The Red Cloud chief., 1921-05-05

II ''
&N&xZZ come accentuated since 1910 and that
kd&SSmsT for the first time in our history more
- than half of the entire population Is
living in urban territory, ms defined by the census
bureau. This is to say that 5~i.SlG.209 or $40 PER
cent are living in incorporated places of $500 or
more inhabitants and 5O.SG6,S90 or lS.1 per cent in
rural territory. In the census of 1910 the cor
responding percentages were 1913 and 53.7.
While the increase In total population was 149
per cent, there was an increase of the urban pop
nlation of T., l92,S2G or 2S.6 per cent. On the other
hand the increase of the rural population was
1,5lS.01G or only 81 per cent. Worse still, the fig
ureS show that the rural class living I'm %incorpOr-
ated places of less than $500 inhabitants increased
21.5 per cent, whereas that class living in purely
country districts shows an actual decrease of
SiX-tenths of ] per cent.
The country is therefore or balance. There
IS trouble ahead for us IL we continue to have
more food consumers than food producers. Ways
and means to meet this situation are therefore
a national topic. There must he n return to the
soil. One way to bring this about Is to make II
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 ac-
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 was launched In 1918
and is the first Of its kind, at least in the United
States. H.. A. Crafts thus describes in the Sci.
entifc American the successful development Of
this California land settlement scheme:
The California state land settlement scheme at
Durham, Butte county. was launched In 1913, and
is the first settlement of the kind TO be established
in the United States.
A tract of 6,219 acres of farm land purchased
10y the state was subdivided into small farms,
ranging in size from two to one hundred and fifty
acres.
The spirit in which the colony was started Is
best indicated by the enabling act adopted by the
California state Legislature in 1917, which con.
tains 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 $25O,OOO
was constituted a revolving fund for the purpose
of purchasing and improving farm lands to be
sold in turn to bona fide settlers.
The land purchased for this first settlement was
n part OF the old Senator Leland Stanford estate
and with the exception of about one thousand
acres Is composed of deep, rich alluvial 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 one designed to help real farmers, pos
sessing real capital, to IN 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 allotting the settlement
farms to desirable purchasers. Due consideia-
ton was taken of moral character, practical farm
experience and financial standing, with n view Of
welding the settlement into a permanent and pros
porous community.
Terms Of Sale Easy.
The cost Of the land TO the board was 500 per
acre for that portion which was susceptible of
irrigation, and SO per acre for that portion that
about 700 acres. This land In turn was sold TO
settlers at nm average price of $50 per acre, and
the total price of farm units ranged from $1,000
20 $4,000.
The terms OF sale to settlers included a cash
payment Of 5 per cent of the purchase price, with
deferred payments extending over Il period of
40 years, at 3 per cent interest. Loans were eX-
tended for farmhOuses and other permanent i'm
p%rovcments up to GO 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 cognlZance 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 $50, and deferred payments were