Evening journal., 1918-11-21
WOULD Sell YANKS
Land ONEASY TERMS
Professor Grantham Talks
to Students on Agricul-
itural Reconstruction
SUGGESTS HOW
STATE COULD HELP
special 10 The Evenlng journal.

NEWARK. Del, NOV. S1.-htCOhStIuO
tion work is admitted to be the grea'
problem Of the day. but no branch OF j
is more essential at this time when hun
dreds of thousands Of American sol.
diers will soon be coming home, thar
AGRICULTURAL reconstruction, as wa:
pointed out by Professor Arthur T.
Grantham. professor of Agronomy al
Delaware College In an address 10 tht
students Of the college yesterday. One
suggestion made by Professor Grantham
that is especially worthy Of considera-
tion at this time is that the state III
cooperation with the Federal Govern
ment reclaim some or the thousands OF
acres Of swamp land in the State and
sell the land 10 the soldiers on easy
terms. Professor Grantham In his ad-
dress said in part;
ut is the popular opinion that the
best way to aid the returning soldier Is
to settle him upon the land. The salts
factory results attending the settlement
end development Of the west by the eX-
veterans of the Civil War has not been
forgotten. Many Of the returning sol
diers have come from the farm ana
wish to continue agricultural pursuits
while others, realizing for the nrst
time the advantage of outdoor life
through their camp and field expert
ences, will never go back TO the shop or
office. The problem Of placing these
men on land now is far different from
that Of 1865. There is no more tillable
land free for entry. The government
cannot give TO every returning soldier a
homestead on fertile soil. While II Is
true that we have 230 million acres OF
unappropriated land. less than half OF
that amount can be cultivated under
any condition. The area that can be
turned into farms includes arid lands
capable OF irrigation, swamp lands that
can be drained and cut over lands with
soil worth reclaiming According TO
Secretary Lane there are fifteen million
acres Of land fit for irrigation in the
public domain; nearly sixty million
acres OF reclaimable swamp lands, pub
lie and private. and POO million acres OF
cut-over timber lands mostly in private
ownership. There is an abundance OF
public land for every soldier. who might
want to secure farm. However, before
any arid and swamp lands can be made
available for homes tremendous
amount of engineering work viii be
necessary. This reclamation work can
be done economically and efficiently
only on a large scale. The plan pro-
posed is to have the Federal Govern
ment undertake these projects. provid-
ing the money for the improvement and
carrying out the work. but that the
States in which the lands are redeemed
are to assume the responsibility for re-
covering payment.
ut is not proposed 10 give the land TO
the ex-soldier. The expense Of provld-
Ing homes for all who would apply
would put the country in debt many
billions. Some one asks. "But is not the
Government 10 give these lands free. as
1t gave free lands to the veterans Of the
Civil War" What the Government gave
In the sixties was merely an Oppor-
tunily Of building a home out of lands
that were practically without COM
mercial value. although productive. To-
lay the Government can offer a better
By this plan the farms
are already prepared for production. ac-
,essible to markets, provided with
machinery and livestock. IL
,an readily be seen that the Government
oannot provide these farm homes free
Of charge as the cost would be prohibi-
tive.
THE Federal Government would CO.
operate with the State IN extending
credit for the purchase and improve
ment OF the land. this making possible
q low rate OF interest and long period
for repayment Of the principal. To make
thss method of land holding successful
1t seems advisable that the farmers op-
crate as a community unit In the pro-
duction and the marketing of crops and
livestock. The returning soldiers seem
well fitted for cooperative enterprise
OF this kind. Their life In the army and |
the discipline incident thereto has given /
them a training for teamwork and IN /
pulling together for a common cause. |
The ex-soldiers are young with more or |
less Of common viewpoint which !
would favor the forming Of a COM
nunity project.
"The question is, VIII this plan work ? |
IN Australia the government has CO.
operated with the farmer for several |
'ears in developing new land. During |
he past year the State OF California has |
Undertaken the establishment of such /
u enterprise. The State bought the /
md, leveled the soil. dug the irrigation
itches, VIII build the house and farm
upon request. The State can
o the work much cheaper than the in
Ividual. In Australia It was found that
saving Of 30 per cent. was made in
the farm building over the
Idiyidual undertaking. The settler is :
'qulred TO pay down five per cent. Of
le cost Of the land and forty per cent
the cost Of the buildings. The re-
aiming payments may be made over a
eriod OF twenty years or more with
terest at five per cent. Each farmer is
'ked to keep a definite breed of stock,
'-operate with his neighbors in buying
nd selling. and In the ownership of ex-
enslve equipment. This plan might
'el be adopted for returning the ex- :
cider to the land. IL is clear that we II
annot dump him down on the public
lomaln without capital or credit. Each
uhNI TN svro~~ iii