Evening star., 1935-12-03
TUGWELL Halls
NEW ERAFOR US.
Undersecretary of Agricul-
ture Details ReSettIement
Hopes in Forum Talk.

Hailing a "new era in terms Of
assured income, security and content
ment at a high standard Of living"
DR.. Rexford G.. Tugwell, Undersec-
retary of Agriculture, last night de-
clared this will be brought about ''if
we learn to adapt ourselves to the
realities of the power age and cease
to rely upon the outworn shibboleths
of international finance and the pat
formulas of nineteenth century econo-
mists, who thought in terms of feudal
privilege and vested interests"
Tugwel, the resettlement admin
istrator, spoke in the National Radio
Forum, arranged by The Star and
broadcast over a Nationwide net
work of the National Broadcasting
Co.
Much of his speech was devoted
to the resettlement work which is
designed ultimately to rehabilitate
525, 900 farm families, and to improve
rural and suburban housing.
He recounted the struggle of thou
sands of farm families to keep going
on land unfit for farming. and said
by the end of this year his agency
will have bought 100000 acres of
such land, which will be converted to
such uses as recreational areas and
game refugees. About $4,000 farm fam
lilies will be given chance to move
to better lands and an average of
$4,000 men will be given work de-
veloping the land which is bought, the
speaker added.
The process of land adjustment,
Tugwen said, will result in saving to
communities In taxes now necessary
to support roads and schools in sub
marginal areas.
Text of Address.
The text of DR.. Tugwell's speech
follows:
Just after war, alluring advertise
nents appeared in the larger news
papers Of the Middle West. They ran
about as follows:
FOR SALE-Excellent Wiscon-
sin farm lands. Buy now and as
sure your future. Small down pay
ment, easy terms. No previous
farm experience needed. Hun
dreds have made good"
BARRIERS, mechanics, steel workers
school teachers and tailors saw in these
advertisements the opportunity to real
ize q lifelong dream. Here was a
chance to establish a home on the
traditional American pattern, to be-
come well off and to provide for their
children's future.
1t seemed easy and safe. Farm
prices were high; even banks and
insurance companies were investing
heavily. What safer place could be
found for savings? Many borrowed
money and added it to their own saw
ings in order to make first payments.
The earnings of years were transferred
to- the bank accounts of farmland
spectators. So great were hopes and
so artistic were the illustrated booklets
that some purchases were made sight
unseen. Other buyers, more cautious
but still afire with enthusiasm, asked
to be shown the land before parting
with their life savings.
The spectators were ready for them.
A few model farms had been fixed up
on the best land. Drainage bitches
were in operation. Fields were under
cultivation. Families were living In
pretty little farm houses and the barns
were filled with sleek cattle. The pic
ture was so serene that even the doubt
full, after viewing its pastoral charm,
dug into their pockets for the cash
payments.
Didn't Get Model Farms.
That was 16 or II years ago. Let's
see what these people got for their
money. OF course, they didn't get the
model farms. Instead Of rich soil, they
got land which had been part of the