The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-01-17
LANE WANTS QUICK ACTION.
Congress Urged to Speed Up on Rec
lamation to Help Soldiers.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-Imme-
date consideration of the interior
departments request for 100000.
600 for the reclamation and occu-
patton of 215,0O0,OO0 acres of till
able soil in this country by returned
soldiers was asked today by secre-
tary Lane at an informal meeting
of members of congress held in the
house chamber.
The plan of the department not
|only will provide labor for thousands
of men discharged from the mill
tary service, Secretary Lane said,
but will greatly increase the resourc-
es of the nation. Briefly the pro-
gram contemplates that discharged
soldiers be employed at current
wages on vast reclamation schemes
in many states, and that they be
permitted later to select a section
of the reclaimed land for farming
purposes, the government furnish
ing money to pay for the cost of de-
velopment. This money together
with the full cost of the land and in
terest would later be returned to the
government.
"The project will not cost the gov
eminent a penny" Secretary Lane
said. "Full payment for the land
will be made within forty years."
Necessity for haste in making the
appropriation was emphasized by
Secretary Lane. Soldiers are being
discharged from the service at the
rate of thousands a day, he said, and
provisions for employing them
should be made soon.
ut would be unthinkable that the
government would permit these men
to search in vain for work." he add
ed, "after they have willingly given
up good jobs to help the country in
its time of need, ready to sacrifice
their lives if necessary. Who can
say that the demand for labor will
not soon be satisfied and that these
soldiers will have to drift aimlessly
from city to city living from hand
to MOUTH"
Secretary lane said an appropria-
ton of $100,0O0,000 would be suf-
ficient to put the plan in operation,
although much greater amount
could be used.
"If the country appropriated an
amount in proportion to that contri-
buted by Australia, it would give
"a, 900, 100000 for the work." he said.
However, $1OO,O00,000 will provide
for the employment of 100000 men
and will result in the development
Of $4,000 farms and that will serve
well as a beginning. 1t is absurdly
small, but it will help. / wish that
an amount equal to the war cost for
week could be given, about $780,
100000, but | suppose that is too
much to hope for"
The secretary said there were
great tracts of tilible soil in nearly
every state which can be reclaimed
by draining or irrigation, and that
between Washington and the south
'ern end of Florida there is enough
land to feed the entire population
of the country if drained and culti-
waited. Immense areas in the west
could be made ready for use by ir-
rigation, he added, and with COM
parative small expense thousands of
acres of rich land in New York, Mas
sachussets and Maine could be put
under cultivation.
"The department proposes that
gangs of men be sent to these tracts
of land and put to work." he said.
"They would be housed in comfort
able barracks, furnished good meals
and paid current wages. Then af-
ter they have worked for one or two
years and the land is ready for Gull
tivation we would tell them to pick
out their own farms. Enough mon
ey to erect buildings and purchase
implements would be furnished them
and government agents would bel
near always to give advice with re-