Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-15

y
atucies, 1t appears wt the whole exports of domestic
Noduce exhibit pn Increase in the last thirty years OF
.nan 'nser per .rnnua'y, or rate considerably
ioNet Than ,1,ot our ropulron though in the previ-
oulerm OF ten yeats, by the great prosperity from our
heI FORM OF government and the rapid progress in the
cefvaon OF cotton, that increase eight per
Gem and IN the high price and large exports Of this
uc IN the last term of ten years been Eve
percent annually But that price has of late been
unusually high, and is now lower and as the demand
Tor cotton abroad in the ensuing year likely to
cee il IL equals the late customary ratio aud on which
son interesting facts may be in the statement an
nefd (E the value Of whole dome site Exports lover
onfhaf OF which consists of cotton) will probably
beess In 1886 than in 1885. This result therefore, or,
heb rather than iinpars, the of the dmi-
nifed estimate OF our whole imporations in 1885, and
ofLthe anticipated receipts Of duties therefrom.
Dh the whole. then, the biennial reduction i'm
thPse duties which exceed twenty per cent takes place
on the 3lst instant and will near one mil
lion OF dollars, as in the ensuing year. the whole inn
potations WILL by the estimates be less the CON
sumption of foreign articles paying duties is for that
and other not likely increase il results
these and some circumstances before mentioned that
the whole amount of revenue which will be received
from imports during the year 1886, will probably be
from one To two millions less than in 1886 If we look
forward TO 1872 when the tariff is by our present laws
TO undergo great change, and if regard in the
ervenng e the probable exports of domestic produce
and imports of foreign merchandise, the presumed
consumption of that small portion of the latter d
Ges, may ialry be concluded that after making due
allowances as 10 all these, account of
population and wealth, and deductup those aowanc
from the biennial reductions not only will the revenue
accrung from customs probably diminish average
rate OF about third of million per annun or near
wothirds OF million every second year until the first Of
January, 1912 but then, at blow, over two and
half millions of the duties above twenty per cent
Is to be struck oft and the first Of july the same
year, over two and half millions more, and some new
articles, Tor the hrstme be rendered entirely free All
the reduction which is TO take place in that year alone
will thus amount to between five and six millions of dol
lars; and the whole annual revenue from WILL
by 1913 have probably fallen about nine
present amount ofabout seventeen millions of dollars
explanation OF The Estimates Of Receipts from, Lands
The revenue from lands the ensuing year has been
of In nhn,
estimates for 1888, the amount expected be received
from this for then stated calculated
half million higher than it had been before and
was described still too low if the Department had not
anticipated that large sales would be made for the In
dans, the proceeds of which to 90 into the
Treasury for public But these last sales, delayed
I'LL the first month in the next year, have
given place TO others all whose proceeds have gone
into the Treasury. This change with the operation in
such unexamped force, of the detailed in
those reasons, aided by such eager thirst for the in
vestment of surplus capital in lands and the bright
prospects OF large profits from their cultivation
for cotton in the Southwest with the extraordinary mum
Der of claims allowed has caused the actual
receipts from their sales during the year 1885, exceed
those OF any previous year. by the Of probably
than six millions of dollars
From the fact that of these sales have not been
made TO actual settlers and that of the land Thus
Sold will remain in the market aid in supplying here
after such puchascrSfrom the probability that some
dminuon IN the price of cotton with the
of labor will lessen somewhat the ardor new invest
ments III land an the outhwes-rom the circumstan-
ces that much fewer pre-empon claims exist and that
fewer public sales of lands proceeds belong to the Go
vernmcnt, by millions of acres will be adyer
tIsed the ensuing yearand from the presumption that
the surplus capital be re-invested derived from
the final payment of public debt and from the I'M
usually great exports the last two wears will be reduced
1t has not been deemed safe to estimate the receipts for
public purposes from sales of land in 1886 than
four millions of dollars
Besides those receipts the sales of the Chickasaw
lands postponed as before remarked the ensuing
will probably be considerable, as the quantity offered
will be about six millions of acres; and though by treaty
Inc proceeds OF them must be invested for the Indians
yet the sales WILL to their extent diminish the demand
Tor other lands whose proceeds would go the Trea-
sury In looking beyond the next and few succeeding
years, as connected with this subject true that the
whole lands still owned by the United States within the
boundaries of the present States and Territories exceed
the quantity OF three hundred and thirty millions Of
acres; and, west of Missouri and Arkansas perhans
seven hundred and fifty millions more, of which only
seventy or eighty millions have yet been specially as
signed TO the Indians any other way absolutely an.
proprated But, though three hundred and thirty
millions OF acres would alone be enough in QUAINT
ty, at even the rate of the recent large sales TO
continue, for considerable time, to Yield an inn.
portant share OF revenue, IL must be remembered
mat the demand for 1t will be limited generally by
the extent of the increase of population and capital
and that large portions of perhaps fourth
10 be deemed waste and water and probably half of
well as much of that which lies OF the present
States and Territories be considered such an inferior
quality, that ii cannot be sold for cultivation m our poou
laon reaches and density which will probably
require ages to effect III illustration of some of these
views 1T is remarkable fact that of the whole quantity
OF land surveyed and offered public sale from 1859 To
1884, being about hundred twenty-five millions
oil accs not one-third Of it has been sold for any pur
tle Wnole receipts, being lit
under fty millions off dollars from the whole sales Of
public lands during that period, have furnished only
small amount, potexceedng three or four millions Of
nett revenue beyond the whole cost in various wavs at
tending their purchase and mana cement.
But considerable nett from them hereafter
II neither gwen away divided, can with safety be
expected and they would then tend furnish thai
lief under the common burdens, and that aid towards
the common and legitimate objects of the Union which
were intended to be promoted by their original cessio TO
the General Government The present rate of Increase
IN our population engaged in agricultural pursuits will
not II presumed for seven years create re
lar annual demand for immediate cultivation Of over one
million ot acres OF the public lands; and calculated
mat from two to four millions will be bought year
ly for investment of capital and re sale
Inc estimates for that time proceeds the probable
presumption, that very large portion of ourod cult
waited lands will be wholly abandoned and thar the
new lands annually put into cultivation in the whole
Union have been, aud will be 10 the amount Of one
one haf OF those bought by the actual settlers not d.
recty OF the United States, but of the several Staes
or OF individual AS the wild lands owned bv
whether belonging to them through gift sale or otber
wise, from either former Governments or the uned
states shall increase diminish in 0uaay and nrice
the sales by the United States are likely To lie ss
or more and the above proportions become by those
as Wen as by numerous other circumstances some what
affected The whole sales Of public lands for specuton
and investment, well for immediate cnliivaf;on
wall, therefore, from various oauses some of which have
already been specified, probably Aucnate between two
ana i've millions OF acres, producing from three 10 81
millions Of dollars year till 1912 ADD indeed os
exceeding the maximum till of the rich soils are
gone. US
document has been carefully prepared (FA which
~ some degree veres these general views as il shows
that the whole sales 10 the close of 1891 deducn ma
nm hid H. r. 4 -