The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-10-21
Senate Committee Will Make Sur
vey of Lands Available for
Men Returned After
the War.
INFORMATION COMING
FROM OKLAHOMA NOW
Interior Department Investigates
Areas Reclaimed by Drain
age and Irrigation for
Agriculture.

WASHINGTON, ID, c., Oct. 2l.-A
A careful survey of the United
States to find just how much land
can be reclaimed by irrigation and
drainage and turned over to return
ed soldiers has been begun by
Franklin X. Lane, secretary of the
interior. Preliminary work is al
ready being done in Oklahoma,
where it is believed many thousand
acres of land can be made produc-
tive and valuable.
The committee on public lands of
the senate has unanimously report
ed in favor of bill approprlating Il
million dollars to make surveys of
farms for returning soldiers In its
report the committee says the pro-
posed legislation is for the purpose
of providing an opportunity TO pro-
cure homes for those of our return
ing sailors and soldiers who may
wish them upon their return from the
war, as well as giving a like oppor-
tunity to thousands of workers in
munitions factories and other war in
ductries who at the conclusion of
the war will be out of employment,
1t is intended to promote as moth
ing else ever has the back to the
land spirit. It is recognized that
one of the great evils of the times
in our country is the overcrowding
and congestion of people in cities,
many of whom are utterly untitled
for city life and not adapted to the
avocations therefore After the war
this undesirable condition will be
greatly intensified. Further, there
will be hundreds of thousands of
young men who will have returned
from service in our army and navy
who will be out of employment and
for whom there will be no jobs or
positions.
In addition there will be thousands
and thousands of men and women,
now employed in munitions factories
and other war industries which will
have to close at the end of the war,
who will be out Of employment.
Many Of them will have some means
ihwch they will have saved at their
employment and with which they
could locate upon and improve land
and engage in agriculture, horticul-
ture, or live stock raising.
All of the above described classes
of people will be needed on the land
The land will need them and they
will need the land It should be the
object of the government and it is
the object Of this proposed legisla-
tion to provide them with the Oppor-
tunity of getting on the land.
Furthermore, the undertaking
which this proposed legislation con
templates if embarked upon by the
government, would afford employ
ment to thousands of men who will
be out of employment at the termi-
nation of the war, when there will
be a scarcity of employment in this
country and when the idle will be
clamoring for employment.
This bill Is in line with proposed
legislation suggested by the secre
tary Of the interior. and the commit
tee believes it of great importance
The committee forther believes thai
it should be attended to in ample
time and that no time should bC
lost in doing so. The war may enJ
in another year, and if this schem,
is to be enlarged upon at all n,
time should be lost in doing So Tht
committee believes the proposed leg
islation and the undertaking contem
plated thereby to be Of great and vi
] tai importance to the country and