Atlantic and Gulf plain States of from 500,000 to 

 1,000,000 acres. Generally speaking, the actual 

 cost to the colonist of going-concern farms, such 

 as hereintofore outlined, would be around $80 to 

 $100 per acre. Of this amount — speaking gen- 

 erally — the costs of the land and of the drainage 

 therefor, will about equal each other and together 

 be about one-half the cost of clearing, stumping, 

 plowing, and putting in the first crop. Roads, 

 fences, buildings, etc., will be about one-third of 

 the total investment. 



What has hitherto been a serious problem in the 

 coastal plain — the very large holdings of land — 

 is here a great advantage. With holdings of 

 50,000 acres in a single body — by no means un- 

 common thing — the obtaining of large colony areas 

 from private owners is enormously simplified. 



The investigations of land areas in the South 

 have not called for elaborate and detailed studies. 

 The areas of lands which can be developed for the 

 purpose herein outlined are so many and so large 

 that attractive sites for as many colonies as may 

 be desired can certainly be secured. Essential 

 data are available at this time for many. A 

 considerable number have been personally in- 

 spected. Therefore, there is no reason to doubt 

 the ability to secure such as may be required and 

 at a fair price. 



The General Program. 



So much for my idea of the relationship of the 

 general proposed program to the territory assigned 

 to me. Now a few words as to the general plan 

 itself. 



But for the enormously important and bewild- 

 eringly rapid international developments of the 

 past few days, the Secretary of the Interior, the 

 Hon. Franklin K. Lane, would have been here and 

 outlined the general program to be presented to 

 Congress. Under the circumstances, therefore, 

 it seems desirable that there should now be set 

 forth, briefly and in general terms, what it is 

 planned to do. 



This is to — 



(1) Make suitable and worthy provision for 

 such of the returning soldiers and sailors as may 

 desire rural life and occupations, and along the 



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