Evening journal., 1918-07-18
BY HARRY n. HUNT.
{ n. .. A. stafL correspondent.

N. Z. A. staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July is.-secreBary Of
Interior Franklin X. Lane is preparing
a program of peace-time development
so that when the war ends the read
justment from a war 10 peace basis can
be made In an orderly, systematic way
that will prevent industrial confusion,
unemployment, hardship and suffering
When the war ends, he points out,
the larger part OF our millions Of sol
diers will return TO civil life. Other
millions, employed in war work, will
face a change Of employment.
There will be a necessary period Of
industrial disOrganization while indus
tries engaged in war production are
resuming the manufacture OF the pro-
ducts OF peace.
Unless plans are worked out In ad-
vance TO meet these problems peace
will bring confusion, unrest and diff
dicultics second only 10 war.
Lane believes this era Of readiust-
ment can be turned into one Of nation
al development on IA scale hitherto un-
known, In which the waste lands of
the country can be made to blossom
and bear fruit and happy homes be-
provided for hundreds Of thousands.
While the industry and commerce Of
the country Is being restored TO a peace
time basis, Lane would reclaim for pro-
ductive uses, the cut-Oyer lands Of the
South Atlantic and lake states and the
swamp lands OF the south and middle
west, and would, by the development
OF great irrigation works, make fer
tile millions Of acres In the west and
southwest.
In this development ne would have
the government and theindlvidual work
hand in hand, the government furnish
ing the money, the individuals coop
Grating in the work: This land would
then be turned over as homesteads as
complete, productive homes with
houses and barns already built, drains
laid, fences In place and with a prop
er equipment OF implements and live
stock. The cost OF these improvements.
plus a reasonable rate for the land
would be repaid the government over
a period Of long years, on a basis Of
government financing that would wipe
out the whole debt at less than normal
interest rates.
ITO prepare for the end OF the war
is an immediate duty" Lane says. 1T
will be too late 10 plan for these things
when. the. war Is over.
"While we do not have the bountiful
public domain we held at the end OF
the Civil War, we do have millions of
undeveloped acres that can be made
available for our HOMECOMING sol
diers.
But these lands should be surveyed
and studied so that the best develop
ment can be made.
''For this purpose I am asking Con-
gress TO appropriate 100000.
perhaps the biggest feature Is the
moral support II will give our soldiers.
'If they know that We are looking
ahead and planning for their future. 1t
will hearten them as nothing else.
"Out OF this war is going to come
a greater measure OF cooperation.
Heretofore our cooperative strength
has chiefly been developed by capital
lists employing other men. We have
oo-operated for him and ne has reaped
the benefits.
"In addition to the general develop
mtht plan it has seemed to me mat
there might he started some system OF
cooperative mines. In a lesser degree,
the establishing Of municipal coal piles
as a reserve from which citizens may
draw tAeir fuel supplies in times Of
shortage. is a step toward fun coop
GRAFTON in our fuel supply.
Another phase Of cooperation
which believe is bound TO come is
the development OF community gar
dens adjacent to our towns and cities.
There scarcely any city that does not
have adjacent and easily accessible
large tracts Of land that could be put
to this use.