The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-09-10
GOVT MAY GIVE
RETURNED yANKS
TRACTS Of LAND.
Department Of Interior Starts
Movement For Legislation
To Help Soldiers.

[By Associated Press to The BannerI
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6-When the
soldier of 1865 laid down his arms to
take up civil occupation, he turned
westward to a matchless public do
main which he helped to develop into
the worlds richest farms and cities.
The government was able to point the
way to method by which the return
ed soldier was able to turn his talents
for a livelihood, and the government
now is laying the ground work to
have similar land available when the
great war ends and the millions of
American soldiers return to civil life.
While the domain that awaited the
civil war veteran can not be dupli-
Gated for those who return from the
European battle fields, there are mil
lions of acres which can he made
available with proper legislation and
subsequent development, and which,
according to the present plans. will
be offered to the returning soldier
with ample time to pay for the cost
of development if he desires to accept
it,
Congress will be asked for legisla-
tiOn to make this land available, ac-
cording to the present plans of Secre.
tary Lane and Congressional leaders.
Secretary Lane has announced that
it will be the policy Of the department
of the interior to ask for legislation
by which arid lands of the west, cut
over lands of the Northwest, and
swamp lands in the middle west and
the south, can be reclaimed and the
soldier given preferred status in its
allotment. Bills are now before Con.
gress on that subject, and the plan
bin a measure embracing Secretary
Lanes ideas, the legislation to be pat.
termed after a bill now before the
House nublic lands committee by Rep
resentative Smith of Idaho. i ),
The aIhount Of swamp and cut,over
lands ia extensive, reports from the
Department of the Interior indicate
but just how extensive is not known.
1t is estimated that approximately Co.
100000 acres of swamp and overflow
land can be made available for farm
ing. Some Of 1t has passed into pri.
vate ownership. IT. lies chiefly in
Florida, in the states along the Allan.
tie and Gulf coasts, I'm the Mississippi
delta and in Missouri, Indiapa, Michi.
gan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Cali
fOrnia.
1T is estimated that of the cut.over
and logged-off land there is approx.
mately 20O,000,000 acres suitable for
agricultural development. A larger
percentage of this land is now in pri.
vate ownership. and it is shown that
failure to develop it is due largely, to
inadequate methods of approach. says
Secretary Lane. Unless new policy
of development is worked out In co.
operation between the United States
the states and the individual owners,
greater part of II will remain un.
settled and uncultivated. The land
lies chiefly In Washington and Ore.
gon, Virginia, North Carolina and
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala.
hama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tex
as.
Other than the planning, the devel.
Opment should be by the returned sol
dier, according to Secretary Lanes
views.
"rhe dam or the irrigation project
should be built by him." Mr.. Lane
says. "The canals. the bitches, the
breaking of the land and the building
of the houses should. under proper di.
rection. he his occupation. He should
be allowed to make his own home,
cared for while he is doing 1t, and CIV
en- an interest In the land for which he
can pay through long period of
years, perhaps thirty or forty years.
80 that the soldier on his return
would have an opportunity to make a
home for himself, to build home with
money which we would advance and
which he would repay, and for the
payment we would have an abundant
security"