The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-02-29
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1910.
Could WPA Workers Become VOlun-
tary Home-Steaders?
To the Editor of The Republican

tary HOme-Steaders?
To the Editor of The Republican
To me, it is more and more apparent
that WPA families should be in the
country. If they stay within the county
the city still pays taxes into WPA
jobs.
Building and maintaining roads is
the business of the county and State
governments. There is nothing new
way. Therefore, think this is a type
of work that could and should be re-
served exclusively for WPA jobs. A
majority of people, including some
WPA people, think WPA families
could have more and yet get along with
fewer days work on WPA if they
could raise all of the vegetables and
meats they can eat. On the other hand,
there seems to be fear among WPA
workmen that if they produce any
thing or have anything more than
hand-to-mouth existence, they will be
dropped from the WPA rolls.
| believe the Federal Government
ought to buy up to one hundred twenty
dollars worth of produce annually
from WPA farmers. 1t would expel
that, and it would also be an incen-
tive to men who lose their jobs to try
to learn gardening and animal-hus-
bandry. Of course they could rent, but
the program could be stabilized only
if the WPA were to be amended to
permit them to buy on terms of rent.
If he was buying five or ten acres, he
could look ahead. If he built a chicken
house it would be his; if he were to
dig a couple of cisterns to water his
gardens, the fruits of his labor would
be his. .;.
In my proposal, l advocate nothing
new: merely propose turning already
existing affairs and laws into a system
that will work for better results. l
hope to see a time when all WPA and
unemployed will move from city to
county. believe in government aid to
farm people, and | believe in buying
limited quantity of produce.
believe in private business. would
like to see business have less govern
ment control-be given a freer hand
and more leeway in their own affairs.
In support of WPA, l think we could
have Federal l per cent retail tax,
and pay as we go.
If WPA workman is being paid
$40 a month"; which is $3.50 a year, why
couldn't it be split like this:
l. Give him enough work on street
or road WPA projects to earn $50
month, or $3.50 a years.
2. Buy $120 worth of products that
he produces.
The great number of cars, trucks,
school buses, ETC., used in travel and
transportation require better roads
and streets than was necessary to have
ten years ago, and this need is going
to be still greater in the next decade,
so this business of building and main
tanning streets, county roads and state
highways must go on. 1t is a type Of
work, | think, could be wisely reserved
exclusively for WPA projects.
Thus we wonder if the WPA act and
the FILA act could be amended to give
the ambitious WPA man a chance to
get out of the city and buy five or
ten-acre tract of land and pay for it as
he would pay rent.
10 illustrate my proposed plan, let
us suppose that Mr.. X is a WPA work
man living in a city. He goes into the
county and bargains to buy ten acres
OF land. He applies to the FILA for a
loan. His loan is disallowed because
the land bank appraisers report that
the land is not worth what he agreed
to pay. He goes land hunting again.
Applies again to FILA for loan. This
time it is granted. Mr.. KS loan for
Il ! L.
$1,000, because this would be the max
imum for this class of loans, and on
this his payment would be $40 a month
which would come out of his WPA
wage check.
Mr.. X looks at a pretty little two
room cabin built to accommodate tour
lists and said to have cost $500. From
this he takes an idea and builds three
cabins together in the shape of 'T''
or an IL" He has cottage, and kept
painted inside and out, it would be
truly pretty. From agricultural bulle-
TINS, and from the county farm bureau
agent, and from neighbor farmers, he
would be able to get valuable informa-
ton, such as he would want on how
to improve his soil, on planting and
cultivating and on animal husbandry.
The county high school would offer his
children the same educational advan-
tages as the city high school, plus
All club work.
Farmers eat plenty, their health is
ordinarily good and they are usually
happy. Their children are not nervous
and l can see no twisted thinking. 1t
makes me think of, was in Lord Chat
ham who said, "Trade increases the
wealth and glory of country, but its
real strength and stamina are to be
looked for among the cultivators of
the land.