The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-10-24

acres can be reclaimed and made profitable for
agriculture.
The undeveloped swamp lands lie chiefly in
Florida, in the states along the Atlantic and gulf
coasts, in the Mississippi delta and in Missouri
Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and
California.
What amount of land in its natural state unfit
for farm homes be made suitable for cultiva-
ton by drainage only thorough surveys and
studies will develop. 1t is known, however, that
authentic figures show than 100000 acres
have been reclaimed for profitable farms. most Of
which lies in the Mississippi river valley.
The amount of cut-over lands in the United
States, of course, it is impossible even in ap-
Proclamation to estimate These lands, however,
lie largely in the south Atlantic and gulf states,
lake states and the Northwestern states. A rough
estimate of their number is about 2000000O0
acres-that is, of land suitable for agricultural
development, Substantially all OF this cutover
logged-Off land is in private ownership. The fall
ure of this land TO be developed is largely due
to inadequate method of approach Unless
new policy of development is worked out in
operation between the federal government, the
states and the Individual owners a greater part
of it will remain unsettled and uncultivated.
The UndevelOped cutover lands lie chiefly in
the Pacific Northwest particularly in Washing
ton and Oregon, in the lake states minnesota,
Michigan and wisconsin,, and in the south At
lantic and gulf costal states Virginia, North and
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana and Texas).
Any plan for the development of land for the
returning soldier will face 10 face with the
fact that policy will have to meet the new
conditions. The era of free or cheap land in the
United States has passed. We must meet the
conditions of developing lands in advance
security must, to a degree, displace speculation.
There are certain tendencies which must be
faced frankly In our consideration of policy for
land to the homecoming soldier. First, the drift
to farm tendency. The experience of the world
shows without question that the happiest people,
the best farms and the soundest political condi-
ton are found where the farmer owns the home
and the farm lands The growth of this ten
dency in America shows increase of 80 per
cent for the 20 years between 1890 and 1910.
Second the drift to urban life. In 1880 Of the
total population of the United States, 295 per
cent of our people resided in cities and 70.5 per
cent in the country. At the census of 1910, 1873
per cent resided IN cities and 537 per cent re-
mained in the country.
It is evident that since the war in Europe there
has been a decided increase in the trend toward
the city because of industrial conditions The
adoption by the United States of new policies in
Grams will also contribute to the amelioration of
these two dangers Of American life
A plan of land development whereby land is
developed in large areas, suhdivfded into indi-
vidual farms, then sold to actual, bonaflde farm
ers on a longtime payment basis, has been in
force not only in the United States under the
reclamation act but also in many other countries
for several years It has proved complete sue
cess In Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and the
Australian commonwealth it has completely