The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-03
ROADS WISH TO
COLOMBO ALL
UNUSED LANDS
Ten Thousand Have Asked for
Information and 81 States
Have Lands Not Cultivated
and Want Settlers.

There Is keen interest in the settle
ment Of undeveloped land In all sec
tons Of the country. n the home
seekers bureau OF the United States
railroad administration is carrying on
a great work to supply the homeseeker
with accurate and reliable information
IN regard to the opportunities for the
profitable development Of farm lands
in all the states that are seeking new
settlers, according to farrell, who led
IN the discussion pertaining to the de-
velopment Of the homeseekers' bureau
by the railroads Thursday morning at
the conference Of railway agricultural
experts at the Hotel Chisca.
More than 10000 inquiries were re-
ceived at the Washington office OF the
department, not including the great
number of inquiries made direct to
the railroad companies. There are 80
states that are seeking settlers, and
for each of these states the railroad
administration had prepared, or is pre-
pairing, a booklet describing the in
dueements each particular state has to
offer.
The department has also worked
among the soldiers through the facili-
ties commanded by the Y. NJ. C. A.
.@HN NN HHA camp community SHl
by means of illustrated lectures. Three
lectures were given through these
channels, the first being a general ac-
count of agricultural possibilities
throughout the United States. This
created such an interest among the
soldiers that a demand for more spe-
ciic information was called for and
lectures were then prepared on agri-
culture in the Southland and agricul-
ture in the North and West.
These lectures were delivered in
every army camp and on AZ transports
and we're he means OF putting the
department In touch with a great many
men in the army interested in taking
up farm land upon their discharge.
One of the most profitable sources of
creating interest and getting in touch
with prospective settlers was newspaper
advertising. carried IN a carefully Sc
lected list Of papers covering all Sec
tons OF the country. The advertising
was carried in the classified sections
of the newspapers and was so worded
as to appeal directly TO those interest
ed in land development rather than
seek inquiries from curiosity seekers.
NO particular state or section OF the
country has been favored in his work,
1t being the aim to provide the appli-
cants with information concerning the
particular states in which he is inter-
ested.
In the discussion that followed the
matter of Canadian activities in regard
TO homeseekers was fully covered.
The system by which the Memphis
farm bureau is promoting closer CO.
operation between the business inter-
ests and the farmers, as explained by
Charles j. Haase, manager Of the farm
demonstration work in Shelby county,
attracted very favorable comment
among the agricultural experts OF the
railroads, who pronounced it one Of
the most practical plans that has been
devised.
The full cooperation of the federal
railroad administration Is to be thrown
behind plans for the perfecting OF bet
ter marking facilities as a result Of
the discussion brought out In regard to
marketing conditions. The Washing
ton office Of the agricultural section Of
the railroad administration will pre-
pare lists Of marketable products avail
able with lists OF places where such
products are in demand, which will be
supplied to all railroads,
The three-day session VIII close FRI
day afternoon.