Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-06

f'SoSS' '1uSh uPt'c'io anu S"eh 'u>e''A
tives may find favor with those who have no
higher aspirations thln vassal slaves, but IN
never find a response in the hearts of gene
rous ireemen. Will it be said that Wiscon-
s.n possesses less intelligence, and has less
capacity to venture into stale government
thln had the new states which have gone
INTO the Union before her? Arc the moral.
physical, and intellectual capabilities of Wis
consin less adapted to self government than
those of other attitudes?
But, il may be asked, what besides the
tull control of our governmental affairs shah
we gain by becoming an independent state?
Wisconsin will receive, upon her admission
into the Union, 50o, 0G0 acres of land. which
is equlvalcnt to an investment in cash for the
benefit of the people of $50, 900 dolls. This
amount of land has been granted 10 the new
states on their adm ssion iato the Union, and
nearly II not all the western states hive s'nce
obtained large additional grants of lind from
Congress. 1t may, perhaps, be replied that
Wisconsin will, at all events, get this amount
OF land, whether the period of oar coming
into the Union be soon or dozen wears
hence. This is granted; but it should be
remembered that every year the most valu:-
bic lands in the territory are being purchased
hes dcs every year we remlin out of the IN
ion, we lose years benefit of an invest
ment of U25, 900 dolls. In country settling
50 rapidly as this, it is not an immodcratc
calculation 70 suppose that goverpmeRt lanas
could now be selected upon which could be
rc2l'zcd an interest of len per cent. OH the
investment. Ten per cent. upon an invest
ment of $4,000 dolls. would be an annual
gun to W,scons n of 81, 500 dolls. By stay
ing out Of the Union, therefore, we consent
TO reject annually the sim Of 81 5 10 dolls,
a sum actullly greater than We now annual
ly receive from Congress for all purposes
whatsoever. BY a Jaw of Congress it is pro-
vided that the five hundred thousand acres
of lind TO which we arc entitled may be 10
Gated in tracts as small as three hundred and
twenty acres; consequently, selections can
be made highly advantageous to the interests
of the territory.
The several new states, on their adms-
sion INTO the Union, have received by
special compact with the United States, fire
per cent. Of the proceeds Of the public lands
sold within their limits 1t has been con-
tended blythe opponents of stale government
tina, the five per cent. fund was given to
the rev states on condition that the lands
sold within such states should not be taxed
for five years after their sale 20 in
d vduals. Lands were exempted from
taxation in Missouri, IIdiana. and Illinois,
because at the time when those states ,mc
into the Union, the public domain was
sold on credit, and the money was required
TO be paid BIZ instalmcn.s. In the event Of
any such instalment becoming due and re-
main unpaid, the land reverted back 10 the
United States, consequently, the govern
ment made provision for the non-taru,ion
of lands which might again become its
property. This credit system was abolish
ed twenty years ago-neithcr Arkansas
nor Michigan exempt lind from taxation,
yet both received their five Per cent.
The whole number Of acres OF land sold
within the limits Of this territory during
the six years preceding the 3Oth day Of
September, 1910, is 1896, 29l acres, being
an average Of BIG, 0i9 acres in each year,
or Il purchas, Of nearly $500, 900 in pub
lie lands annually. Your comm t,ec have
no definite information as 10 the amount
OF lands sold since 1880; but the average
quantity sold in each year since ls4O has
doubtless been considerably less than dur
ing the years preceding 1910, and the a
mount sold will probably be less in succeed
ing years. The nett proceeds from the
sales Of public lands in Wisconsin ma, be
estimated at 100000 per annum in future
years; five per cent. on this amount, &c.,
900 per annum, would b long to Wiscon-
sin provided she were state.
The whole surface Of Wisconsin terrific
ry is estimated at 41.24I, COO acres; and of
this amount the Indian title had been OK
tinguished, in ls4o, to 20.S 3, 925 acres.
There were remaining Hnso!d Of surveyed
lands on the 30th Of September, 1910, g.
52).354 acres. From the foregoing il
will be seen that Wisconsin has yet vas,
amount Of lands TO be occupied, and that
we may reasonably expect the tide Of i'm
migration TO be turned toward this country
tel many years TO come.
Another important consideration which
Wisconsin will gain by coming iuto the
Union, is the entire control Of her universe
~ and school lands. Should the whole
surface OF the lands in Wisconsin ever
be surveyed, for the purpose of being
brought into market. there would be with
in her limits over a million and a quarter
acres of land for school purposes. 1t is
true that the present as we'll as the coming
generation may pass away before all of
this vast amount of land will be made
available for educational purposes; and il
is also true that bat a small proportion of
these lands are within the present settled Ii
mits Of the territory; nevertheless, therear
now many schools sections IN the southern
tier of counties in the territory which are
already considered valuable, and could
even now turned to good account for school
purposes, were We 4 state government.
The necessity OF early providing sys-
tenn for the encouragement and diffusion OF
general instruction, is n matter of vital i'm
portance to the people of Wisconsin,
Upon the education OF the youth of Wis
consin depends the future stability and sue
cess OF our republican institu,ions-alth that
we hold mosi dear in morals social ban,i