Page:Report of the Oregon Conservation Commission to the Governor (1908 - 1914).djvu/267

 the farmer and home seeker in the clearing of those lands, which will, once this work is performed, add to the wealth of the State and help support her institutions.

Along lines looking to the settlement of land, therefore, two principal problems confront Oregon; the irrigation and reclamation of arid lands, and the clearing of logged off or burned over land. Each is of great importance. The former will be discussed under "Irrigation" in this report. The latter we wish to mention briefly as a matter which will soon have to be seriously considered.

COST OF CLEABINO HIGH.

The cost of clearing stump land, particularly in coast counties, has generally prevented the small man from undertaking it. In a few cases companies in a position to use machinery in the work have taken it up. The Federal Government, realizing the problem to be important, several years ago put in the field men to study new means for cheapening the removal of stumps. The result was a decided interest in "charpitting" as a means of stump removal. This process has proven of great value since it allows of clearing by a very small crew. Probably, however, by far the bulk of land clearing, on a small scale, is by use of dynamite and stump pullers. Larger companies use donkey engines, and at least one company a blow pipe process.

The cost of clearing land varies greatly. In the Cascades and in Coast counties, it will seldom fall below $50 per acre and may go as high as $200. In Eastern Oregon the work can often be done as low as $10 to $25 per acre.

When land so cleared has a sale value as fruit land at high price the cost is not prohibitive, but for the raising of ordinary crops the cost price plus clearing price often makes the investment seem a doubtful one. Again the purchaser of a piece of logged off land, even though he can tigure out a profit from farming the property after going to the expense of clearing the land, is not in a position to clear for want of funds. Most loggers are anxious to have their cut over lands put in cultivation, they are ready to sell the land at a reasonable figure and give liberal terms.

The Federal Government through the reclamation act and the states through the Carey Act are able to help settlers by putting water on their land and allowing them to pay for it over a term of years. It would seem that provision should be made for assisting the prospective land clearer by advancing him funds which should be paid back with interest, the land