Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-11-29
RETURNING SOLDIERS INVITED
TO SETTLE In NEW JERSEY

TO SETTLE In NEW JERSEY
The Government of the United States
is concerning itself for the future well
fare Of our boys when they return from
"over there" 1t is proposed that every
one of them shall find an occupation
as good as, or better than the one he left
when he answered the call to arms of
his country. Hundreds of thousands OF
these young men in khaki have come
off farms; other hundreds OF thousands
of to wn-bred fellows, with a hankering
for homes Of their own in the open
country, have had this longing stimu-
lated by a year of life out-of-doors,
away from the reeking pent-up city.
One of the plans suggested by Secre-
tary Lane of the U. s. Interior Depart
ment is to establish settlements on
large tracts of forest, swamp, and arid
lands, which by drainage, stumpage
and irrigation could be made produc-
tive in a few years time, the men sup
plying the labor, and the government
the capital needed to make homes for
themselves.
New Jersey has opportunities better
than these. We have in our State APP
proximately 100000 acres Of cleared
land-land that was nce farmed,
whose soil is capable of producing a
great variety of crops-which are To-
Gated close to the biggest markets In
the world. In many cases these va
cant farms have disable buildings ready
for occupancy, or which could be made
so with little Expense Of time and mon
ey. Moreover, of 1900, 900 acres of
farms now under cultivation in this
State, there are many which the pres-
ent owners desire to dispose of. New
Jersey has millions of acres of swamp
and forest that could be made tillable;
but the Immediate need is for more far
mers, not for more farms. The State
authorities would be remiss If they
should fail to acquaint the home-com-
ing boys, who will soon be passing
through, with opportunities which are
open to them here.
In order to make the information
available, the Depa rtment of Conserva-
tion and Development, with the CO.
operation of the Department Of Agri-
culture, is making a registry of all the
farms of the State which are vacant, oil
which, though being under cultivation
are for sale. The land to be listed
should be moderate enough in price to
attract home-seekers. The department
has no present interest in woodland
that would have to be cleared, Oh
marshland that would have to be
drained. Neither Is it desired to list
land that is held for suburban or resort
development. 1t is designed to register
and classify only real farms for farmers
go acres or more) in communities that
are rural and likely to remain 80. The
glamor of "the West" still attracts,
If we expect to hold our boys, we must
be ready to justify the advice to "stay
East"
Township assessors and collectors
have been requested to send In the pre-
liminary information. However, the
aid Of everybody interested is needed,
SO that the proposed farm registry may
be completed as quickly as possible.
Speed is essential. Owners and agents
who have farms for sale can obtain the
required blanks to be flied up by ad.
dressing the Department of Conserva'
ton and Development. Trenton, N. ],
1t should be understood that this de-
partment is not a selling agency in any
sense. 1t is a source Of information
only, which information will be given
free to those who seek it with a view
to making homes in the State. Exist
ing arrangements between owners and
agents will In nc way be disturbed o.
affected. Townships cannot afford tC
miss this opportunity of attracting
numbers of most desirable settlers, and
/, increasing local prosperity.
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