The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-19
SOLDIERS FARM PLAN
IS UP To CONGRESS

Washington. May with an ever +,
ibcrea sing flood OF men returning home
from the war TO take up anew the
tasks of civil life, many of them with
greatly changed ideas OF life and am
hitions and in uuandry as to just
what to do. are appealing to the de-
partment of the interior for nforma-
ston aa TO tfte Intentions of the gov
eminent in its proposed plan Of pro-
viding farms for soldiers.
Such a deluge of requests has been
received from the men who wore the
uniform as to en- pi1asize-the lesson of
all other -thattlle service men.
because Of army life. with its open
ness and activity, largely seek out-of-
doors yocations.
The interior department has already
explained to more than $4,000 men fhat
the development of its plans rests
solely with congress. 1t is expected
that early in the extra session when
tonvcnes May 10. there viii be intro
fuced bills covering the farms -tor-sol-
diers plan.
Briefly the department is saying
that, if such legislation Is passed,
W orl< will begin at once in the devel-
opment Of cooperative farm settle
rr7rut~-frr-s efdteFa-aHe- satieFs In
nearly all of the states. In practi-
callv every state in the union there
are large areas of land suitable Tor
this purpose There is dry land in the
West tina. needs water, which can be
provided by building dams and canals.
In the East are large areas of cut-over
or logged-on timber lands from which
il will be necessary to blow the
stumps and clear off the underhrush.
In the South is a large amount of cut
over land aud swamp land which must
| be drained,
Many Of the soldiers have asked il
! II will he possible for them to obtain
, a Job near their homes by draining,
I clearing. irrigatins and improving
THESE lands That again depends upon
! the action OF congress in providing the
/ money for construction. The plans
} propose that these settlements be scat
tered all over the country. so that 1t
woaid be possible for every honorahsy
discharged soldier or sailor or marine
| to work near his old home. There
! would be work OF all kinds in connec-
tion with these settlements. from the
highest technical and clerical positions
| 10 that of laborer
| The nlan involves the new farm
idea" in that there will he built what
are known as community settlements,
each containing number of farm
homes. so that the men Will have near
ineighbors, good roads over which to
bring their produce to town. and a
within a short distance of the farm
home
Efforts will be made to overcome the
handicaps of farm life that are driv-
ing TIE people to the cities--the lack
OF society in the country, the distance
between farm homes. the remoteness
from the postoffice and the newspa-
per. the desire for better school IA
cilities for the children.
| Under the new way there Will be
, the farm village, the settlement OF
| farmers around a center which is their
, home in which can be gathered most
OF the advantages of the city-ths
good school. the church, the moving
picture the well store. and
these. with good roads, the rural ex-
press. the telephone. the automobile
) and the postoffice will make life or
the farm thing OF far different
meaning from the isolated life it has
been.
After these service men have build
ed the dams and canals, or cleared the
cutover land OF stumps. or built the
; bitches to drain the swamp lands
after they have helped to erect houses
, and barns. built fences. constructed
! roads and laid out town sites. BULL
, creameries canneries. warehouses and
SC hools, after they have in fact re-
claimed the land. the government In
tends to allow the men to pick out
; one of these farms.
The plan provides that these farms
and homes shall be paid for in small
! payments over long term OF years
! 1t is expected that the men will bt
Y able to pay the first small payment ou'
e OF the wages received from the gov
D eminent in helping to build these set
Elements The balance can be pale
from the proceeds from the sale OF
. crops.
1t Is planned that the government
will also furnish the new farmers witt
the necessary stock and farm nipple
ments, these to be paid for In small
payments spread over several years.
These farms will contain from
' ferty@to eighty acres for genera
!, farming purposes, from eighty to on
' hundred and sixty acres for live stool
e purposes. from fifteen to twenty acre.
for fruit farms and from i've Z
twenty acres for truck farms
Competent instructors in farm prac
!, tice will be stationed on each projec
d to teach the men how to make sue
1 cess of farming. This will make j
I possible for men who know nothins
about farming to make success o.
}, these farms. The plan il to be oper
7 to every man who has worn UnclI
Sans uniform In the great Val.