El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-21
MEAD PRAISES
LOCAL VALLEYS
Discusses Soldier S ettle
ment Says Local Project
Viii Share in It.

4r- ElWOou Mead, chairman OF the
California soldiers settlement board.
arrived in Fl Paso Wednesday morn
iHs. and was met at the railroad sta
ti0n by F. NJ. Lawson. manager Of the
c. s. reclamation service. he was
taken for a spin down the valley to
see the lands Of the irrigation project
and at noon was the guest Of the az
riculture department OF the Fl Paso
chamber Of commerce at a luncheon
in the sheldon grill
After the luncheon he was taken in
an automobile to Las Cruces with H
H Brooks. Of the high line canal
COMMITTEES: ". 7. Potter chairman OF
the state board OF water engineers
Roland Harwell. manager OF the ag-
riculture department OF the chamber
OF commerce and George R. LeBaron,
chairman OF the agriculture depart
ment Of the chamber Of commerce.
Dr. Mead spoke at the luncheon
with considerable enthusiasm OF the
irrigation lands in the lower valley
ana said that be was certain that
" hen the time came to materalize the
program OF soldier settlement. under
the direction OF the department OF in
elephant Butte dam project would
come in for a liberal share OF farm
soldiers Il am not" he added, .'iden-
titled any longer as a member Of the
department Of Interior but feel GER
tain that the project here viii be OF
the greatest interest to secretary
Lane"
It was Dr. Mead's wish 70 present
the text Of the soldier settlement act
70 the diners at the midday lunch. He
stated that The measure provided FOR
. congressional appropriation Of
S500.000.0G0.
Triple Approval Necessary.
NO lands shall be acquired" he
said. however, unless the price to
be paid. and the conditions under
which they are 10 be acquired shall
be approved BY (a) a renresentative
OF the governor OF the state in which
the lands are locateds ODD an an
praiser designated by the federal
farm loan board and fcl the secre-
tary. Projects shall be selected with
q view 70 the development Of one or
more projects in each OF the several
states IN which feasible projects may
be found
The secretary q the Interior ISL
authorized under the act TO engage
In such undertakings and perform
such work as IN his opinion IS neces-
OF deNelopment Of the lands OF
projects and when he deems essential
TO place them in condition for use
ana cultivation, including the buiid-
ing OF essential public roads. the sec
rotary. shall. so far as possible. util-
lie the services Of soldiers for such
purpose
$1,000 For improvements.
Pravision Of $500 is made FOR IN
oividual soldier improvements. and
not IN excess Of three quarters OF the
cost or value OF Improvement. Five
percent Of the value Of the land is 70
be paid as the first instclment. ana
tho remaining payments may extend
over period OF 40 years Short time
loans may be made as high as $500
for live stock and equipment. pro-
FlQeu no loan exceeds so percent OF
the cost Of the live stock and equip
meut purchased
The states. where the projects are
established. are TO furnish . percent
OF the necessary fund and contract
Tor such cooperation are TO be made
1y the department OF interior with
the state officials
Or. Mead leaves this evening for
California
Those present at the luncheon :
ROBERT krakauers ". ID. Wise. r. z
Christie. C. q stevens. e. S. Stewart, l
Roland Harwell. agriculture manager, I
chamber OF commerce. Chas. Il New J
man, II. H Brooks. A. p BurEes. r {
= Thomson. ~ A Warner, I
A. A LaFerriere. chemist. cham !
Der OF commerce; Chas- shade. I
T. d. Porcher. L. II Lawson. W. T. /
Potter, chemist state board. water en- I
gineer, AUSTIN II. L Birusy, H. L I
Stevens. Jas. A. Smith. J. J. Mundy.
Herman ]. Andreas. C. B. stevens. c. I
q Monroe. county agent leader from (,
Mexico, Geo. NJ Clark. manager farm 2
bureau for Dona Ana county. John III I
Watt. John y. Regain. Edgar D. I
Brown. Clint, Tex