Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-04-28

Easssse&s&M for the first time in history more
A1-ax~ than BALI of the entire population is
living in urban territory as defined by the census
bureau This is to say that 54,816209 or 51.9 per
cent are living in Incorporated places of $500
more inhabitants and so, 800 481 per cent in
rural territory. In the census Of 1910 the cor
responding percentages were 1853 and 53.7
While the increase in total population 149
per cent, there was an increase of the urban pop
ulation of 12,192826 2S6 per cent. On the other
hand the increase of the rural population was
151S016 only 81 per cent. Worse still, the fig
ures show that the rural class living in incorpor
ated places of less than $500 inhabitants increased
2l5 per cent, whereas that class living in purely
country districts shows an actual decrease Of
siX-enths of / per cent.
The country is therefore off balance. There
is trouble ahead for if continue to have
more food consumers than food producers Ways
and means to meet this situation are therefore
a national topic. There must be a return to the
soil. One way to bring this about is to make 1t
easier for the small farmer to secure title to the
land on which he works and to help him make
a success Of his work. Consequently there are
all sorts of national, state and community plans,
under discussion, half established and under &C.
tual test
California State Experiment
One experiment that every sociologist and COM
munity worker to say nothing of others, is watch
ing with intense interest Is the California land
settlement scheme, which launched in 1918
and is the first of its kind at least in the United
States H. A. Crafts thus describes in the Sci
entitc American the successful development of
this California land settlement scheme:
The California state land settlement scheme at
Durham, Butte county, launched in 1918, and
is the first settlement of the kind to be established
in the United States.
tract Of 6,219 acres OF. farm land purchased
by the state was subdivided into small farms,
Dpip in Ciz frOO fyUn 10 hup and ftU
acres.
The spirit in which the colony started Is
best indicated by the enabling act adopted by the
California state legislature in 1917 which con-
tans the following clause:
"The legislature believes that land settlement
Is a problem of great importance to the welfare
of all the people of the state of California, and
for that reason through this particular act en-
deavOrs to improve the general economic and So
Cial conditions Of agricultural settlers within the
state, and of the people of the state in general"
BY provisions of this act the legislature APP
propriated the sum of 100000, of which $25OOOO
was constituted a revolving fund for the purpose
of purchasing and improving farm lands to be
sold in turn to bona ide settlers.
The land purchased for this first settlement was
a part of the old Senator Leland Stanford estate
and with the exception of about one thousand
acres is composed of deep, rich auvial land, ly-
ing along the shores of Butte creek.
Under two allotments and sale in 1918 the en-
tire tract was quickly disposed Of and provided
beautiful and productive homes for 100 families
including 200 children.
The enterprise is not of an eleemosynary char
acter but designed to help real farmers pos
sessing real capital, to accomplish better results
in the way of practical agriculture. The state
land settlement board a body consisting of five
members appointed by the governor of the state,
exercised great pains in aottng the settlement
farms to desirable purchasers. Due considera-
ton was taken of moral character, practical farm
experience and financial standing with a view Of
welding the settlement into permanent and pros
porous community.
Terms of Sale Easy.
The cost of the land to the board was 500 per
for that portion which was susceptible of
irrigation and $40 per acre for that portion that
nOn-rrigabe. OF the latter there were only
about 700 acres. This land in turn was sold to
settlers at average price of $3.50 per acre. and
the total price of farm units ranged from $4,000
to $4,000.
The terms of sale to settlers included n cash
payment Of per cent of the purchase price, with
deferred payments extending over period of
40 years at per cent interest. Loans were ex-
tended for farmhOuses and other permanent i'm
provements up to 60 per cent Of their cost with
20 years for repayment. No loan for this purpose
was made above $1,000.
Very wisely the state land settlement board
took cognizance Of the vexed question of farm
labor and provided for the allotment of two-acre
tracts for this class of settlers. These lots were
eagerly taken. The initial payment on each lot
was less than 500 and deferred payments were
arranged on the same basis as those made to
farm settlers