry.
INV Associated Press }

WASHINGTON, Aug. l4-When the
soldier OF 1865 laid down his arms 10
take up a civil occupation, he turned
westward 10 a matchless public do.
main which he helped 10 develop into
the worlds richest farms and cities.
The government was able to point the
way 10 a method by which the re.
turned soldier was able TO turn his tai.
ents far a livelihood, and the govern.
ment now is laying the ground work
10 have similar land available when
the great war ends and the millions
OF American soldiers return to civil
life
While the vast domain that awaited
the Civil war veteran can not be du-
plicated for those who return from
the European battle fields, there are
millions OF acres which can be made
available with proper legislation and
subsequent development, and which. &C.
cording 70 the present plans. will be
offered 10 the returning soldier with
ample time 20 pay for the cost OF de-
velopment II he desires 10 accept IT,
Congress will be asked for legisla.
ton 10 make this land available. &C
cording to the present plans OF Score.
tary Lane and Congressional leaders.
Secretary Lane has announced that
il will be the policy Of the department
Of the interior 10 ask for legislation
bv which arid lands OF the west, cut
over lands OF the Northwest, and
swamp lands IN the middle west and
the south. can be reclaimed and the
soldier given a preferred status in its
allotment. Bills are now before Con-
gress On that subject and the plan
now is to weld into an administration
bill a measure embracing Secretary
Lanes ideas, the legislation to be pat.
termed after bill now before the
House public lands committee by Rep
resentative Smith, OF Idaho.
The amount OF swamp and cut-over
lands is extensive, reports from the
Department of the Interior indicate
but Just how extensive is not known.
II is estimated that approximately co.
900 900 acres OF swamp and overflow
land can be made available for farm.
ing. Some Of It has passed into pri
yate ownership. 1t lies chiefly in Flor.
ida. in the states along the Atlantic
and Gulf coasts, in the Mississippi
delta and In Missouri, Indiana, Michl.
gan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Call.
fOTnia.
II IA estimated that OF the cutover
and logged.off land there is approx
mately 2OO,OO0,0OO acres suitable for
agricultural development A larger
percentage Of this land is now in pri-
yate ownership, and it Is shown that
failure to develop it is due largely TO
inadeuate methods Of approach, says
Secretary Lane. Unless a new policy
| NJ development Is worked out IN CO.
operation between the United States,
the states and the individual owners,
a greater part Of II will remain un.
settled and uncultIvated. The land lies
chiefly in Washington and Oregon,
Virginia. North Carolina and South
Carolina, Georgia. Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
other than the planning, the deveh
opment should be by the returned SOL
der, according to Secretary Lanes
views.
"The dam or the irrigation project
should be built by him." Mr.. Lane says
The canals, the bitches, the breaking
Of the land and the building Of the
hous should, under proper direction,
be his occupation. lie should be allow.
ed TO make his own home. cared for
while he Is doing Il, and given an in
terest in the land for which he can
pay through a long period Of years
perhaps thirty or forty years.
80 that the soldier on his return
would have an opportunity 10 make
home for himself, to build a home