Imperial Valley press., 1944-01-02
l Rise to
REM ark

The flu epidemic went to over
j 10000 cases. then dropped as rap
i idly as it had risen. There were
few deaths; the figures showed
only "a more than for the corre-
/ spending time a year ago. These
could be accounted for by crowded
conditions. Somewhat different from
the figures of 1895 for Washington
deaths from flue alone in the epi-
demic of 1918.
Several weeks ago I gave, in this
column, figures regarding land
owned by the government. The
Farm Security administration owns
more than 100000 acres; thus
becoming the largest single land
owner in the country. The govern
ment owns more than 395,000.000
acres, in all departments and bu-
reaus. That is 90 per cent of all the
land.
For California the figure is 43,-
OPS, ,6S2 acres; which represents 43
per cent of the land in the state.
The estimated assessed valuation
of this federally owned land is
1919, ,472, ,98S. In Orange county, the
government owns 56,923, or IL per
cent, with an estimated assessment
value of S1,537,225. In Riverside
county, the government owns $685.
4l2 acres. or 45 per cent of the
land; estimated assessed value S4,-
443000. In Imperial county, the
government owns 658,903 acres. Or
"a per cent of the land, with an
estimated assessed valuation of 81
1854 $50.
That is quite lot of land, when
43 per cent of the State of Califor-l
mia is actually owned by the federal
government 1t becomes more of a
problem, when that much land is
taken off the local tax rolls
Do you want few more figures,
to start the New Year right? We
are working on bills to take care of
the soldier about to be mustered
out. 1t should have been done be-
fore. We undoubtedly need a shake
up in the Veterans bureau. Some
thing over 100000 have been dis
charged to date. Fortunately the
number of cases not taken care of
was not many but they focused
attention on the bad situation
There shouldn't have been any.
The bills before us will remedy the
trouble.
A few figures, thanks to Con-
gresham Miller of Nebraska, who
looked them up: There are $1,000
veterans of World War l still in
veterans homes and hospitals. 432,-
900 veterans and 118.412 of their
dependents are getting pensions.
There are sos Civil War Veterans
and 1861 Spanish War veterans
still ON the rolls. The Veterans Ad-
ministration operates 1870 hospitals
and homes, with 81 900 beds. There
are 44500 doctors, nurses and at
tendants. How many will we need
after THIS war?
We are working on the law to
let soldiers vote. Another misunder-
standing. The bill which the senate
turned down would have allowed
votes ONLY for president, vice.
president. and for members of con-
gress. None of these by name. Only
the words, Republican" and
Democratic" after the offices. 1t
could have taken years for the
courts to have Strengthened out
the effects Of that bill. I'd have
voted against it myself.
The house wants to make it pos
sible for the soldiers to vote as if
they were home, and know for
whom they are voting; and to have
the government get the ballots
there and back quickly and secretly.
In spite of the propaganda, that's
what the boys will get and that's
what they want. Maybe that's not
what some of the politicians want;
do you suppose?