Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-02-03

BEAUTIES OF THE LEASING SYSTEM.
Below we publish an extract from the re-
port of the Secretary Of War, relative TO the
agency of the U. :. Lead minis. We infer
from The general tenor of this report, that the
War Department. still coulsmplates the cOniin-
uance Of the odious system of laad ord and ten
ant, between the Government and the cinzens
OF the mining district.
The only argument ever adduced in favor of
the system, is the probability that the General
Government may thence derive SOME revenue;
yet even for that purpose, the establishment of
the relations Of landlord and tenant between
the Government and its citizens is unjust and
impolitc. The report shows, however, that,
from whatever motive the Leasing operations
ever established or renewed, that the Govern
ment can derive no revenue from this source.
The actual expenses of The Agency from May,
LIST, 1912, to Oct. lsl, l8l3-l7 months, as
shown by the report, are $9,333 80
The actual receipts from the Les
sees of Government Llring The
same time. under Leases granted
since Isl ofM May, 1912, are 1885,
052 lbs, of Lead. which, $3.50
per loo lbs fair average price
amounts to s4,45I 80
Making the actual expenditures
above receipts accruing since
the establishment ofthe agen-
cy, up,to Oct. l943, period Of
Il months 1881 90
beautiful system this an! glorious results of
Government fnancierng.
Bot the Secretary anticipates in future
great increase in the receipts from the mines,
while the expenses Of e-agency in defending
and prosecuting suits, will be lessened. He
bases this last calculation upon the expected
decision of the suit of The U. 5. VS. II. II.
Gear in favor of the Government. So far from
the Government receipts from the mines in
crossing, we predict tina, more has been COL
lectei since the renewal of the agency than
can Re collected during the next Ave years.
The people are beginning to understand their
rights and true interests 10 this matter.
The Secretary intimates that the Govern
mont has the right 10 exac, rent from all lands
when the title is held by individuals either
on certificates Of entry at the Land Offices,
contrary TO instructions, and on v b ch the Pa
tents are withheld (as in wisconsin,, or by
those who claim upon the ordinary rules Of
preempiion, but TO whom certificates of entry
are refused, and tina. all questions relative
thereto, are involved 10 the suit of U. S. VS.
Gear. We totally deny that the decision of
this suit will settle all questions arising un-
der Tho Leasing System aud the attempted
monopoly by the Government of all the Lead
Mines; because, this suit, as we understand
the matter, relates to the right Of preemption of
land never yet in market. On the contrary,
all the land in the Wisconsin Lead District
has been offered at public sale, and great
shaie OF the mineral land sold at public sale
or bought al private entry. Most Of the entries
of Mineral land in Wisconsin have been made
withou, any fraud or collision. Many tracts
of land now mos, valuable for their mineral
wealth, were purchased for farming purposes,
in total ignorance of their containing lead ore;
and acciden, alone several years after the en-
Try, determined heir character. We, the Gov
ernmenl in such cases wilhholds the Patents.
What say the frners and miners of Wscon-
sin are they willing TO surrender their farms
the result Of years Of honest toll and suffer
ing-merely because they contain lead ore!
We hope Congress, during the present SEES
sion, may remedy by Legislation the evils IN
der which the people Of the mining Destrc.
now suffer-evils, inflicted in the miserable
leasing operations by The War Department,
wi.hou, the shadow Of justice or authority OF
law.
Bot to the extract:
L. s. LEAD MINES.
EXTRACT FROM RAPPORT OF THE SEC
RETARY OF WAT.