The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-18

There are ten hundred and eighty millions OF
acres The Indian title has been extinguished
in three hundred and nineteen millions OF acres.
The Indian title has not been extinguishcd
in seven hundred and sixty-six millions of
acres The whole number of acres IN the new
states amount to one hundred and sixty-three
millions five hundred thousand.
In the celebrated report made by MIR. Clay to
the Senate of the United States, on the 10th
April, 1882, we find the following remarks =
"Whether the question of transfer of the pubic
lands be considered in the limited or more eXten-
sive view of it which has been stated it is one OF
the highest Importance, and demanding the mo t
deliberate consideration. From the statements
founded on official reports, made in the preceding
part OF this report it has been seen that the guam
tity of unsold and unappropriated lands lying
within the limits of the new states and terri
tories, is three hundred and forty millions, eight
hundred and seventy-one thousand, seven hun
dred and ffty-three acres; and the quantity be-
yond those limits is seven hundred and fifty mil
lions of acres, presenting aggregate of one
billion, ninety millions, eight hundred and seven
ty-one Thousand, seven hundred and fifty-three
acres.
1t is difficult to conceive question OF greater
magnitude than that of relinquishing this i'm
mense amount of national property. Estimating
its value according to the minimum price, pre-
sents the enormous sum ofone billion, three hun
bred and sixty-tree millions, five hundred and
eighty nine thousand, six hundred and ninety
one dollars. If it be said that large portion oil
it will never command that price, it Is TO be OBJ
served on the other hand that fresh lands are
brought into market and exposed to sale at pub.
lie auction, many Of them sell at prices exceed
ing one dollar and quarter per acre. Suppos-
ing the public lands to be worth ON the average
one half of one minimum price, they would still
present the immense sum OF SIX hundred and
eIghty-one millions, seven hundred and ninety
four thousand, eight hundred and forty-fve dol
larso
We have seen that the whole mum Der OF acres
OF the public domain new amounts, as shown by
the report of Mr.. Norvcll, to ten hundred and
eighty millions. Ii we estimate these lands as
worth one dollar and twenty-five cents per acres
the present minimum price, the whole will pro
ducc the enormous sum OF thirteen hundred and
fifty millions Of dollars, (l,350,000,OOU) We
have also by the same report, that the Indian
title to seven hundred and sIxty-sIx millions Of
acres has not been extlnguished. These lands,
if estimated at one dollar and twenty-five cents
per acre, would realize nine hundred and fifty
seven millions and five hundred thousand doll
lars 10 extinguish the Indian title to these
lands, may and probably will cost large amount
of money-how much it is difficult il not inpossi-
BILE TO state. But if any opinion ON this point
can be formed from the prices heretofore paId to
the Indians, it may be inferred that twenty per
cent Oh the estimated value Of these lands, will
be a fall, nay, large allowance Tor the expense
of extinguishing this title. BY deducting from
the thirteen hundred and fifty millions OF dol
lars, twenty per cent the estimated cost OF the
lands to which the indian title has not been eN-
tinguished, there will remain the sum oil eleven
hundred and fifty-eight millions, five hundred
thousand dollars, winch in this view will be the
value of the public domain after the cost of ex-
tinguishing the indian title has been paid in full
It has already been shown, that the plan pro-
posed by Mr. Clay was to allow to the new states,
In addition to the five per cent fund secured to
them by compact, twelve and half per cent OF
the proceeds of the public lands within their
spectlve limits, over and above their equal dis
tributive share with the other states OF the re-
manning portion Of their proceeds
1t has already been shown that there are in the
new states one hundred and sixty-thrse millions,
and FIVE hundred thousand acres of land. The
lands in the new states at one dollar and TWEEN
ty-iive cents per acre, are worth two hundred
and four millions, aad three hundred and seven
tyrfve thousand dollars Seventeen and half
,".. cent oil Tbs amount will pass to the new
States, who thereby will obtain thirty-fye mil
lions seven hundred and sixty-tiye thousand and
six hundred and twenty-five dollars. To ascer-
tain what will be lett Tor distribution among all
the states, there must be deducted the sum OF
thirty-iive millions seven hundred and sixty-hve
thousands, and six hundred and twenty-five
dollars, from the eleven hundred and ffty-eight
millions and five hundred thousand dollars,
which as we have shown, is the estimated value
of the public domain after extinguishing the In
dian TILE The balance will amount to eleven
hundred and twenty two millions, seven hundred
ard thirty-four thousand and tkrce hundred and
seventy-hve dollars.
With view to prevent over estimate, and
to cover expenses nc, it may be proper to make
a further deduction Of ten per cent on thirteen
Ioll
ed value Of the ten hundred and eighty millions
of acres which Constitute the whole public de-
main. This ten percent will yield one hundred
and thirty-tve millions of dollars, and when this
sum is deduc.et from the eleven hundred and
twenty-five millions, seven hundred and thirty
four Thousand and three hundred and seventy
five dollars, already ascertained the amount
left after cxtinguisning the Indian title and pay
ing to the new states seventeen and hall per
cent, there will remain for distribution among
all TIE states, nine hundred and eighty-seven mil
lions. seven hundred and thirty.four thousand
and three hundred and seveniy.fve dollars
The calculations end estimates now submitted,
are believed to be as exact and accurate as the
nature of the subject wall permit The details
have been gwen to enable each reader to judge
for himself, and if there be any errors or inaccu
races in the statements, 10 make ali proper al
lowances and deductions for them. Our object
is not TO mislead, but to awaken the attention OF
the people OF Maryland to subject which yielis
in importance to no public measure of the times.
We have thus ascertaised that under the plan
proposed by Mr.. Clay, and approved fly Gen.
Harrison, the public domain would produce
fund fer distribution among all the States in pre-
portion to their populations, amounting to not
less than nine hundred and eighty-seven millions
seven hundred and thirty-foar thousand three
hundred and seventy-iivc dollars. The next in
quiry is to ascertain the proportion payable to
Maryland. This is the important matter to our
people, and before we shall have concluded we
hope to satisfy the most sceptical, that upon the
distribution OF the proceeds of these lands, de-
ponds in a great measure our prosperity and that
OF our descendants.
When the distribution bill Of 1882 was passed
by Congress, but vetoed by Gen. jackson, Mary
land was estimated to contain population OF
four hundred and five thousand eight hundred
and forty three people, and would, if that bill
had become law, have been entitled to about
tyyeQtv-nintb rronaa<7c oft bA ,,uh.