El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-30
Land For The Soldiers

CECRETARY OF TIE INTERIOR FRANKLIN < LANE
- suggested start in the right direction when in
dress last week At Los Angeles he said the United States
ought to be making preparations TO offer unreclamed land
n the southwest to returned soldiers and sailors.
The secretary was looking forward to the time imme
diatey following the end OF the when millions Of
American soldiers and sailors VIII be released from military
service and VIII be returning civilian pursuits Hun
dreds Of thousands viii naturally look to the cities and
towns for opportunities Some viii 90 bark into
the shop, store office from which they departed Many
OF these assured when they entered the military
service their employment would be held open for them There
Arizona bank which publishes in list assistants
cashier the name Of young official who has for
months been IN the army and whose active connection with
me oanE was severed wnen ne vent 10 war There are FL
Paso firms also which consider their absent the
army or navy much part Of the establishments PEI
sonnet as though they were not with the colors.
But there other hundreds Of thousands who viii
look TO the ceners Of population for their opportunities and
viii to 20 back the land than ever came
from the land We shall find that the has made Of
doors thousands indoor men before they
donned uniform They VIII consider going back in
doors Nor VIII they consider returning occupations
which put their futures at the disposal OF employers They
VIII look to farms mines livestock other outdoor enter
prses for livelihood
This Is a fact which the end Of every var develops
The revolutionary vas followed by coonzng period
So was the civil war very large scale indeed. England
long mas followed the pohcy OF placing returned soldiers on
land cOlonsts notably after the Boer In fact Eng
lands former soldiers do TO colonize Btans
possessions than any other class OF subjects If
soldiers may be called class.
The southwest has the land millions Of acres Of it.
awaiting Some of 1t be reclaimed through the aid
be irrigated only by pumping plants. Some IS unsuitable
for agriculture but be used for grazing although 1t
not being used Some Of 1t is suitable for mining
Secretary Lanes idea is that congress should appropriate
100000 finance commission which should survey the
public lands IN the west and southwest and compile figures
the amounts Of land falling under the above cassca
tons and in the Of arabic and the cost Of rec
nation His idea would be have everything ready
that when the soldier sailor is discharged from service
the government say: would you like and2 Here Is
what We have TO offer; take your choice"
But M Lane overlooks the fact that soldier sailor
with almost cash capital would then face the prospect
Of going upon unde7e0ped land which could not be made
produce crops for several years at least and for the
development Of which he would have money. He could
stay the land. He would have to seek livelihood
elsewhere.
Better for the government TO carry Mr. Lanes plan
through 10 logical conclusion Establish reclamation
projects where feasible and create great fund out Of which
tide the settlers the first hard years Of their effort
enough TO build small house. put down we'll buy wire
for fences and supply livestock implements and seed.
You say this is far than Uncle sam has done
for the rest Of US? Very true; but these young II
army and navy doing far for Uncle Sam than
any Of Us have done