The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-09-12

lands, in the Yincennes land district, was ap-
proved March Goth, 1904. The 6rst public
sale of lands in that district, took place in
1907, at Vincennes, and from that time to
the present, The Land offices have been open
there, for the private entry of lands IN that
district. BY the returns from ihe. Commits
sioner of the General Land Office, TO the
date ofSepiember 30th 1913, there had been
sold ia the district 1892, 594 5 acres-Re-
naming unsold at the same date 1.635.l34.-
73 acres-Toial land in the district, 1921
729,2S acres. Thas it viii be seen that az
ter an exposure, to public and private sale, of
the lands IN this District for Mbty-sir gears.
there yet remains the large amount of one
million six hundred and thirty FIVE thousand
one hundred and thirty-four acres and 73-100
Of an acre of refused land. Which If the
land Offices are kept open for a half a cen
tury TO come, wiilnot be disposed of. These
lanos It is believed, would, ig the canal was
completed, become valuable. As the conIl-
try now is, they are comparatively worthless
TO the Government, and yielding bat little,
if any revenue That they are refuse lands,
and seldom purchased. That they afford
but snail sum to the Government after de-
Quoting expenses, is evident from the sales
made at the land office at Vincennes, for9he
year ending September Both. 1913. The
whole amount of sales for that year, III round
numbers, was $l6,253, and from that sum
is TO be deducted the salaries of The Regis
ter and receiver; their per centage, and all
the expenses Of The offices, leaving probably
to the Government a nett receipt, for the
gear @only oboqt $4,000.
Your memoralists believe, that under this
state of things, il would be far better for tile.
United States, for The interest ofthe citizens
of lndiana-and for those of Tie ehDlesU nion
that a grant shouldbe made ofsaid lands, &c
the State 81 lndiana. for The purpose OF COM
Pleting The great work of internal Improves
ment above tefeEed to, thus opening a diIect
communication between the Lake and the
Ohio. A work deeply interesting to The
Government Itself. National in its charac-
Ter; and in the complexion Of which so large
a portion of our c~oniederacy are interested.
The State O Indiana has not the means Of
prosecuting this great work TO its compile
ton. She has already expended, as will be
seen. the large sum Of S5l7,092,O0 on IL
Fhe work is now abandoned, and must re-
maisl SO, unless the chief party interested in
il, Ike Gerernment of The Tinted States,
comes 10 the rescue. Its begondih reach
of private enterprise, and but for aid from
the Estates. this great Notional work mus
/ ~caalPleI5d Uy1 HAle1hat poE:
is fast crumbling into decay, and the S5l7,
o92. 90 already expended be lost to her citi
zens.
Your memorialist5 believe, that in case o
war, the saving alone in one year TO the U
States, in the transportation Of their troops
and munitions of war, from the East ana
North East, TO the West and South West
with the great facilities afforded the same
portions of the Union, in the exchange o
their products, would more than repay th'
whole sum 10 be expended, aside from thu
fac ofan increase ofgreat agricultural wealth
in the Valleyof the Mississippi, and-fhe nev
bond which such a work would create be
~tweenthe distant portions of our commoI
country.
IN view ofall which your memorialis'
would respectfully ask of your Honorable
Body TO pass. an act, granting 10 the State c
Indiana, the lands in the Vncennes Distrlc
unsold, or so much thereof as may be deem
ed necessary to complete the work above re
ferred 10, thereby opening a direct con
munication between Lake Erie and the OH
river.
And as in duty bound, we will ever pra,
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