The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-14
NEED TWO MILLION
Governor Allen Will Go After
Big Fund.
Colonization Plan To Be Used
in Farm Tenantry.
BRINGS IN 200 FARMERS
Operations of New Law Under
Discussion Today.
DIR. ElMOOd Meade Is PRINCIPAL
Speaker at Session.


Colonization plans will be followed
by the state in putting the farm ten
antry system into operation in Kan
sas. A fund of probably $2,0OO,000
will be sought by Governor Allen this
winter. Before the end of his term
the governor believes two entire col
onies of 100 farmers each will be es-
tablished in the state.
Before an audience of legislators,
newspaper men, bankers, farmers and
crop experts, plans for operation of
the new law are under discussion in
representative hall this afternoon.
DR.. Elwood Meade, chairman of the
land settlement board of California,
was one of the principal speakers at
the sessions today. He came to Kan
sas at the request of Governor Allen
and outlined a general plan for put
ting the new law in operation in this
state.
To Use States Credit.
Under plans outlined today by Doc
tor Meade and Governor Allen. credit
of the state will be used in securing
large tracts of land from which small
farms will be sold on long term pay
ment plans. 1t is probable that the
first tracts will be selected in some of
the more desirable farming counties.
r.
tural college will help in solving soil
problems of the men and women who
buy the state farms.
Thru use of the colonization system,
Governor Allen believes better Coop
Grafton will be secured and the land
settlement plan of the state made
more successful. Size of tracts to be
allotted to individuals under the state
plan may vary as to communities and
ability of the purchaser to care for the
soil. In the main the tracts will pro-
badly average 100 acres for each pur-
chaser
Two Colonization Projects.
AS soon as one colonization project
is completed, another will be under
taken by the state. 1t may be neceS-
sary to issue bonds under act of the
state legislature in order to put in
motion the program which Governor
Allen has outlined. Adoption of the
farm tenantry amendment by the vot-
ers in November made way for the
opening of a land settlement project
by the state. Laws governing the plan
will doubtless be passed sometime dur
ing the regular session of the legis-
lature. The first definite program
was given to the public today at the
conference in the state house.
'1t may be necessary to require q
fund of at least $2,000,000 to start this
thing" said Governor Allen at a con-
ference with newspaper representa-
tives preceding the tenantry meeting.
This will not be direct tax on the
property owners of the state. 1t will
merely be a money raising project by
use of the states credit. This money
will be used in the purchase of one or
more tracts of land to be divided into
small farms and sold on easy terms to
persons who would own their own
homes"
May Permit Installment System.
Under general plans outlined today,
Kansas may permit an installment
payment system distributed over a
period of twenty or thirty years. Cal
| ifornia allows thirty-six years in which
to pay for the land. An initial pay
ment of per cent is made in that
state.
"Since the law went into effect in
1918, we have located 800 farmers and
! have disposed of two large tracts OF
| land aggregating more than $4,000
acres" said Doctor Meade. "In start
| ing we had a fund of but S260.000
| We have since received $2,000,00O ad-
! ditional money and have recently is
sued $10,000,0 600 worth of state bonds
1 believe Kansas will find the bond is
sue plan the more desirable and feas-
| ible method of caring for the farm
settlement problem"
| Many Requests for Farms.
|
quests for Kansas farm lands undel
the new constitutional provision. There
are also many offers of real estate by
men and women who would sell theil
land to the state. 1t is probable, GOV
ernor Allen indicated, that the lanc
will be bought outright by the state.
| Every person securing farm from
the state will be required to make
some fair showing of qualification
and ability to meet his responsibility,
said Governor Allen. This statemen
Iremoved the accepted theory that th'
governor might urge settlement o
farms by persons from towns withou
money or farming qualifications. Il
is not improbable, the governor con
jtinued, that funds or a credit of 81,
200 to s2.5OO will be required of th'
purchaser at the time he makes hi
showing"
h. S. A. c. May Direct Work.
+, Governor Allen will probably pro
ipose to the legislature that direction
Iof the farm tenantry plan be unde
some official or department of tn
State Agricultural college at Manhat
tan. DR.. w. NJ. Jardine, president o
the principal speakers at this after
Moons meeting. He also presided a
the session William Allen White o
Emporia; Fred Perkins, wealthy La
bette county farmer and banker: DI
Henry j. Waters, j. C. Mohler, Franl
farrell and others spoke at the meet
ling this afternoon. 1t is probable
might session will be held.
/. Home RULE Bill. PASSES