Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-01-07
MIGRATION EMPHASIZES
NEED FOR RECLAMATION

Voluntary migration westward OF
hundreds of families from the drought
stricken areas of the Great Plains has
served this year to emphasize the pres
sing need for opportunities in the arid
west for the establishment of homes
on land protected by irrigation canals.
John c. Page, Acting Commissioner
of the Bureau of Reclamation, report
cd to Secretary on the Interior Harold
l.. Ickes today that during 1886 ella
NOR for farms and homesteads on
Federal reclamation projects in ire
western States, particularly in the
northwest, reached a new high point.
A marked movement westward of
familie from the drought area began
i'll 1884, which was year of critical
drought, and reached climax during
1895, when between January and
September Is total of 2,329farm
Oregon, and about 1890, Idaho from
the Great Plains drolght areas. Dur
ing the first six manths Oh the yyear
q ,oOV person from CneSe areas MI
grated to California.
The large majority of these famil
acity with personal and household
goods, quite frankly searching for
places to resettle in locaitie where
stored water and canals provide pro-
those experienced inthe Dust Bowl.
Some, however, Sought employment
I ted sections, intending to return to
their homes.
There is ample evidence also that
| in addition to those who left their
Great Plains homes, many still there
are interested in esking new opport-
unltles on irrigation projects farthet
west.
% that 81 public land homesteads
were available onthe Gooding division
| OF tire Minidoka project In Idaho. By
December 3, total of 934 inquiries
| "couV VIZ LAIN uultS udu peeA- Ie-
ceived. Inquiries have been received
at a rate of 80 or more "a day since
that time. The greatest number Oh
these have come from the Dust Bowl.
In addition to those writing for ad-
ditional information, scores have call
ed at the project office personally to
lnve tigate the possibilities OF re-
establishing themselves on these
| homestsads.
IA comparatively small number
| of the immigration reaching the west
| ern States have the necessary re-
| sources to homestead under the Rec
lanation Act, by the provisions OF
which settlers are required to have q
capital of $4,000" Mr.. Page said.
However, some have sufficient cap
ital to homestead under these condi-
lions and some have sufficient CAPT
tai to buy outright improved farms
On federal projects or lniiaproved
land offered for sale under irngation
canals"
The largest offering OF new land
this year was made 81 the Owyhee
| project in eastern Oregon. There, lot
public land farm units were advertis-
ed. All but 33 were claimed by bona
t1de settlers who wire able to show
that they had the required capital to
improve their homesteads. The units
remaining are comparatively rough and
will require considerable labor in the
subjugation of the land. Groups OF
men from the drought area have ap-
piled each day at the project offices
Many did not have sufficient capiatl
to qualify as settlers. Others bought
snimproved lands susceptible of irri.
CATION in the vicinity.
Ire Yakima project, An old and wei
established agricultural area in cast.
srn Washington, attracted large mum
bers of families from tht drought
area, some of whom made the trip tc
eastern Washington only to seel
seasonal employment in the fruit har
vest. Many Of them, however, were
anxious to become permanent set
tiers in that area.
The demand for new opportunities
under irrigation annals in the west 1,
not confined to home seekers migrat
ing from the drought area. Sons Of
farmers On western irrigation project.
federal and private, seeking to max,
homes for themselves compose the
largest single group of prospective
settlers.