The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1918-08-15
WHEN THE BOYS COME HOME

caring for the soldier boys when they return
from Europe. In the forefront Of the propo-
sails there appears as they did after the Civil
war, plans for the setting aside of govern
ment land to be decided direct to the soldiers
without the long process of homesteading.
But conditions are not the same today.
There is no longer a vast public domain for
the soldier to step into and possess. The
fertile praires of Minnesota, North and
South Dakota, Nebraska Kansas and Iowa
have long been in private ownership. The
lands that are left are either arid, swamp or
cut-over lands for the reclamation and use of
which capital is required.
After the Civil war thousands of the
men Injured to life i'm the open with adven-
turc as their daily food sought it's contin-
uance in settlement in the West in prefer
ence to returning to city homes. The great
era of railroad building was just starting
and that drew them on
In the prairie country all they had TO do
especially in the Red River valley, was turn
over the ground and plant crop. The soil
was ready for the seed and the crop was
harvested simply How different will he
the face Of the landscape which will greet
the returned veteran of the German war
Unless the government takes adequate
steps to provide for the reclamation of the
arid swamp or cut over lands there will be-
no easy pathway for the veteran of the pres
ent war.
But the government is anticipating the
problem of the future veteran Secretary Of
the interior, Franklin X. Lane, i'm recent
report to Congress recommends the survey
of the seventeen million acres of tillable gov
ernment land, its classification and prepara-
ton for development SO that the men fight
ing today will have an opportunity, If they
so chose. To start life anew when the wal
closes in the great West.
III the Secretary plans are carried ont
Oregon is bound To profit thereby. Several
million acres of the government land are IN
this state. Not n small quantity, by any
means, is here in Malheur county. The
Owyhec project alone has from 25,000 toI
10000 acres In Jordan Valley ON Willow
Creek there are thousands of other acres
susceptible TO irrigation and there is a vast
area ON Dead OK Flat capable of almost uIl-
limited productions In all there must be-
be almost 100000 acres of land in Malheur
county that might well be considered in the
governments plans.
Some of these projects, the Owyhee for
example, have been surveyed and examined
by both state and national engineers Their
possibilities are known, but some of the
Others are not SO fortunate. Now is the time
when the people of the county, in all sections
should consider plans for the proper presen-
tation of the County's claims for develop
ment. Those who have boosted for one pro-
Ject or another should get together 10 see
that the various districts are represented in
general scheme for advancement. This |
would lessen the expense and would advance
the interest of all
Representative Sinnott in recent
speech called the attention of the House of
Representatives TO the vast productivity of
Malheur county lands. He gave as one in
stance the case of G. W. Mallett who had
grown as high as 80 bushels of wheat ON one
acre of land here. lie declared that ON the
Owyhee project alone 100000 bushels of
wheat could be raised in one year. Such ar
guments are bound to have the desired effect
il properly followed up. The communities of |,
Malheur county should unite TO forward this
movement and be prepared when the time is |,
ripe, TO properly present the claims of this
section for recognition, a condition long past!
due.