The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-04-10
SOLDIERS MAY TURN SOUTH
Continued from First Page)

constructive phases of the returned
soldier problem, that is, farming
When the advantages are thoroughly
understood by the boys they undoubt-
eddy will graswp the farm opportunity
offered in option Mol, in great num-
bers. AS matter of fact, more than
900 returned soldiers have advis-
ed the L. S. interior department that
they desire to secure farms with fed
eral assistance.
with such assistance from the
government, after this act becomes a
law the remarkable opportunities and
advantages of the South as an agri-
cultural section, undoubtedly will ap-
peal with striking force to these new
farmers and many OF them should
turn their eyes to this section for their
future homes"
"This land" said Mr. McRae, will
be valued before purchase by the gov
ernor of the state in which the land
is, an appraiser from the federal land
bank, and a member of the board for
| administering land and homes, in
order to insure that the land is worth
! the pricesasked for it.
Can Settle Anywhere
"No limitations, except that APP
praisal, is placed on the ex-service
man purchasing land. He may settle
anywhere in the states he likes.
There will be a board, comprising
five members, three ex-service men,
the secretary of the interior, and
citizen, which will administer all land
and home compensations."
| Mr.. McRae pointed out that in the
middle west land values had become
so high that the people were going to
seek other fields 1t has been found
by purchases of land at $500 an acre
in Iowa, for example, according to Mr..
McRae, that it was impossible to
make the land produce interest on the
investment. This situation, he said,
made the time ripe for the South to
advertise itself.
when the people up there find out
that you have good land down here,
as good as anywhere else in the coun-
try, and there is very little in the
myth of fever swamps and malaria
and yellow fever. they are going to
flock to the South"
':When the bill becomes a law, and
no opposition has developed thus far
said Mr.. McRae, az believe it will be
one of the greatest boosts the agricul-
tural South has ever had. You are
too modest in this country"
Advertise SOuth's Advantages
"You haven't advertised yourselves
to the nation sufficiently, as other sec
tions of the country have. Califor-
MIA, for instance. has gone way ahead
of you in that respect.
"The message Of the opportunities
in the South must be carried to the
people who now are living on the high
priced lands of the middle west. They
must be told that the South today
affords the same opportunity that
was found on the cheap lands in the
west thirty years ago, that climatic
conditions here are such that they can
grow almost anything they are now
raising in the northern states, and
that in addition, due to the long
growing season. they are able to
raise two crops where only one could
be raised in other sections of the
country.
"These are just few of the in
stances that have been brought very
forcibly to my attention. I certainly
hope that through every conceivable
agency this message will be carried
to the returned soldier, who is today
filling the cities largely because of
the fact that it requires larger cap
ital than he is able to command to get
out on the farm. The land settlement
recommended by the American Legion
| to the ways and means committee of
the House. and now before Congress,
will afford the returned soldier the
financial cooperation and encourage
ment he probably lacked in the past
and enable him to grasp these Oppor-
tunities."