Evening journal., 1918-07-10
WILSON APPROVES
Lanes FARM PLAN
Would AlIot Small Tracts
of Public Land TO Re-
turning Soldiers
WILL ALSO LEND
PURCHASE MONEY

WASHINGTON, July io,-Presideni
Wilson has approved the plan Of Sec
retary Of the Interior Lane to provide
opportunity for American soldiers re-
turning from the war to engage In oc-
cupations remuneratiye to themselves
and economically useful to the nation
The plan would give soldiers unre-
claimed land and provide them with
Government money with which 10 re-
tain It. the money 10 be repaid in IN
stalments.
An appropriation Of 100000 has
been asked to put the plan under way.
The request is still before the House
Appropriations Committee. With the
Endorsement Of the President there IS
little doubt that the money will be
granted by Congress. The si,000000
asked for would be used 10 conduct a
thorough study and survey or what
steps should be taken TO make the lands
attractive TO returning soldiers.
In this letter to the President in
which he FIRST brought up the plan Mr..
Lane said:
I'VE should know by the time the
war ends not merely how much arid
land can be irrigated. not how much
swamp land reclaimed. not where the
grazing land is and how many cattle
Il will support. not how much cutoyer
land can be cleared. but we should
know with denniteness where II is
practicable to begin new irrigation pro-
jects, what the character OF the land
Is, what the nature OF the improve
ments needed VIII be and what the cost
Will be.
I'VE should also know not in a gem
eral way. but with particularly what
definite areas OF swamp lands may be
reclaimed, how they can be drained,
what the cost Of drainage will be. what
crops they will raise. We should have
In mind specific areas OF grazing lands
with a knowledge Of the cattle which
are best adapted to them and the prac-
tlcsbility OF supporting a family upon
them. So. too, without cutover lands.
We should know what It would cost TO
pull or blow out stumps and Il put the
land into conditions for a farm house.
And all this should be done upon a
definite planning basis.
I'm short. at the conclusion OF the
war the United States should be able
to say TO It's returned soldiers, II you
wish TO go upon a farm, here are
variety Of farms OF which you may take
your pick, which the Government has
prepared against the time Of your re-
turning"
TO prevent the idea that the project
smacks Of charity Mr.. Lane wrote to
the President:
This. plan does not contemplate any,
thing like charity 20 the soldier. He is
not TO be given a bounty. He is not TO
be made TO feel that he is a dependent. |
On the contrary, he is 10 continue I'm 4
a sense In the service OF the Govern
ment Instead Of destroying our enc
mics he is 90 develop our resources.
The soldier himself VIII do the work,
Mr.. Lane pointed out. once the planning
S finished This would include the
or irrigation Of his farm, using
money advanced by the Government
With the land as security.
'As have indicated" Mr. Lane wrote, !
this Is not a mere Utopian vision. II !
J, with slight variations, policy which /
ther countries are pursuing success
llly. The plan Is simple. will under n
Ike TO present TO Congress definite pro- c
,cts for the development Of this coun- a
y through the use OF the returned n
Dldler by which the United States, I
'nding its credits. may increase its re- i
Durces and It's population and the hap
iness OF its people with a cost TO It. Il
ELF or no more than the few hundred r
thousand dollars that it will take to I
tudy this problem through competent I
nen. This work should not be post {
,oned."