White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-03-02

| The Big Dam
| BY far the biggest undertaking
| Of its kind in the west is the pro-
say proposed. But it is really far
ther along than the proposed
stage. For nearly 100000 has al
ready been invested by those who
are interested. The land operations
in connection with this project is in
the hands of the Dam Brothers of
Seattle. These men are closely con-
nected with Henry p. Pierce, the
promoter of the dam
100000 Acre Project
The Dam Brothers now have a
els Of the land many thousands Of
which they have purchased. This
land lies above the town OF White
Bluffs.
Land Settlement
OF interest not only in the state
of Washington but to people all over
the United States is the work started
in the way of land settlement. And
at White Bluffs and at Hanford are
the land settlement tracts-57 Of
them at present.
In venturing out on the land set
Element policy Washington is start
ing something new. That is. it is
new for this state. But it is not new
in the world. For fifty years ago
Denmark adopted such "a policy
And California has two land settle
ment units of 100 each. ! And Wis
consin has adopted a similar plan.
AS ]. c. Scott, project MANAGER
explained to US sslie sl5eweds tls oyer
the work that is being done, the
country Of Denmark some fifty years
ago found herself in the condition of
being a country of tenant farmers.
The country was not prosperous be-
cause the people on the lands were
not doing we'll. Leading men Of
Denmark worked out a plan Of set
Element by which people who were
Industrious, even though they had
small means, could acquire lands
and by system OF long time pay
nents on easy terms with low inter-
est could eventually become the
owners. And in the meantime they
could be working these places and
living on them as their own. The
scheme worked. Denmark became
a country in which the land was
owned by those who titled the soil.
And so for years the idea Of re-
claiming the arid lands Of the state
Of Washington has received the at
tention of those who are looking to
the future prosperity Of the state
and the future happiness Of it's in
habitants.
The land settlement plan thus far
Is an experiment. The state legis-
lature set aside 100000 for this
purpose. 1t is handled by the state
department Of conservation and rec
lamation. If the first 100 tracts in
this first unit are worked out by the
soldier boys who are given the first
choice in the selection Of lands, and
the plan is satisfactory, there is no
doubt many more units will be added
later to the state system Of develop
ment.
The state sets aside for the settler
the land, 20 acres, valued at $500.
For this land the settler puts up 10
per cent or $50 as an initial pay
ment.
The state then helps along in the
development in the following way:
For buildings, $1,000. Set
tiers initi:tlpayment. $4,000
For wells, $500. Settlers
initial payment .......... 1000
Pumps e Motors. $500.
Settlers initial raymentI. $4,000
Irrigation distribution 1925
Settlers initial payment $3.50
Fencing, 100000. Settlers
N1itial payment ........ 1000
Clearing & leveling, 5000.
Settlers initial payment >. 1000
Power bill for years
Total ...$4,650.O0 49, .s592.50
The state accordingly will have in
each tract about $4,000. The soldier
settlers pay four per cent interest
for the first three years when the
amortization begins. Then for each
500 the settler pays $73 yearly
which pays the full amount in 20
years.
The coming winter road from
Wenatclicc to Pasco will be virtually
opened in April. At the present
time we have a winter road, everal
of them, but not satisfactory.
These roads at present lead over
Trenchman Hill or around Moses
Lake through Lind. But there is be-
ing constructed nine mile link be-
tw cen Vantage and Beverly Con-
struction work is now in progress.
When this is completed there will
be al fairly good road through to
O>Nc~~~O~c~-~.o~.o~ Oo~~coo-~o~~~~SO~>
Mr.. and Mrs. F. N. Hensley,
who have spent the winter at
Greenbank. are expected home in
the near future to look after their
orchard property.