Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-05-05

in advice as to the planting of crops purchase of
live stock, tools, equipment, seed, etc. 1t also
gave valuable advice in the organization of CO.
operative buying and selling organizations among
the settlers; the construction of an extensive
scheme of roads, drains and irrigation works; as
we'll as advising the farmers to the best meth
ods of leveiing, checking and smoothing their
lands and the preparation of seed beds and the
planting of seed.
In order that time be lost in the production
of crops the first year the board helped the farm
ers by having big outfit to prepare land for
seeding and irrigation and actually to put in crops
of barley, oats and wheat taking the pay for the
work out of the crop.
Net Returns to Settlers.
Here some of the net returns to individual
settlers from some of these crops: c. w. Baker,
Is acres of oats, $105; E. o. Messenger, 1S acres
of barley, S36S.28; William Deveney, 20 acres of
barley, $6610; Carl Nelson 1S acres barley,
$476.75; A. l. Maxwell II acres barley S3134O; !;
E. E. VIII, ~ acres barley, S696.3S; Joseph N.
Thornton, 81 acres wheat S624.50; Frank NJ. Hail.
AZ acres barley, $955.15; Roy White 60 acres
barley, $1,39050
The survey and mapping of the settlement land
based largely upon the story told by the soil
map. Samples of soil were taken at such inter-
walls as was necessary to make accurate map
of the whole area.
With this In hand the sizes Of the farms were
determined so as to give considerable choice to
intending settlers. keeping each farm within such
limits that family. with the help of one farm
hand, could take care of it.
Consequently the farms suited to fruit growing
were made small while the lands suited to farm
crops were laid out in larger units running as
high as 160 acres. In some cases a tract of grain
land went with small tract of fruit land, say,
Is or 20 acres the two tracts sometimes not being
contiguous.
The state land settlement board was not in
sensible to the social needs of the community,
consequently ii set aside a fine tract of % acres
as a community center. 1t is planned to erect
upon this plot community hall where different
social and business organizations will find meet
ing rooms. There will also be laid out and
equipped athletic grounds where the boys may play
baseball and the girls lawn tennis. Upon this
community center is fine grove of native oaks
where pienics held. 1t is also the intention Of
the board to establish on these grounds voca-
tiOnal school.
Thus Durham has been made model rural
community. 1t is benefited not only by the pater-
nal influence of the state but by the fraternal
character of the settlement.
State Buys More Land
The state not only supplies financial backing
for the settlers but it educates them in the most
up-tOdate farm practices. 1t has naugurated both
a system of collective buying and of collective
of sharpers and profteers.
The settlers themselves become imbued with
agricultural ambition and pride. The close in
timacy of the settlers begets a common feeling OF
fraternity.
The concentrated nature of the population
works for friendliness and sociabty and thus
the proverbial dullness of ordinary rural life is
done away with and the life of the famer seems
less irksome and burdensome, all of which inures
to contentment happiness and prosperity.
Acting upon tie recommendation of Governor
Stephens the California legislature of 1919 ap
proprated $1,OO0O00 for continuing the land set
tlement system, and also authorized a bond issue
of $10OOO,0OO for like purpose. Under these
provisions the state land settlement board has
purchased a 10000-acre tract of farm land IL
Merced county in the central part of the SaI
Joaquin valley for settlement in the near future
along similar lines those governing the Dur
ham settlement. In the settlement of this seconC
tract the preference will be given to the men wit
served in the war;