Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-30
Putting Georgia in Line
For Soldiers Farm Colonies

a PPRECIATLNG the rich possibilities in
- the Interior Departments plan to
provide farms for discharged soldiers,
the Georgia Land Owners Association has
enterprisingly procured, with the aid of the
Federal Reclamation Service, motion pic
ture portrayal of the States agricultural ac-
tivities and opportunities. These films are to
be exhibited among the American expedition
airy forces in France and also at divers can
tonments in the North and East. 81 con-
graduate your Association writes a Govern
ment official, ''on the fact that through your
foresight and generous cooperation we have
been able to get this publicity for Georgia's
resources and attractions. Its value cannot
be measured in dollars and cents"
No limit, indeed, can be set to the drawing
and developing power which this timely
stroke of enterprise may exert. Unless all
omens fail, the plan to settle soldiers on
lands which, though now idle and uncleared
are capable of large productiveness will be
forged into legislation as a literally financed
measure at the present session of Congress
The bill as now designed calls for an appro-
priatien of half a billion dollars Of which
some two hundred million will be made i'm
mediately available for securing, reclaim1ng
and clearing adaptable tracts and for starting
the system forth upon a practical working
basis, Thus the soldier will be furnished with
the first needful buildings and equip
ment, as we'll as with the soil, and
enough ground will be broken to enable
him to begin planting without the patience
sapping delays incident to so much pio-
neer farming. An exceedingly liberal
period-forty years is the time proposed
will be allowed the beneficiary to repay the
Government for it's aid in the way of initial
equipment and preparation.
There are available for the project in the
South and West, according to Secretary Lane,
two hundred and fifteen million acres, an
area considerably more than seven times as
large as Georgia within whose bounds be-
tween two and half and three million peo-
pie find a spacious and prosperous abode.
The gains in national wealth and strength
thus possible should commend the project to
heartiest consideration at the hands Of
Congress, whilst the especial benefits deriv-
able by the States on whose soil it is to be
worked out should make them enthusiastic in
it's support, Think what it would mean to
Georgia If vast acreages of her land, now use
less for want of drainage or clearing, should
be reclaimed and developed into bountiful
breeders of food. The possibilities appear
immense, when we reflect that in this Com
monwealth, with an area larger than that OF
many a populous and thrifty kingdom of the
Old World, hardly more than thirty-fve per
cent Of the potentially tillable land has yet
been turned to account.
For years we have been urged, and wisely
so, to advertise the States agricultural OPP
portunities with view to attracting home
seekers from other regions. But if the Inte-
rior Departments plan is carried out and we
are prepared to accept Georgia's part of It's
obligations and benefits, we shall secure an
incomparably valuable form Of advertisement
and development combined. That other por-
tions of the country are so minded is evil
denced in the fact that thirty-two States, an
ticipating favorable action by Congress, have
taken more or less definite measures to OBJ
tain the promised Government aid. Montana
Idaho, Wyoming and Oregon have proposed
extensive State bond issues to supplement the
Federal fund, so convinced are they of the
large proitableness Of the plan. It is dis
tinct1y gratifying, therefore, that the Georgia
Land Owners Association has taken telling
steps to get this States resources effectively
before the soldiers themselves, It is to be
hoped that the Legislature, at it's forthcom
ing session, will lend its most earnest inf1u-
enee to the success of Secretary Lanes usefu
and patriotic enterprise and will make what
ever provisions are needful to assure Geor-
gia's full participation.