The State Steps in to Back Soldier Settlers
Washington State authorizes a $25,000 fund to help veterans get started in the dairy business on local land settlement tracts.
Authorizing the Department of Conservation and Development to finance settlers on the state land settlement tracts in the purchase of dairy stock up to $25,000, what is known as the 'Cow Bill' passed the house Tuesday evening by a vote of 77 to 16. It passed the senate on Thursday of last week. The bill went through as an amendment to the Land Settlement Act. Having secured the passage of the Extension bill, increasing the size of the project to 100 tracts, and the legislation to start the settlers up in the dairy business, Fred M. Weil, who has had entire charge in framing the measures and urging their passage through the legislature, is expected home in the near future after having spent probably the most strenuous 10 weeks of his career. Arrangements are to be made by the home folks for some sort of a demonstration upon Mr. Weil’s return to show appreciation felt for the work he has done at Olympia this winter.
“Having secured... legislation to start the settlers up in the dairy business, Fred M. Weil... is expected home in the near future after having spent probably the most strenuous 10 weeks of his career.”
Post-WWI land settlement projects aimed to provide veterans with agricultural autonomy. Today, the debate over state-subsidized entry into farming reflects ongoing anxieties about the viability of small-scale agriculture in the modern economy.
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