The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-11
STATES MUST BUY
.LANDFOR SOLDIERS
Then Government Will Assist
in Development, Says DR..
Cory-Good for South.

The state must be able to go to the
federal department of the interior with
land for settlement II it hopes TO par
ticipate in the soldier settlement move
.mertt, Dr. IL. 2. Gerry, of The n United
States reclamation department, In
formed the audience at the tri-state
soldier settlement convention In the
Chamber OF Commerce Saturday.
Dr. Cory spent an hour and q half
explaining the governments proposi-
tion until the meeting adjourned for
lunch at 12.45 O'Clock. "lt is up to
you people as state representatives to
determine whether you are going to
come in on this" said Or. Cory, who
spoke. as the representative Of Secre-
The government will not purchase
land under any condition, but will only
undertake the development Of land
which the states or private holding
companies purchase FOR the purpose
Of soldier settlement, The state or
holding company will be expected to
make a contract with the secretary
Of the interior and enter into partner
ship with the government In the
scheme, In some states legislation Is
being passed, Dr. Cory said, for the
purchase uf soldier settlement land
but in others private holding COM
panies are being formed for that pur-
pose.
The soldier settlement proposition is
very good one for the South, Or.
will be enormously benefited" he said.
"Of course, am chiefly interested in
getting land for returning soldiers, the
best possible land at the cheapest pos
sible price. ! am coming before you
gentlemen of the South with the prop
ostion because | believe the South
offers the soldier a fine opportunity,
ested in the development Of the South,
1t SO happens, and | am very pleased
that 1t does, That the two interests
coincide"
DR.. Cory declared that he thought
1t possible to establish several types
Of farm colonies in the South and that
1t Would be of great advantage to the
Southern states to be able to advertise
the possession OF soldier colonies, which
would aInean that the government had
put its stamp of approval on the prof.
ects. The South should be able 10
take care Of $4,000 returning soldiers
and sailors, he said. He estimated
that 10 per cent Of the men demobilized
will want to go to farm colonies in the
South
The passage OF 500, 1000, 900 house
appropriation bill for the reclamation
Of soldier settlement land before March
4 was predicted Saturday by ID. W.
Ross, government reclamation agent in
charge of Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennes-
see, Mississippi, East Texas and Ala
bama.
Mr. Ross is here attending the soldier
land settlement convention being held
on the sixth floor of the Chamber Of
Commerce. He will discuss the soldier
settlement situation as It affects Ten
nessee, Mississippi and Arkansas with
representatives from these states
The chief Of the reclamation service,
DR., H. r, Cory, who will represent Sec
retary of Interior Lane at the local
convention, is also in attendance. He
declares that within eight months after
congress acts favorably on legislation
which Secretary Lane has submitted, a
land settlement project In, each Of the
six states under Mr., Ross jurisdiction
should be under way and 5000 former
soldiers employed on each project.
Important committees representing
Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee
are here to confer with Messrs. Ross
and Cory. Fred Heiskell, editor of the
Arkansss Gazette, represents 1pS Arkansas
ture of Mississippi represents his state
George N. Welch, trustee appointed by
Gov. Roberts for soldier settlement op-
tions, and Wilbur A. Nelson, state geol-
ogst, are here from Nashville, rep
resenting Tennessee.
In the states in the southern dis.
trict II, 900, 900 acres OF land have been
tentatively offered for soldier settle
ment work, and some 800, 900 acres have
been actually optioned. Options have
been taken on 500 600 acres in Texas
1A 900 in Louisiana, 250,0O0 in Arkan-
sas, $4,000 in Tennessee, and negota-
each in Mississippi and Alabama. These
options are being, taken by soldier set
tiement committees and run until
March 4, with the option on continu-
ance until Sept 30 II legislation au-
thorizing Secretary Lanes plan goes
through.
Frank II. Hayden, chairman of the
Memphis committee, presided over the
convention.