Western Kansas world., 1918-10-24

acres be reclaimed and made profitable for
agriculture.
The undeveloped swamp lands lie chiefly in
Florida, in the states along the Atlantic and gulf
coasts, In the Mississippi delta and IN Missouri,
indiana Michigan Minnesota, Wisconsin and
California.
What amount of land In its natural state unfit
for farm homes be made suitable for cultiva-
ton by drainage only thorough surveys and
studies will develop. 1t is known, however, that
authentic figures show more than 100000 acres
have been reclaimed for profitable farms. most of
which lies in the Mississippi river valley.
The amount Of cut-over lands in the United
States. of course, it is impossible In ap-
Proclamation to estimate. These lands, however.
lake states and the Northwestern states. A rough
estimate of their number is about 100000 900
acres-that is. of land suitable for agricultural
development. Substantially all of this cutover or
logged-ofr land is in private ownership The fall
ure of this land to be developed is largely due
to inadequate method of approach. Unless q
policy of DEVELOPMENT is worked ont in CO.
operation between the federal government, the
states and the individual owners greater part
of 1t will remain unsettled and uncultivated.
The undeveloped cut-over lands lie chiefly In
the Pacific Northwest particularly In Washing
ton and Oregon), in the lake states minnesota,
Michigan and Wisconsfn), and In the south At
lantie and gulf costal states (virginia North and
South Carolina. Georgia. Florida Alabama Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana and Texas).
Any plan for the development Of land for the
returning soldier Will come face to face with the
fact that new policy Will have to meet the new
conditions The Of free cheap land In the
United States has passed. We must meet the
conditions of developing lands in advance
security must to degree, displace speculation.
There are certain tendencies which must be
faced frankly In consideration of policy for
land to the homecoming soldier First, the drift
to farm tendency The experience Of the world
shows without question that the happfest people,
the best farms and the soundest political condi-
tlon found where the farmer owns the home
and the farm lands. The growth Of this
dency In America shows an Increase of 81 per
cent for the 20 years between 1890 and 1910
Second. the drift to urban life. In 1880 OF the
total population of the United States. 29-5 per
cent of our people resided In cities and 705 per
cent In the country At the census OF 191o 46.3
per cent resided In cities and 53.7 per cent
manned In the country
1t is evident that since the in Europe there
has been decided increase In the trend toward
the city because OF Industrial conditions. The
adoption by the United States Of new policies In
its land development plans for returning vet
Grams will also contribute the amelioration of
these two dangers OF American life
A plan OF land development whereby land Il
developed In large areas. subdfvfded into indf-
vidual farms, then sold to actual bona1de farm
a longtime payment basis. has been In
force not only in the United States under the
reclamation act but also In many other countries
for several years. II has proved complete Gnc-
cess. In Denmark. Ireland. New Zealand and fho
Australian commonwealth n has eomplekely