The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-08-07
j NCLE SAM TO.
CARE FOR BOYS.
Who RETURN
WILL. RECLAIM HUNDREDS
on THOUSANDS o. ACHES
o. LAND FOR HOMES
FOR SOLDIERS

Washington. Aug s.--when the
soldiers VI 1856 laid down his arms
to take ~ ciyil occupations. he turn
ed westward 10 maichless public
domain which he helped TO develop in
70 the worlds richest farm and cities
The Government was able 10 point
the way TO a~method by which the re-
turned soldier was able 10 turn his
talents for lislihood, and the Gov
eminent now is laying the ground
work to have similar land available
@ten the great war ends and the miI-
lions OF American soldiers return TO
civil life.
While the vast domain that awaited
The civil war veterans can not be du-
ps.ctted for those who return from
tie European battle fields. there are
millions OF acres which can be made
available with proper legislation and
subsequent development. and which.
according 10 the present plans. viii
be offered to the returning soldier
with ample time to pay FOR the cost
cf development II he desires to accept
Il.
Congress will be asked for legiSla-
ton 10 make this land available. ac-
cording 10 the present plans OF Sec
retary Lane and Congressional lead
crs.
Secretary Lane has announced that
7. will be the policy OF the department
o. the interior TO ask for legislation
nv which arid lands OF the west. cut
over lands OF the northwest and
swamp lands OF the middle west and
the south. can be reclaimed for the
soldier g.Ten preferred status In It's
Congress on that subject. and the
5lsn now Is 10 weld into an admins
tration bill measure embracing
Secretary Lanes ideas. the logisla
tion 10 be patterned after bill now
before the House public lands CON-
mittee BY Representative Smith of
Idaho.
The amount OF swamp and ut-oyerI
lands Is extensive. reports from the
Department OF the Interior indicate.
hut just how extensive Is not known.
& Ia estimated that approximately
Go.0oo.oco acres OF swamp and over
Now land can be made available for
farming. Some OF II has passed into
private ownership. II lies chiefly in|
Florida. In the states along the At
lantic and Gulf coasts, In the Mis-
sissip2i delta and in Missouri. In
diana. Michigan. Wisconsin and Call
ifornia.
II Is estimated that the cut-over
snd lcgged-off land there Is approx
mateiy socy-e.coo acres suitable for
agricultural development. A larger
Ter oentage Of this land is now In pri-
sate ownership. and II is shown that
failure to develop Il is due largely to
Inadequate methods OF approach. says
Secretary Lane Unless a 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
- chiefly IN Washington and Ore
rtn. Virginia. North Carolina and
South Carolina. Georgia. Florida. Ala
hama. Mississippi. Louisiana and
Tsxas.
Other than the plznning( the de-
~ opment should be by the returned
soldier. according to Secretary Lanes
vicws
The dam or the irrigation project
'hould Be built by him. Mr.. Ianef
'ays, The canals. the ditches. the
'ulsking Of the land and the building
" the houses. should. under properl
direction. be his occupation. Hs1
hcaid be allowed 10 make his own
ONE. cared Tor While he l. doing H.
nd given an interest In the land for
Ihich he can pay through a ionr pc
i1d Of years. perhaps thirty or for
= years. IL
so that the soldier on hts return.
'osld have an opportunity 10 mal9
home for himself 20 build a hone
in money v'hich we would advanced
I'd which he would res~y. and fos 4
70 payment ne would have an zbuni-