The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-24
THE MADISONIAN.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.

han s,l.d n, the of the various schemes
Executive and Legislative which each session Of
Congress has produced either for the disposition OF
the public lands, or for alterations in the manner OF
their disposal
One of the favorite measures of a certain class OF
poiticans has been TO graduate the prices according
10 the periods in which such lands have been in
ket although each one graduates the scale by which
the object is to be accomplished, in such manner as
suits his own views and opinions In support Of this
scheme one of the principal arguments is, that unless
some such plan is adopted, the lands will never be
sold at the present minimum of 81 % per acre, ana
the designations usually given TO such lands, are
waste" refuse" Sc, by those who entre'y lose
sight of the fact, that as country is settled tracts
that in the first instance were refused as comparative
" yalueess in most cases, necessarily become Of more
value than those having greater natural advantages
were at the first settlement OF the country as alro
that tho opening of new lines Of communication, py
roads and canals, continually bringing the more
secluded parts of the country for all practical purposes
nearer the Market and thus giving value to the soil
not poss, ssed without them.
While thinking upon this sub ect some time ago
my attention was called to preparatory measure
taken by distinguished Senator, (Mr, Benton,)
many years since to carry this project into effect by
asceraininq the then estimated value of the unsold
lands and having obtained copy Of the replies 10
that resolution induced to procure copies OF the
statements of sales since haf period and to make es
mates to see how far Prescriptions were sustained ny
facts The nature of those estimates has 50 far sur
prised me- that it is thought they might furnish you
with some new views of the subject and therefore
offer them for your consideration, with remark that
have been content to make estimates as the data
upon which to make accurate calculations, can only
be found upon the files of the Land Office and hope
tha, measures will be TAKEN by those having the pow
err. to obtain accurate and precise statements The
preparatory measure alluded to, resolution pass
ed by the Senate on the 18th April 1928, by which
the President was requested to cause the Registers
andvReceivers of the respective land offices, in the
different States and Territories to be directed to make
a report TO the Commissioner of the General Land
Office Gin time b, by him laid before the Senate at
the commencement of the stated session of Con-
gress upon the quantity and quality Of the land re-
naming unsold in their respective districts the 3oth
day of June 1923, after having been offered at the
minimum price of one dollar and twenty-five cents
per acre SO as show how many remain so un-
sold. what proportion thereof, Gas nearly be
ton consists of land unfit for cultivation, and what is
the probable average value Of the whole per acre:
with such remarks upon the character of said unsold
lands and the length Of time which they may have
been in market under the laws Of the United States,
or subject to be gren apay otherwise disposed Of
by foreign soveregns before they under the do
minon of the United States, may be necessary to
give the Senate just conception Of their present ac
tual value" The answers to this resolution were
communicated to the Senate by the Land Office on
the 9th December, 1928, and shall now proceed to
give the substance Of some of those replies t would
extend this communication too much to give all of
them) with brief commentary, stating the actual
sales, from the 30h June, 1928 to the 30h September
1887, not having the data before to continue the
calculations to later period merely mentioning that
have been compelled to take half of the entire
sales of 1923, as the amount sold during the last six
months of that year. as official statement for that
period could be found
IN OHIO.
The Zanespiue officers reported 1885 as
unsold none ms first rate and all having been in
market since 1904.
Facts-To the 30th September, 1887 about $780,
700 acres of this land had been sold at ST. 25 per
acre.
The SteubsnpiHs officers reported l3l 1886 ui,-
sold, having been in market since 1900 none first
rate, and the average value 81 per acre. in all l3,
1886
Facts-To Both September, 1887, l27,5O0 acres
sold, produced at least l59,375
The Wooster officers reported 60 CAB acres unsod,
which had been in market for twenty years; none
first rate, and 40660 unfit for cultivation
the average value 90 cents per acre. all to be SAG
379
Facts.-The sales to Both September, 1887, amount
ed to l66,l07 acres, producing about S207,63 All
the land reported unfit for cultivation thus sold
in 9 years at the rate is paid for the choice
tracts in the districts.
The Delaieare (Bucyrus, Tiffin, &C. officers re-
ported l,64l ,9l4 unsold, having been, the
rage, in market for years and classed 205 239 as
worth 81 IL l2 per acre-4l0,478 acres at rs cents
657lS acres at so cents and 4I0479 acres at IL l-2
cents per acreor at general average" so cents per
acre, or ss2O,957 for all.
Facts.-To the 30th September 1887, $50 912
had been sold at the minimum, producing about ISL !,
5631l5 or $742 75S than the estimated value of
oil the unsold lands although the 30th September
1887, there 800 932 acres then remaining unsod
These sales, it will be perceived only embrace all
the lands included in the st ID and 3D. classes, but
that valued at but 10 l2 cents per acre
No lands have, it is believed been exposed to
sale in either Of the three districts first named since
1928 nor have their boundaries been altered In the
last unimportant former Indian reservations
may have been offered, but if So the sales therein
have been much than counteIbaanced by the re-
servation from sale of all the lands within five miles
4. 4 a
In addition to the sales it should be observed that