The construction work indicated above, which should be done by the Homecroft Reserve in the locations named, should be carried forward simultaneously with the work of reclaiming or preparing for cultivation in acre tracts and building the cottage homes on the lands set apart for the establishment of the Homecroft Reserves thereon. A part of the men should be engaged in this work while others were engaged on the projects above specified for the construction of which their labor would be utilized. The Reservists would be paid wages for all this work which would give them a start and enable them to establish themselves on their Homecrofts as soon as the houses were ready for occupancy. In many cases it would probably be found that families of Homecrofters would prefer to live on their homecroft while the work of completing its construction was being done, and would provide tents or inexpensive houses for such temporary occupancy, at their own expense. _The immediate establishment of these initial units of the Homecroft Reserve, aggregating only 100,000 men, would enlarge the military forces of the United States to the extent that it is now vigorously contended the standing army should be immediately enlarged._ Instead of being condemned to idleness in barracks, the soldiers comprising the increased forces would be doing useful and productive labor and would build enormously valuable internal improvements. It would cost $100,000,000 a year to maintain, as a part of the present military system of the United States, the proposed increase of 100,000 men, which the Militarists contend should be added to the regular army for our national defense. That $100,000,000 a year, divided among the projects above named, would provide the following amount for each project annually until completed: Iron Canyon Reservoir $10,000,000 Sacramento Flood Control 10,000,000 Calaveras Reservoir 10,000,000 San Joaquin River 10,000,000 Drainage Canal to Bakersfield 10,000,000 Atchafalaya Controlled Outlet 10,000,000 Atchafalaya Protection Levees 10,000,000 Monongahela Reservoirs 10,000,000 Ohio River Reservoirs 10,000,000 Mississippi River Reservoirs 10,000,000 ------------ Total $100,000,000 That amount of money for one year would complete most of the above projects.