Evening star., 1923-07-31
FARMERS FROM j. S.
WANTED IN BOLIVIA
Colonization of Rich Tract
| Backed by "AIfaIfa Bill"
| Ex-Member of Congress.

Il Gable TO The Star and Chicago DAILY News
O. Copyright, 1923
StA PAZ. Bolivia. June 27.-Bringing
Oklahoma farmers and their families
u colonize a 100,000-acre tract Of
mqh valley land in eastern Bolivia
Il the scheme of Alfalfa Bill" Muir
ray. former congressman from Okla
Anna. who recently closed an agree
rnent with the Bolivian government
Pr a ninety-nine year lease of the
&act He claims to have options on
thousands of additional acres on
Thich he plans to begin stock raising
d., large scale.
MURRAY has been in Bolivia work
ipg on the project for several months
5snd has met with the usual delays
that make doing business here almost
NIbearable for the average American.
'Ehe contest between President Saave-
dna and his enemies in the Bolivian
Congress nearly upset Murray's plans
and hopes. for while the congress
&yored his plan 1t sought to hold it
lRCk because of the desire of some
Members thus to strike at Saavedra.
-tbout three months ago Murray gave
up in disgust and returned to Okla
Eina.
SThen politicians here, seeing the
Prospect of real American gold slip
rsng away, wired him to come back
AID that matters would be fixed up.
MURRAY found on his return that the
fEght between President Saavedra and
lGs enemies was still on, but he soon
discovered that under Bolivian law
the president had a right to make
grants of land for definite periods of
time. With this information Murray
cot busy. with the result that his
dent, giving him a ninety -nine-year
lease on 47,000 acres of government
land. with the privilege of renewal.
sConGiderable doubt is expressed
lefe by Americans familiar with the
district in which Mr.. Murray has ac-
lfSts from the United States will stay
there and make good. While the
tact lies in Il fertile valley, it is so
br from civilization. they say. that
one cannot expect Americans to put
IT, with the hardships and so lone
81 me life as they would lead there.
10 reach the tract from the western
cpdSt IL is necessary to travel several
tSys on little trains and for several
dGys more on the backs of mules or
o&en.
Near Rich OIL Fields.
kTO reach the tract from Argentina
Involves a long. hard trip to the end
of the Argentine railway and thence
u mule back. The projected railroad
to connect Buenos Aires with La Paz
Will open the territory, but the long
n ii haul will make the marketing of
HoduCts very expensive.
tMurray claims to have options to
psIrchase ten tracts of 10000 acres
eSch at approximately 25 cents an
II re, and says he has capital inter-
ested to take up cattle and hog rails
ihg on a large scale. These tracts
he in the same valley.
sConsiderable interest is being
shown here in the Murray conces-
sf9ps. not so much because of the
reported colonization scheme as be-
cause of the proximity TO the exten-
size oil holdings of the Standard Oil
CSmpany. which has 100000 acres
o Efand in that district. 1t is claimed
tft this district: which lies In the
STATE Of Santa Cruz, is one of the
rithest in the world The oil there
iss reached at very shallow depths.
Al one place. it is said. oil is being