The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-18
us. 70 fRElklk lllg
FOR c0M|Ne SOLDIERS
Governaaent II Asked to Appropriate
Sam for Reclamation Of Wet
Lands.

Washington. Dec. 17.-Farms cap
able OF immediate crop production
for the returning United States sol
dIers win have to be found on other
than government public lands.
while there are approximately 22s,-
100000 acres Of remaining unappro-
priafed lands in the country. practi-
caMy none Of this acreage, as mat
ter OF fact IL ready for the pillow.
Only by irrigation, drainage or
clearing can the vast public domains
Of the nation be converted into l9nds
suitable for agricultural purposes.
These facts, Of especial interest IN
view OF the task ahead Of caring for
Americas army Of returning soldiers,
are emphasized In the annual report
Of commissioner Clay Tallman Of the
General Land once just made pub
lie The crop lands. generally speak
ing. have gone into private owner
ship. The report ststes that in many
OF the arid regiops~ water is not avail
abla for reclamation and that the
great bulk Of the 225.000,0 900 acres Is
| essentially a grazing area for sheep
and cattle.
1.-THE point which the public should
, understand is that generally speaking
the remaining public lands are not
farm lands in the ordinary sense OF
crop production at all says Com
/ missioner Tallman.
This does not. mean. however. that
the home coming soldier will find the
government unprepared to furnish
! him with the opportunity Of ultimate
| " acquiring a desirable home for
! himself and family. Two main rropo-
sltions under consideration Is to give
| work to all who wish to clear the land
| for which water Is available and TOR
| providing employing t on new frriga :
| ton projects for which surveys are
now under way.
| An alternative suggestion. pur-
chase of lands from private owners
| lands under state control are men
toned with such program under
way Secretary Lane OF the Depart
ment OF the Interior has said there
/ need be no solitude as to caring Tor
| the returned soldier.
! During the past year the report
states. there have been 734 entries
under the new stock raising home
stead act. embracing 236.57s acres.
lands entered and allowed during the
year was s.s74.331 acres.
| Withdrawals of approximately 22o,-
900 acres from the national forest re-
serves for agricultural purposes; This
! liz pursuant to a proclamation issued
shortly before his departure for
| Europe upon the recommendation OF
| Secretary Howard. The lands had
! been classed as mainly agricultural
and present needs require their fuil
utilization.
Cricaso. Dec 1.-THE Federal
government is asked to appropriate
a billion dollars for the reclamation
Of wet lands Resolutions favoring
this undertaking. together with the
abortion OF a plan whereby reclaimed
land may be sold TO returning SOL
diers at cost and the creation OF
/ Federal department OF public works
with a place in the cabinet Tor It's
tional ORA mage Congress just before
it adjourned Saturday.
| The congress-. during the session,
considered a wider range OF subjects
and offered many suggestions for the
/ DEVELOPMENT Of the national re-
sources Of the nation.
| DEVELOPMENT Of national waterways
| and the development OF water power
| was urged. Early commencement
and early prosecution OF work on IN
ira coastal waterways on the Atlantic
coast. Lake Erie and Ohio River
| canal. improvement of the Ohio River,
| storage reservoirs on the Allegheny
and Monogaheia rivers, iake-to*guif
iwatar~eyx via the Chicago sanitary
ana ship canal, the Illinois and Mis-
sissippi rivers and the improvement
| OF 150oe miles Of navigable rivers
! trfhutar~ ia -afteFiai streams WAS
urged