Douglas Island news., 1918-07-05
SOLDIERS WELL
 CARED FOR WHEN
 WAR IS CONCLUDED
Continued from pago 1)

lNohllhucu lIom pubc lJ
 by land is developed in large areas,
 subdlylded into individual farms, then sold to actual bona ndc farmers
 on a longtime payment basis. has been in force. not only In the United
 States under tho reclamation act,
 but also i'm many other countries for
 several years. It has proved a dis unct success. In Denmark, Ireland,
 New Zealand and tho Australian
 commonwealth it has completely
 changed Che land situation. Ono of
 Che now features of this plan is that
 holders arc aided in improving and
 culuvatng the farm. In word,
 there is organized community de-
 yclopmcnt Its beneficial results
 have been we'll described by the Canadian commission which was up-
 pointed to investigate its results in
 New Zealand in these words:
 "thc farmers have built better houses or rcmodolcd their old ones, brought a larger acreage Of land under cultivation that would otherwise be lying idle; have bought and kept better livestock; have bought and urged moro labor-saving machinery on tho farms and in the houses They keep more sheep and pigs and have so largely Increased Che revenues from their farms that they are able to meet
 Che payments on the mortgages and Co adopt a higher standard of living, and a better one. Throughout the country a highc rand better clvlliza- ton is gradually being evolved; Che young men and women who are grow ing up are happy and contontcd to remain at home on tho farm and find ample time and opportunity for recreation and entertainment of a kind more wholesome and clcvating than can be obtained in the cities"
 10 may be said that this country outside of Alaska has no frontier to-
 day. or course. Alaska will stin Io0cr opportunity for pioneer life. And. of course. Alaska likewise has Iyct unknown remarkable ogricul- Iurai possibilities. but unless we. Imakc possible Che development Of this. Hand by thc men who desire their Info in that field. we win lose @ great national opportunity
 This Is am immediate duty 10 will
 be too late to plan these things
 whom thc war is over Our thought Inow should be given Co Che problem. And therefore desire to bring to your mind Che wisdom of immcdi- lately supplying Che Interior Depart mcnt with % sufficient fund with which to mako thc necessary surveys land studies We should know by the time Che war ends not merely how much arid land can bc irrigated, nor Ihow much swamp land reclaimed. nor where Che grazing land is and Ihow many cattle it will support, nor lhow much cut-oG land can be clear ed. but we should know with def luitcucss whore it Is practicable to begin new irrigation projects, what Che character of the land is, what the nature of the improvements need cd will bc. and what the cost will Ibc. We should know also. not in general way. but with particularity, what definite areas of swamp land may bc rcclaimed how they can be Idraucd. what thc cost of the drain |age win bc. what crops they will raise. We should have in mind spe- |cifc arcas of grazing lands, with a | knowledge of the cattle which are Ibcst adapted to them, and Che prac- Itcablity of supporting a family up- on them so. too, with our cut-ovcr lends. We should know what it
 would cost Co pull or 'blow out" stumps and to put the lands into condition for a farm home
 Definite Planning Basis
 And an this should be done upon a definite planning basis. We should |thnk as carefully Of each one Of |thcse projects as George Washing ton thought of the planning of the city of Washington. We should know what it will cost to buy these Hands if they arc in private hands.
 In short at Che conclusion of the
 war. the United States should be
 able Co say Co the returned soldiers,
 "If you wish to go upon a farm,
 here arc a variety Of farms on which
 you may take your pick which the
 government has prepared against Che time of your returning" do not mean by this to carry the impli-
 cation that we should do any other work now than the worl, of plan