The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-13
FEDERAL Project
FOR RECLAMATION
WORK UNDER WAY
Government Expert viii Ex-
plain Plan for Turning Over
Farm Land to Returned
Fighting Men.

Plans for n government project that
may place 1000, 900 acres OF raw land
under cultivation in the Memphis ter
ritory and bring in an annual business
Of approximately $3.50, 900, 900 viii be
explained to land owners, state off
Gals. farmers, bankers, merchants, cap
~italists and all persons interested In
the welfare of returning soldiers and
sailors at a huge mass meeting at the
Chamber of Commerce Friday.
The government proposes TO purchase
huge tracts Of land In Tennessee, Ar
kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, place
them under cultivation, equip them with
live stock and implements. build homes
and farm structures, furnish the houses
and make the smaller tracts Of land,
into which the purchases viii be sub
divided, all ready for the coming OF
the returned fighting men. The farms
will be sold to the soldiers and sailors
at a low cost and on easy terms.
Mead Coming.
The entire project is under the di-
rection of DR.. Blwood Mead, who's will
be in Memphis Friday to tell Dose
interested in the plan exactly what the
government proposes doing. DIR. Mead
has successfully handled similar pro-
jects in Australia and Canada, and his
practical experience has amply fitted
him to su%perintend the work.
III ElAtltAAtAAb uH itA 1iA0 kANAA AhAoShtl
to Memphis, Chamber OF Commerce
points out that aside from purchase OF
the land, there remains the placing
Of 1t under cultivation-whieh mean
work for huge gangs OF laborers--the
purchase OF lumber for building. live
stock for stocking the farms, furniture,
linen, queensware, draperies and all the
other articles that go TO furnish a
home-all in wholesale quantities. All
this aside from the vast revenue that
will come from the territory when the
newly cultivated land begins to pro-
duce. In addition TO the financial side
of the project, thousands of new citi-
zens will be brought into the territory.
Then, too, there are many secondary
projects that will grow from the main
one, since the government will handle
no tracts under 10000 acres, There
are many smaller tracts, abandoned
farms and so on that undoubtedly will
private capital after the government
has paved the way in this wholesale
manner
Demands Aid.
The department Of the interior, how
ever, has made 1t plain that the gov
eminent will carry the project into
no territory where counties and mu-
inequalities do not evidence a willing
ness 10 give every aid and to CO.
operate in every manner to make the
plan a success. With this fact In
view. the Chamber of Commerce is
making every effort to bring all per-
o n interested in the plan to the meet
ing Friday.
In addition to the all-day meeting at
the Chamber of Commerce, a night
meeting will be held especially to ex-
plain to parents and other relatives OF
soldiers and sailors Just what the gov
eminent proposes doing for the return
ing fighting men. This meeting prob
ably will be held at the GOODWIN In
stitute auditorium. Since Memphis
alone has sent 1000 of her sons into
the NATIONS service, a huge congress-
fare Is expected at the night meeting.