The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-07-19

If the Interior, urges that we lmme-
d;atelv begin to prepare for furnish
;no workable land to all soldiers de
siring it on fair terms at the close of
tbn war. "The United States should
be able to say to its returned SOL
djers," says Mr.. Lane, 'that if you
wish to go upon a farm, here are a
variety of farms which you may take
YOUR pick from, which the Govern
ment has prepared against the time
Of your returning"
The secretary points out that at
the close of the Civil War, America
faced similar situation, but that
fortunately there was a great public
domain open freely to all citizens by
President Lincoln's approval of the
Il homestead law in the second year Of
\ the war. Now, of course, the public
domain is practically all appropriate
ed but the secretary of the interior
sees new possibility IN the reclama-
d ton of arid lands, cut-over lands,
and swamp lands and in opening up
land now held out Of use by private
owners. The reclaimed land would
hot only furnish good farms, but the
work of reclamation would supply a
fast amount of labor of all kinds with
useful employment at the time when
will be greatly needed. Instead Of
offering wild land, Mr.. Lane would
give the soldiers land cleared and
quipped with buildings ready for
bse.
Great Areas Available
The completion of the upper and
Rwer Colorado Basin Projects would
seclaim 100000 acres of arid land
N $4,000 irrigated farms of so acres
zach. Fifteen million acres of irri-
sabIe land now remain in the gov
anment'S hands. Of swamp and ev-
AilOwed lands about 60,000,0O0 acres
sn be reclaimed and made profitable
agriculture. Secretary Lane
aheS rough estimate Of the
Nt-over lands suitable for agricultur-
development at 2O0,000,000 acres.
AlaSka IS still a pioneer country with
y pOnant agricultural prospects. The
eEetary of the Interior would have
OOay Of experts spy out" this land
y" 10 determine what developments
kn De made and where, and he re-
seSFS the appropriation of "a mil
y Or two dollars" to put the work
| under way.
New Land Policy Needed
ANY plan for the development of
! Ior the returning soldier" he
i@IeS' will come face to face with
1"cC mat a new policy will have
'Ieet the new conditions. Securi-
must to a degree displace specu-
On A new policy is needed, in
'pDiIon' to prevent increasing two
'enuencles of American condi-
Nne rapid multiplication of farm
u'S and the drift of population
- cites His only concrete sug-
WI however, for the new policy
give the soldiers land on long
s"!ments, and he would evident
s 'fls method for getting land
~ ,'''Se now holding land for spec
f'"ct4cal result of such a
.BnIa SSeo alone would be that the
oro Us could add several dollars
los, 'eyohd the present worth of
l0' Ever since the United
>H'efed the war, our rich men
oS 1 putting large sums in un-
auu IN anticipation of this af-
Mil w: war need and of such a one
s.asy' sIa.s In the meantime since
d. NC, n~' acres produce nothing,
not have to pay income taxes
sIs -, " war burdens on working
sr We can not save the soldiers
III slEssulation es,! in land without q
ers Ivy ny Which will save all our
as snd m, Prospective farmers as
fects. Soioiers from its
khe Ssue Ns1 Points the Way
esont;ap tapartisan League platform
necsssa as Will be found the prin.
rlss y to make Secretary
fa,,aaa ursn success. The orga.
believe from expert.