The Red Cloud chief., 1921-05-05
LEZZNySAW cAEChANGEAzN
coAN9L<J< JcfNLrIc AI1ERIc4N

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
well as advising the farmers as to the best meth.
DDS OF leveling, checking and smoothing their
lands and the preparation Of seed beds and the
planting of seed.
In order that no time he lost I'm the production
Of crops the first year the board helped the farm
ers by having a 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 are some of the net returns to Individual
settlers from some of these crops: c. w. Baker,
Is acres Of oats, $105; L. o. Messenger, IS acres
of barley, S3GS2S; William Deveney, 20 acres Of
barley, SG6.1O; Carl Nelson. IS acres barley,
$476.75; A. l. Maxwell. II acres barley. $313.1O;
Il. Il. VIII, Al acres barley, $G0G.3S; Joseph N.
Thornton, "a acres wheat, $624.50; Frank NJ. Hall,
AZ acres barley, $055.15; Roy White. GO acres
barley, 81 ,39O.5O.
The survey and mapping of the settlement land
were based largely upon the story told by the soil
map. Samples of soil were taken at such inter.
walls as was necessary to make an 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 one family, with the help Of one farm
hand, could take care of 1t.
Consequently the farms suited to fruit growing
were made small, while the lands suited to farm
crops were laid out In larger units, running ms
high as 100 acres. In some cases a tract of grain
land went with Il 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 IL set aside n fine tract of 90 acres
as n community center. 1t Is planned to erect
upon this plot a community hall where different
social and business organizations will find meet
ing rooms. There Will also be laid out aud
equipped athletic grounds where the boys may play
baseball ana the girls lawn tennis. Upon this
community center is a fine grove OF native oaks
where picnics are held. 1t is also the intention OF
the board to establish on these grounds II voca,
tional school.
Thus Durham has been made a model ruraI
community. 1t is benefited not only by the pater
nal influence of the state but by the fraternaj
character of the settlement.
State Buys More Land.
The state not only supplies financial backing
for the settlers, but 1t educates them in the mos,
a system of collective buying and Of colIectiv,
selling, thus insuring the settlers against the vile,
of sharpers and protiteers.
The settlers themselves become imbued will
agricultural ambition and pride. The close I'm
timacy of the settlers begets a common feeling o.
fraternity.
The concentrated nature of the population
works for frlendliness and sOclabillty, and thu!
the proverbial dullness Of ordinary rural life Il
done away with and the life of the farmer seem
less irksome and burdensome, all of which inure!
TO contentment. happiness and prosperity.
Acting upon the recommendation Of GovernO
Stephens the California legislature Of 1919 np
propriated 100000 for continuing the land set
tlemerr system, and also authorized a bond issu,
of $lO,OO0,OOO for n like purpose. Under thes,
provisions the state land settlement board ha
purchased n 1O,OO0-acre tract of farm land II
MERGED county In the central part of the Sal
Joaquin valley for settlement In the near future
along similar lines as those governing the Dur
ham settlement. In the settlement of this secon,
tract the preference will be given 10 the men VIII
served In the war.