Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-03
OPPORTUNITY
FOR WESTERN
HOMES NEEDED

Voluntary migration westward OF
hundreds of families from the
drought-stricken areas of the Great
Plains has served this year to en-
phasize the pressing need for OPP
portunities in the arid west for
the establishment of homes on land
protected by irrigation canals.
John c. Page, Acting Commits
sioner Of the Bureau of Reclama-
ton, reported TO Secretary of the
Interior Harold L. Ickes today
that during 1886 clamor for farms
and homesteads on Federal re-
clamation projects in the western
states, particularly in the north
west, reached a new high point.
A marked movement westward
of families from the drought area
began in 1884, which was a year
of critical drought. and reached
a climax during 1886, when between
January l and September l5
total OF 2,329 farm families entered
Washington, 1880, Oregon, and
about 4500, Idaho from the Great
Plains drought areas. During the
first six months Of the year 27,600
persons from areas migrated to
California
The large majority Of these
families moved III automobiles
loaded to capacity with personal
and household goods, quite frank
ly searching for places to resettle
in localities where stored water
and canals provide protection from
calamitieS similar 10 those eXper-
fenced in the Dust Bowl Some,
however, sought employment in
the seasonal harveSts Of the irri-
gated sections. intending 20 return
to their homes.
There is ample evidence also
that in addition to those vino left
their Great Plains homes, many
still there are interested in seek
ing new opportunities on irriga-
ton projects farther west.
An announcement was made Oc-
tober % that 81 public land home
SteadS were available on the Good
ing division of the Minidoka pro-
ject in Idaho. BY December 3,
a total Of 934 inquiries about these
farm units had been received. In
quirieS have been received at a
rate Of 30 or more a day since
that time. The greatest number
of these have come from the Dust
Bowl. In addition to those writing
for additional information. scores
have called al the project office
personally to investigate the pos
sibilities of re-establishing them
selves on these homesteads.
"A comparatively small numb=T
of the migrants reaching the
western states have the necessary
resources to homestead under the
Reclamation Act, by the provisions
of which settlers are required TO
have capital of $4,000" Mr..
Page said. However, some have
sufficient capital TO homestead un-
der these conditions and some have
sufficient capital TO buy outright
improved farms on Federal prof.
ects or unimproved land offered
for sale under irrigation canals"
The largest offering of new land
this year was made on the Owyhee
project in eastern Oregon. There,
l07 public land units were adver-
tised. All but 33 were claimed by
bona fide settlers who were able
to show that they had the re-
CURED 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 applied each day at the prof.
sct offices. Many did not have
sufficient capital to qualify as
settlers. Others bought unimproved
lands susceptible of irrigation in
the vicinity.