Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-09-29
Arid and Cut-0ver Land
Vie for Government Aid
DEVELOPMENT OF cUT-oVER
LANDS BY FEDERAL AID
is FAVORED

There are at present two national
land reclamation projects under more
or less discussion. One of them is
the reclamation of arid western lands
through spectacular system of ex-
tensive irrigation and encouragement
of settlers. The other is the develop
ment of cut-over lands into produc-
tive farms.
Because the arid land scheme is so
spectacular it has attracted great
deal of attention. It is a good sub
ject for imaginative dreamers to wax
eloquent about It has already been
before congress in the shape of the
McNary bill and there is good reason
to believe that the project will be
again presented shortly, perhaps in
slightly different form
The other plan proposes direct aid
to settlers in the cut-over lands in the
shape of long time loans on easy
terms for the purposes of improve
ment It is proposed to make it
possible for the settlers to live with
a reasonable degree of comfort while
they are developing their farms.
To those parts of the country not
directly benefited by either project
the reclamation of the cut-over lands
should apply more strongly than the
reclamation of arid lands fer the fol
lowing reasons. The productive cap
acity of the cut-oyer lands is less
problematical Their location makes
their products more accessible to the
part of the country most in need Of
them. Once made over into farms
these lands will be perpetually
self-supporting while in the case Of
arid lands, the irrigation system
must always be maintained and there
is some question as to the perman-
ence Of fertility.
And if it is more to the benefit of
the country at large to have the cut
over lands reclaimed than to have
the arid lands irrigated, it is doubly
and trebly more important to the
people living in Wisconsin. Mime
sofa and Michigan. 1t is estimated
that the arid land project as present
ed in the McNary bill would cost the
northeren counties from $4,000 to
100000 with no direct benefit and
infinitesimaI indirect benefit or mons
at all
On the other hand the cut-over land
reclamation project would bring mil
lions of dollars directly into this re
gion. SO that all industry and bust
ness would be stimulated from the
start.
But, while it is obviously not as
good political economy to devote
S35O.OO0,O0O to making over a dis
tant arid land, far from established
Industries of the country, as to spend
a smaller sum in direct assistance
to the men engaged in making farms
out of fertile stump lands in regions
peculiarly suitable to diversified farm
ing and adjacent to thickly populated
regions and great industrial centers,
the former project is. so much more
spectacular that it has an appeal to
the imagination which the latter does
not have
And, as was pointed out recently in
a letter to The Telegram, from B. G.
Packer, director of immigration for
the state, if something is not done
Immediately to get effective and fay-
orable action on the plan for direct
aid to settlers in the cut-over region
it will be too late. If the other pro
ject is favorably acted upon by con
gress it will be difficult and probably
impossible to gel favorable action on
this project also.
Now is the time to get busy and
put this thing through
1t may be the part of wisdom to
undertake national reclamation of the
arid lands some time in the future
hat there can DC 10 doubt that reclaim
alton of the cut-over lands should be
first attended to. The arid lands can
well afford to wait until the fertile
lands where climatic conditions are
favorable and rainfall adequate and
which are adjacent to developed mar.
kets are made over into farms