Phoenix tribune., 1918-11-02
Farm Congress Considers
Returning Soldiers Veal

State House, Phoenix, Ariz.
Sir:
Pursuant to my appointment by you
as delegate to represent the state of
Arizona at the congress of the Inter
national Farm Congress, have the
honor to report:
The joint session Of the congress
was convened in Kansas City, Mo-, on
the 18th day of October, 1918, at
which time the permanent amalgama-
ton of the International Irrigation
Congress and the International Farm
Congress was effected, and incorporat-
ed under the laws of the state of Colo
rado. Thus it will be seen that these
two organizations, so fruitful in their
pats efforts, now go forward with in
creased power and vigor to carry out
| the plans of the federal government
entrusted to them.
/ Just what the requirements of our
government will be from the greater
congress remains, in detail, unknown
at the present moment, but we may
safely assume that it's duties will be
/ fundamentally that of a clearing house
or intermediate information bureau,
/ between the federal government and
i the several states.
The chief object and purpose of the
conference was to meet with the rep
resentatives of the secretary of the
interior, and to hear from them the
plans proposed by the federal author
tiles for the land settlement of such
soldiers returning from war service
as may elect to establish homes for
themselves in the various states.
DR.. Elwood Meads. head of the Cali
fornia Farm Settlement Association
and Arthur P. Davis, director of Unit
ed States Reclamation Service, repre-
sented the secretary of the interior
From their speeches and informal con
versation l gather the following:
The federal government asks the
loyal support and cooperation of each
state in this, the greatest of all un-
dertakings, for the welfare of the men
at the battle front, and l may add that
the scope of the proposed soldier farm
settlement movement is so great as
to promise, for the time being, the
enormous expenditure of money, to
say nothing Of administration expense
in connection Herewith
1t is proposed that the states will
| furnish the land to such soldiers as
indicate a desire to settle and make
homes therein. The tracts to be
from 40 to 160 acres in extent, and
to be land of such a type and physical
value as to give the settler an assur
ance of a proper and life sustaining
livelihood. Such lands, if not already
owned by the state, shall be pur
chased by the state for the purpose OF
soldier settlement. The project also
proposes to finance the settler, to the
end that he may make a start under
the most favorable conditions-help
him to the purchase of equipment
livestock or any other thing or things
necessary to his well being-to keep
him under a sort of parental guidance
if necessary, in the art of husbandry
and to give him the full opportunity
to make good for himself, and become
a valuable new member Of the state
as well.
1t is proposed that the United States
government will finance the under
taking, relying upon the several
states to provide the legal machinery,
through which they may become CO.
ordinate with the government in the
vast undertaking. A federal appro.
priation of $1,O00,O00 is already asked
of congress for the survey of the prof.
ect; this fund to be Immediately avail
able.
By means of soil drainage, irriga
tion, clearing and other agencies of
reclamation, the government proposes
at once to proceed with scientific in
vestigation and construction of all
projects which will add to the desired
land resources of the state and nation
1t will be seen from the foregoing
that this plan for soldier land settle
ment involves the working out of an
administrative system, which will sue
cessfully determine and dispose of the
many complex features which will nat
urally arise in a program of such vast
magnitude. To accomplish this and to
further supply the machinery for car
rying out that program, a meeting of
the executive committee of the Inter
national Farm Congress, a committee
composed of one member from each
state, will be soon called in Wash
ington, d. c., at which time the fed
eral government will have prepared
the frame work for the soldier land
settlement program, and at which