The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-05-19
SOLDIERS WANT
INFORMATION ON
FARM PROPOSALS
Returned YanlSs Ask Govern
ment as to Intentions; Rests
With Congress.

the tasks Of civil life, many Of them
with greatly changed ideas Of life
and ambitions and in a quandary as
to Just what to do, are appealing to
the department Of the interior for in
formation as to the intentions Of the
government in its proposed plan of
providing farms for soldiers.
Such a deluge Of requests has been
received from the men who wore
the uniform as to emphasize the les
son of all other wars that the SER
vice men. because of army life with
it's openness and activity, largely
seek cut.ofdoors vacations.
The interior department has al
ready explained to more than 10000
men that the development of it's
plans rests solely with congress. 10
ID expected that early in the extra
session Which convenes May 49,,
there will be introduced bills cover
Ing the farms-forsoldiers plan.
Briefly the department is saying
that il such legislation is passed,
work win begin at cnce in the devo'-
opment Of cooperative farm settle
ments for soldiers and sailors in
nearly all Of the states. In practical!
" every state in the union there are
LARGE areas oi land autible fer this
purpose. There is dry land in the
west that needs water, which can be
proyided BY building dams and ca
nails. In the east are large area OF
cut-over or logged-off timbai lands
from which it win be necessary to
Blow the stumps and clear off the
underbrush. In the south is a large
amount Of eut-over land and swapm
land which must be drained.
MANY Of the soldiers have asked il
il will be possible for them to OBJ
tain Job near their homes by drain
ing, clearing, irrigating and improy-
ing these lands. That again depends
mon the action Of congress in pro-
diving the money for construction.
The plans propose that these settle
ments be scattered all over the coun-
try. SO that it would be possible for
every honcrably discharged soldier
cr sailor or marine to work near his
old home. There would be woiA OF
all kinds in connection with these
settlements, from the highest techni-
cal and clerical positions to that Of
laborer.
The plan involves "the new farm
idea in that there will be bailt what
are known as community settlements !
each containing a number OF farm
homes SO that the men will have
near neighbors, gocd roads over
which to bring their produceto town,
and market for the sale of the !
produce within short distance Of
the farm home. Efforts win be
made to overcome the handicaps Of
farm life that are driving the people
to the cities-the lack Of society in
the country, the distance between
far mhomes, the remoteuess from the
postoflice and the newspaper the
desire for better school facilities for
the children. Under the new way
there will be the farm village, the
settlement OF farmers around cen
ter which is their home in which
can be gathered most of the advan
tages Of the city-the good school,
the church, the moving picture, The
welloutfitted store, and these, with
good roads, the rural express, the
telephone, the automobile and the
pcstoffice will make life on the farm
a thing Of far different meaning
from the isolated life it has been.
After these service men have
builded the dams and canals, or
cleared the cut-over land of stumps,
or built the bitches to drain the
swamp lands; after they have helped
10 erect houses uAlu Ddl+4a btllAb
fences, constructed roads and laid
out town sites, built creameries,
warehouses, and schools after they
have in fact reclaimed the land, the
government intends to allow the men
10 pick out one CT these farms. The
plan provides that these farms and
homes shall be paid for in small pay
ments over a lcng term of years. 1t
is expected that the men win be
able 10 pay the first small payment
out Of the wages received from the,
government in helping to build these
settlements. The balance can 9e
paid from the proceeds from Tie sale
OF crops.
It is planned that the government
will also furnish the new farmers
with the necessary stock and farm
implements, these to be paid for in
small payments spread over several
years.
These farms viii contain from for