Imperial Valley press., 1918-12-14
(Bv Associated Press)

ton of foreign-born citizens, and the
education of illiterate mountain white
populations and negroes, are Two big
reconstruction problems, Secretary OF
The Interior Lane says in his annual
report made public today. Schools,
he added, should lay more emphasis
on teaching trades.
OF immediate Importance is the pro-
posal that the government syslema.lc-
ally 90 about The work of providing
work for soldiers on existing lrr1ga-
ton projects in the West. Later, Sec
retary Lane suggested, more extensive
reclamation of waste land should pc
put under way, and small farms sold
10 soldiers by the government on
long-term payment plan.
Mr.. Lane outlined in detail his pro-
posed methods of carrying out this
program. which he characterized as
mart of the "looking ahead work" OF
the nation.
"Being Americans and being YOUNG,
they will not ask or expect pensions.
They will. want work. They will want:
if possible, a chance for a nome OF
their own."
By systematic government develop
ment of idle lands, said Mr.. Lane,
there will be provided immediate jobs
for these men, labor markets will be
protected against possible collapse by
being swamped with surplus OF la
Dor, established industries will be
supplied with an immediate demand
for their products, the movement OF
population to cities will be checked,
many "best proven Americans" will be
affixed permanently to agricultural
occupations, and great areas Of land
now neglected and valueless will be
brought into use. =.
Gas an immediate program" said
the Secretary, 1--WE should first offer
an opportunity upon our present irri-
CATION projects for all who wish work
at clearing and leveling the land not
now cultivated, but for which water
is available, or 10 which water can
be brought under the present irriga-
ton system, and that such tracts shall
be developed under an appropriate
land settlement plan. This we can do
at once and meet whatever labor
problem may be immediate.
GAS second step would urge an
appropriation for one or more of the
largest irrigation schemes for which
surveys are in an advanced state. Con-
currently it would seem TO me
wise to undertake the draining of the
most promising projects-govern.
ment-owned land preferred, but, if
privately owned, the land to be bought
at an appraisement made by the Farm
Loan Board and subject to the ap-
proval of the Department of Agricul-
ture.
"There is an alternative method Of
dealing with private lands which al
ready has the approval Of Congress,
being Incorporated in the reclamation
act. Under this a private owner
agrees to sell his land to whoever gets
the water right at an appraised price
as condition precedent to our under
taking the construction of irrigation
work. Under such plan there would
be no difficulty whatever in securing
control of any-sized bodies Of cut over
or swamp lands that might be de-
sired; the government would not buy
the land, but the owner would look
10 the new settler for the price, and
take it on such terms as the govern
ment itself would exact for its own
expenditure upon the lands. Supple
menting this there should be an op-
portunity given for the cooperation
of all the states upon limited tracts
which would be dealt with under state
control and subject to the closest Fed
eral supervision"
After soldier has returned to his
home, said Mr.. Lane, if his old posi-
tion>is not open and he wishes to turn
10 an independent life "there would
be laid before him number of pro-
iects which the government had un-
dertaken in the different sections of
the country. Let us assume no more
than three, one an irrigation scheme,
another a drainage project, third the
development of a body of cut-over
lands. The one would need 10 have
great dams constructed 10 impound
and divert waters, hydro electric
plant, miles of canal an tunnel per-
haps, thousands of acres 10 be cleared
and leveled, fenced and broken. This
would mean years of work at good
wages, in the open under. housing
conditions that would seem palatial
10 the soldier of the trench, and at
The end piece of land on which would
be erected house and barn, farm
house in group of farm houses. For
this he must pay. But already he has
received WAGES out. of which he can
have saved the necessary first install
ment on his place of 10 or Is per
cent. The balance with interest he
can pay in 40 yearly installmens, or
earlier. if he can.
Mr.. Lane estimated that more than
onethird, probably nearer one-half, OF
the American troops in Europe came
from farms, and probably would wish
10 return TO the agricultural work.
Care should be taken, however he
said. that The government in selling
farms 10 these men, limit The size and
impose restrictions to prevent their
being aggre gated into great estates.
Turning TO the question of cost,
Secretary Lane said this would be
'sAs much as we wish TO spend-less
thar many a strike has cost this coun-
try"
"NVould il be unreasonable TO ask