Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-11
SOLDIER SETTLEMENT
IN VIRGINIA AND DIXIE
Thousands Of Returning Soldiers
With Taste of Outdoor Work
Prefer Life on the Farm.
vIRGINIA's FINE OPPORTUNITY
Idle Lands and Cut Over Tracks in
Hands of Soldiers Will Become
Rich and Flourishing Farms.
Plans Being Maturcd.

II mas been FOUND that thousands OF
! Gus outdoor experience in war are
coming back home with strong desire
TO sick to the outdoor life as far as
possible: that is to say. thousands OF
them who never thought of such a
thing before the war are determined
to make agriculture their life work.
They want TO become farmers.
Tho government is very properly en-
conraging this movement back TO the
soil, and the Department of La Dor and
doing all in their power TO complctc
plans a and IN future carry out plans
possible on farms and furnish them
with a start.
comm1n,E lfG rather d ahan needless
by William r. Wilson. Secretary OF
the. Department of Labor. as he ex
plains the general plans Of these de-
partmcnts for reconstruction and de-
velopmcnt OF the nations natural re-
ION is given in an article on employ
n,cnt in the Monthly Labor Review for
MI in Congress. to Carr, ON, Plans.
f0lly worked out in the bill introduced
u the last Congress 10y Representative
n CLYDE Kelly of Pennsylvania. The
bill viii DC rcintroduccd by Mr.. Kelly
When Congress convencs in extra scs-
sion and there is every reason to sup
pose IL will he passed with little or
NO opposition
The provisions OF NC Kelly bill
Would be carried out under the direc-
the Secretaries OF Labor. Agriculture
and the Interior. \ United, States con-
s iano on service. 9rganiSed by the ma.
projects provided for in the bill.
program for general colonization
and development is planned. which in
cludcs in addition 20 agricultural set
t!emcnt permanent forest and coal
mining communities. as we'll as the
n III Al al sy,NtN
inents in connection with such de-
vclopment.
Taking Heed OF E>rcrience of Fifty
Years Ago.
veiopmcnt effort is made to profit by
the lessons taught in the settlement
OF Western lands under the homestead
1t is Durposed. therefore. 10 establish
Gemmuniites of ready-madc farms on
expert survey and analysis to be cap
IL is Secretary Wilson'S belief that
proved land will not be alurine to the
returned soldier. and. further that he
should not be required 10 isolate him
salf IN his efforts TO win home, es-
nssei :a as me more abrasive plan
tural land is entirely feasible.
soldier Settlements for Virginia and
the South.
As may be seen from reports re-
ceived from many states. especially
me southern States, the State GOV
Federal government in this matter. the
general idea being TO settle as many
on lands that are ALREADY in tOH state
or cultivation or can easily be made
SO. and not rush them off to the for
csts and the plains OF the Far West
20 cut out and dig out new settlements
and new farms, The Idle farm lands
OF the South are 10 he utilized
thousands |, M a, Z;
of acres OF such lands in virginia. and
II seems tina; the war has brought an
IN hands that will work ;hcm TO the
best advantage and TO the grown and
corichmcm; OF the State as a whole
Governor Davis has appointed a COM
mission OF eleven members VINO viii
work in CO operation with the govern
,nent aGsnelss' and Will be prepared
tile passage OF such acts as may bc
necessary TO enable tho Commonwealth
work and 10 take advantage of the
opportunity 20 locate soldier farmers
on the now nnw,orked lands in the
Then too, tho government officials
have not failed TO recognize that one
OF the evils that made it's appearance
soldirr SET Element movement follow
ms the War Between the states was
the tide of speculation and imitation
ot land values, which set in AT the
ssme time. In Mo Kelly hill provision
=, made 10 ssIarH the settler against
The CONSEQUENCES of manipulation and
fee simple title to all land reserved
M purchased for purposes OF com
nunity settlement shall rcms in for
~er IN the United States or in the
5Rrticular stat" that makes the pur-
hase Farm lands shall be allotted
p. areas sufficient for family use and
EsrinE such reriod only as the set
se such land
Under operation of the old home
FAD law with it's grant of eesimplc
Pred greatly through the operations
Of spectators and boomers" The
'!tie became an object Of barter and
commerce and where il did not PASS
from the original locator 10 the spccu-
lator il frequently enabled the holder
20 exact unreasonable rental for use
=, the land from needy tenant In
:. cases the alienation OF title from
.n3 government tended to retard de-
xfoopment and proved of no benefit to
the settler.
The State or Government Acts M
Trustee.
n, Any colony or community settlement
based on individual fee titles is
doomed a. the start. says Secretary
Wilson. and so assures the Kelly bill
II Is only question Of time before
II disin;cErates into individual estates
The way 10 preserve its integrity and
maintain a uniform system OF indi-
Nluudi use ~ LOT the COiOnS Itself.
i the state. Ia hold the fee and thus
control the individual use. Individual
title dependent on use is the vital part
of the sccrctary's land policy.
Provision is made for payment in
lieu OF taxes by the United States to
the State or community for land colo
\ nized under the bill.
Preparation Of lands for comnuni.,
farms would furnish Immediate en-
ployment in constructive work for the
labor surpiusage such employment
h would prove doubly attractive to tho
returned soldier. VINO would SEQ in thc
results of his labor the beginning Of
permanent farm home for himself
To bridge the Roanoke
SOUTH HILL. VA. MAY lo-The
q chairman OF the Board OF Bridge con,
nissioners Of Mccklcnburg County
has been authorized to advertise for