Arizona republican., 1919-01-09
Land for the Soldiers.

The proposal for solder-settement program forces upon attention the fact that the United States is the only English speaking nation without real land development policy. We might, perhaps have gone for many years without such a policy but for the war which is sending back to some hundreds of thousands of men for whom places and employment must be found. Of the four millions who will be returned from overseas and from camps and csntonmcnts in this country perhaps by far the greater part will be absorbed by the industries they will corne back to places which are awaiting them. Gut something must be done by the other hundreds of thousands
 Though the country is not rich in lands il was at the close of the civil war, when the home stead and subsequent into effect and made cheap lands available soldiers. are yet some SOO0O00 900 acres which are or may be brought under the ownership of the government. They 150OO(OO irrigable lands SO0O0OOO acres of swamp over-fowed lands and about 200 000Q00 of "cut-over lands mostly in private hands but which it is stated the government could no doubt ,asly acquire.
 A few years ago there many thousands Of acres of worn out" and abandoned lands most of them in the New England states, Virginia and other southern states. Modern methods Of farming, how cyer have restored considerable part of this area 50 that perhaps from that source not much would be available
 The lands which the government has or could ac- luire would not of course, be comparable in quality with the lands which were granted to the soldiers f the civil But the present day farmers would have certain and vital advantages which were not then at hand. Railroad development since then has been extended into practically every part the country, markets are more convenient and reliable and scientific farming has contributed to the success of tgricu ture
 That is. however, not all most. Under the various soldier settlement plans under consideration all of them having been tested in the British colonies and found successful the settler would put his feet and kept there until he could stand alone The soldier Of the civil settled granted land left to his devces-to sink swim, and not infre- piently he sank.
 A definite and elaborate plan has been prepared by Secretary Lane which has been embodied in a bill shortly to be presented congress It looks to CO., operation between the United States and the states. alternative plans being presented being that the state shall provide the lands needed. the United States to furnish the money for their reclamation and sub division; for the necessary improvements and equip ment. and have charge of the settlement work Under this bill the soldier settler would be given such aid determined succeed would require until 4 he could establish himself would not receive it in the way of charity but will be expected to repay the government for it's outlay on easy terms, The gov ernment will not stop that but will train him farmer it trained him to be soldier. He will be given the scientific agricultural experiments which thousands of who thought they knew all about farming have availed. and are still avaing themselves.
 Suct program of land development will be a service not only the soldier but also the country which is coming into greater need of it every year. The drift 10 urban life has become serious conditiou t has brought about a disturbing relation between production and consumption and has contributed argey to the higher cost of living. Thirty years ago two-thirds of the population of this country lived farms and contributed to production Nine years ago only half the population lived farms the cities since the beginning of the war, less than half he people remain producers of food -stuffs
 Unless this drift is arrested by land develop ment policy we will find ourselves in the position of Great Britain during the when starvation became I close
 This seems 10 the paramount duty of the gov ernment the who risked their lives in the great and it is no less the duty of the states to give heir hcartest operation in the discharge of the nations obligation. We trust. and we believe that Arizona represented in the Fourth legislature will be lacking in the performance of it's part So big is this question that The Republican will discuss it in a series of articles.
 Readjustment.
 Many people think that a readjustment of the af- fairs ot the country peace conditions brought