The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-21


been made and the action of
today in Washington will be
Indiana to receive the land
from the Government is up
for third reading in the state
Senate.
The action is the first step in the
long range program recently pro-
posed to Gov. Paul V. McNUtt and
members of the Assembly by the
State Planning Board calling for
the ultimate acquisition of more
than three million acres of worth
less and submarginal land through
out the central southern part of
the state.
The entire tract will be reforested,
bringing its worth from practically
nothing to a value of several hun
bred dollars an acre within three
decrSes, according to Virgil N. Sim
no. state conservation director
Lana Will be purchased only from
farmers willing to sell, Mr.. Simmons
said.
Five Uses Suggested
Five general uses for the forest
area are suggested in the Plan
ming Board report. They are:
Game preserves, state parks, state
and national forests, recreation
areas and camps for underprivileged
industrial workers.
The report visualizes such areas
in at least eleven counties. includ-
ing Perry, Crawford, Harrison,
Lawrence, Monroe, Brown, Jackson,
Floyd, Martin, Orange and Wash
ington, and recommends socializa-
ton of smaller portions of Morgan,
Owens, Greene, Bartholomew and
Dubois Counties.
The board suggests that the land
be acquired over a period of 25 to
so years. No hardship would be
worked on owners of the land as
it is of little use for farming.
Paradise for Hunters
The report pictures Indiana as a
paradise for hunters and fishermen
when the program is complete.
Bear. deer and wild turkey would be
some of the attractions which it is
hoped will provide sport for state
hunters and draw thousands OF
sportsmen from other states.
annual income to Indiana, COM
parable to the present income from
this source in states such as Michi-
gan. Wisconsin, New York and
PENNSYLVANIA. where millions of
dollars are spent annually by hunt
ers and fishermen from other
states.
The problem of soil erosion, now
recognized as one of the greatest
factors in flood prevention, is
strongly commented on in the re-
port. ReforeStation is the only
method calculated to correct the
evil and repair the damage which
has reached dangerous proportions
in the denuded hillsides of southern
counties.
The program would shift agricul-
ture to northern Indiana counties,
where the land is more suitable to
cultivation.
RecreatiOnaI Home Sites
Establishment of recreational
home sites in portions of the for
est area is suggested by the report.
Thousands of vacationers could be
attracted to Indiana by this means,
it is thought.
Many farmers probably would be
willing to sell at once at a fair ap-
praiSal." the report says. The va
Gated land could Immediately be
allowed to revert to nature or be
placed under any other proposed
plan of development. Farmers who
did not care to sell out at once
could be permitted to stay for the
rest of their lives or until the fam
lily breaks up.
This program could be continued
until all the land unsuitable for
agriculture is acquired by the state
or the Government or by both in
cooperation.
In considering what would hap
pen TO cities and towns in the area
the board continues:
Subsistence Farming Possible
Counties and other divisions, in
Guiding all civil obligations, would
continue as at present in both rural
and urban districtS.e A system for
school consolidation should be de-
vised to eliminate useless expense.
Farming should be carried out
on good farm land owned by the
state or Government only to such
an extent as local needs for food
may be supplied. No commodities
should be exported from the lands
not privately owned. Some coun-
ties in the area now export grain
and others import it.
1T is possible that subsistence
farming will become practical for
many families or it may be desirable
TO plan on agricultural villages SIM
liar to those in Europe. Such a
Capitalization of workers has many
advantages over the present system
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