Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-06-22
LANDS OF GRANT COUNTY.
THE NON RESIDENT LANDS.

THE NON RESIDENT LANDS.
The term nonresident applies TO all lands
owned By individuals residing out of the Coun-
ty. AS nearly as can be ascer tanned. 100000
acres, or more than two fflhs of all the entered
land within the above limits, is the property
of Capiialisis--the management Of which is
principally in the hands of Agents. These
lands seldom exceed a whole section 10 one
location ard are generally in small tracts
They were selected entirely with reference to
immediate and rapid rise in value-an object
that would have been defeated by the purchase
Of contiguous tract. 10 point of value and
location. they occupy. in reference to the 9TH
er lands Of the CouRty, about medium place.
They were principally purchased in 1886.
while the door Of the finances of the country
was off its hinges and the road 10 glltering
wealth unobs,rucied. When the public con-
veyances were filed to overfowing with aDx-
ious. confident sPaculators,-the table and
walls covered with their town and city Plots.
and the newspapers filed with their putfs and
splendid schemes. When women wore cost
Is robes and lived in wasteful incidence, while
their husbands dreamed of the boarded wealth
of tomorrow, and watched the golden bubbles
that filled and floated upon the atmospheric
To the exercise of this extravagant illusion
the West opened the most extended field. -
Lands were purchased with as much reckless
ness and avidity as though half a continent
10 1aoDtad IN, an1 nd
railroads and cities built the next. 1t was
during The prevalence of this exciting and in
fictitious farce that the lands in question were
greedily bought up. But the scene changed.
The stimuent that had produced this frantic
fever was Suddenly Withdrawn. and property
and expectation fell as far below their stand
ard value, as they had few days before been
raised above it. The lands that were yes,er-
day held at a price that will require The i'm
provemen,s of twenty years to give them, to
day could no, be sold at first cost. But the
disappointment to the Spectator did not cease
here. Not only did the lands become unstable.
but they very soon proved source Of vexa-
tions and expensive trouble. The Territorial
Legislature which sat at Burlington in 1888,
passed law making lands taxable as soon as
entered and making real estate, of the Western
Counties, and merchandise, the only description
Of property subject to taxation. A, the pas
sage of this law nearly all the entered land,
within the said Counties, was owned by nom
residents; but 10 which, however, the Patents,
as now, were Withheld. These men at first veer-
ed a. this law, denying that i,included lands.
the realty 10 which was sill vested in the
Government. But here they found themselves
placed between two fires, enc Of which they
were forced to face-a choice between them
being the only alternative. In the event of
refusal TO pay the annual tax. The lands would
be sold and conveyed, by virtue of The Terri.
torial law aforesaid, and recovered, if recover
ed at all, at the end Of an expensive ejeetment
suit. If the taxes were punctually paid, the
question Of the fraudulency Of the entry had
yet 10 be decided Occupying position so
peculiarly embarrassing. the non-residents
have almost universally, and very wisely, con-
cluded 10 meet the payment of their taxes. and
thus avoid the principal and most expensive
danger TO which their ownership is exposed.
Blu, while the Government refused TO grant
title, and the Territory persisted in leyying
burdensome tax, the Spectator has foond his
interest opposed by another and equally formi-
dable difficulty. The anticipated rise in the
value Of these lands depended entirely upon
the progress Of settlement, Blu, this subject
was. to a grea, extent, Immediately counierac-
ted by their existence and peculiar location
The actual settler found that, in addition TO The
abundant, perplexiies and hardships conse-
quent Upon home in the ..wesiern Wild" he
was destined. BY his own industry and labor.
to enhances the value Of lands by which he
was, perhaps, surrounded. and which paid him
back for this important service in no other way
than by preventing the coniiguity Of settle.
men,, and thus compelling him 10 fcrego all
the Invaluable conveniencies of neighborhood.
The immigrant who had deserted society, and
schools and churches that he might assist in
founding them in a new country, and thus be
entitlsd TO higher and less restrained share
in their blessings, felt that he was made the
unpaid instrument for The qualification of gas
ping avarice, and Of delaying, If nc, of defeat
ing, his first and most cherished interest. Ii
Is in view Of a state ofthngs SO directly confic
ting with the prosperity Of the community and
the prospects Of the settler. that has induced
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