Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-24
Put Georgia in Line for
= Soldier Farm Settlements
~HE announcement from WASHINGTON

~HE announcement from Washington
that more than ninety thousand SOL
diers, many of them still overseas,
have notified Secretary Lane Of their wish to
secure farms under the plan projected by the
Department of the Interior, should arouse
Georgia and her neighbor States to speedy
legislative action on this admirable enter
prise. Congress may be expected to provide
in the near future the National Government S
portion OF the requisite. funds, and very
liberal portion it will be. But there will re-
main certain substantial obligations which
the individual States must meet If they are
to share in the general aid.
Thus far it is regrettable to note, they
have been slow to proceed, save in the West
and in scattered instances in other regions.
Washington State has set aside two hundred
and sixty thousand dollars for instant use in
this connection and has provided for future
fund of five millions. Oregon has authorized
bond issue of three millions. Idaho has
appropriated one hundred thousand dollars.
Nevada has given Legislative Endorsement to
a million dollar bond issue. Montana has
furnished fifty thousand dollars for soldier
land settlements, besides two hundred thou
sand dollars for relief work. Utah has ar
ranged for a one million dollar bond meas
ure North Dakota has appropriated two
hundred thousand dollars, while South
Dakota has approved bond issue OF mil
lion dollars. in addition to an immediate ap-
preparation of one hundred thousand. Wyo-
ming has allotted two hundred thousand dol
lars New Mexico, four hundred thousand;
and Missouri after supplying ten thousand
dollars for present needs, has provided for a
million dollars of bonds. These figures serve
to show how extensively and with what
earnestness the West has responded to the
idea of converting waste or idle lands into
productive areas settled by discharged SOL
diers.
But when we come to the South, whose
1NEn 1iaTIJ
suited to this enterprise, we find that only
Florida has taken specific Legislative action.
Her General Assembly has authorized the
use of certain State lands for soldier settle
ments Other Southern Legislatures, it is
true have heartily Endorsed the plan, but
the time now has come to add works to
faith The National Government wishes to
know precisely what it may expect in support
of this patriotic and constructive cause:
AS for Georgia, institutions like the Land
owners Association and numbers OF alert
local bodies have represented the State most
creditably but if their efforts are to be duly
effective they must be reinforced by the
Commonwealth official word and act The
Legislature, we take it, will welcome the
opportunity to advance a cause which is so
rich, not only in worthy sentiment, but also
in material benefit to the common interests.
Georgia owes it to her returned soldiers and
sailors numbering upward of thirty thou
sand, to cooperate with the National Govern
ment in making available for them the means
of becoming independent farmers In so
doing, she will prove her loyalty to those
who were sacrificingly loyal to her and to
America, and in addition will add greatly to
her forces of prosperity and progress.
Prompt action in this matter will lead to
the development of thousands of uncleared
or overlooked acres which now are idle and
practically worthless. Fertile lands they are,
and, with proper treatment, convertible into
so many Edens of productiveness. Surely.
the State cannot afford to lose the chance OF
securing the Governments liberal aid in
bringing this improvement to pass. Con-
gress is expected to authorize the Department
of the Interior to go forward with it's soldier
settlement plan in the near future. Every
needfu1 step to place Georgia in position to
share in the resultant benefits should be
taken. .s'..-s--