New-York tribune., 1920-04-20
Many Soldiers
Disappointed
In Land Grants
American Legion Warns
Former Service Men to
Make Inquiries Before
Taking Trip to Far West
Rights Called Delusion
Thousands Return From
California and Oregon
Out of Pocket, Is Charge

The efforts Of the Department Of the
Interior to interest former service men
in reclamation lands in California and
Oregon are resulting in expensive dis
appointments to many of these home
stead aspirants, an. explanatory letter
from Gerald Murphy, director of serv-
ice at the national headquarters of the
American Legion to state headquarters
here, asserts.
The letter quotes Service Bulletin 12,
OF the national commander, Franklin
d'Olier, as saying; particular atten-
tion is called to the fact that while
approximately 100000 acres arc open
to entry, the number of desirable
homesteads is very limited" It also
quotes from a warning of the Dragon
department Of the Legion, as follows:
Scores of ex-service men Hho have
come to Oregon keen for settlement on
quarter sections of the 100000 acres
of Oregon and California railroad land
grants thrown open with preferential
rights to ex-service men, are return
ing to their homes in the East. Far
from being rich agricultural or VAL
liable timber lands, the major portions
OF the tracts are rocky and unattrac-
tive.
Rights Delusion
"The preferential rights for ex-scrv-
ice men are delusion, for the real
preference goes to the squatters, who
have first choice Of the valuable tracts.
"A man with less than $1,000 in
cash or available on short notice can
not hope to make success by settle
ment on any of the tracts offered, and
even then it will mean four or five
years OF strenuous efforts before he
can expect a return on his investment.
ut is asked that general warning
be posted to discourage men of small
means from taking the heavy chances
involved in such a venture. Even ad-
vertsing is considered advisable to
stem the tide of would-be settlers who
are coming here with rosy visions of
little gray home in the West only
to face cruel disillusionment
Mr.. Murphy makes it clear that this
information was not given with any
intention to discourage filing upon
these lands. He says:
"This information is given in order
that you may know exactly what the
proposition is. Before going to the ex-
pense of taking trip to Oregon or
California, you should know whether
the land available is what you want,
so that there will be no needless ex-
penditure and lost time, with it's con-
sequent disappointment if you do not
get what you expect"
Most Disappointed
Several months ago, Mr.. Murphy
says, when the lands of the North
Platt and Shoshone projects we're
opened, there were about $50 home
steads available. More than 1000 men
made application for these homesteads
and deposited anywhere from $3.50 to
$500 with their applications Most of
them were disappointed. Those who
were not fortunate enough to draw a
claim had their deposits returned, but
were out the expense Of the trip and
considerable time.
Classification of these reclamation
lands as agricultural" the American
Legion found in its investigation, is
misleading and it is said that a major
portion Of the land is not adapted to
cultivation. The general Topography
Of the lands is described as Trolling"
"sloping," or "steep"; the character as
''clay, suitable for grazing" "red
clay" rocky" etc.