Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-06-15
LANDS OF GRANT COUNTY.
THE RESERVED MINERAL LANDS.

The total amount and location III The Miner
al Reserves of this County, together with the
manner in which said reserves had been made,
was given two weeks since. 1. remains TO
consider the object had in view in causing
these lands 10 be reserved, the steps that have
been taken towards realizing this objec. and
how far they coincide or conflict with the in.
terests and prosperity Of the community.
A permanent revanue by leasing has been
thus far the only apparent object and must!
have been, five can judge from the policy
that has dictated their management, the only
one contemplated. That the purpose of the
Executive in adding lead iands to the list of re-
serves authorized by Congress, was merely
to arrange such lands into distinct class, has
been explicitly disavowed in the refusal Of
Government 10 affix to the mineral lands
price at which they should be sold
The FIRST leasing Of the lead lands upon The
Upper Mississippi was done about sixteen
years since, and long prior TO The survey OF
any of,he lands comprising the mining district.
Large tracts were at first leased TO single indl-
yiduals, who were bound TO keep stated
number Of hands employed certain length Of
time each week. This plan was nothing else
than giving to few persons the entire, virlu'
al ownership and control Of all the mineral
lands. /. soon proved a monopoly Of the
most oppressive character. The landlord had
no other motive than TO FIX the most extortion-
airy rate Of rent, and the tenant no alternative
Blu. compliance. This system was complain
ed Of and in view Of its obvious injustice, aban-
doned. In its stead came the only feasible
and available system of leasing ever intro
duced. but one which necessarily expired
with the frs. sale of land within the district.
Permits were granted to smelters, authorizing
them to make lead upon the payment of one
tenth part TO Government. The price OF miner.
al was regulated with reference to this tax,
which was thus collected in the easiest as
we'll as the least Objectionable manner. But
as soon as the lands came into market this
plan became impractlcable and went into de-
cy ofa license, and was quite as much at liber-
iy 10 smell upon, as TO cultivate his own land.
One class of smelters were, therefore. paying
rent while another paid none. The conse-
quence was that the unlicensed smelter could
pay the highest price for mineral. and OF course
he miner sold 10 the highes, bidder. Thus end
ID The second chapter in fruilless eiior. of the
Govern meni 10 make the mineral lands IN
question A source of rev anue. The next and
only remaining means Of accomplishing this
object was by making every actual miner the
lessee Of Government. With this plan. eve.
~ one is familiar who has heard the name Of
Jno. Flanagan--ihe appropriate instrument OF
its execution. The present system can be
rendered a successful one only when it is re-
garded as a mater of Government policy, and
when the consequences of its existence and
the cost Of its managementare utterly disresar.
ded. Blu, every effort to make i, a matter of
pecuniary profit or TO reconcile it with the prn-
riples Of the Government or the interests of
Tho community, will be worse than failure.
To realize greater than the minns revenue of
The last two years. requires decided increase
Of strength 10 the Agency-and every time
The Agency is thus strengthened. The increase
If expense consequent upon such addition will
20 the only observable change in It's character.
The grea, majority Of the miners upon Gov.
reserves, lease, not with any view Of paying
en,, bu, tina. they may enjoy greater security
n the possession of their claims. And when
,ver the Superintendent has at his command
'py force sufiicien, 10 insure the collection Of
ents, these men will a. once declare their in
dependence Of the leasing sysiem--a declara-
ion IN which public opinion and the Courts Of
he country will sustain them. We look and
hope for the eonsuma,ion Of Capt Bells prop
appointment, of.Gffy in place Of
one mineral Agent. The execution Of this
plan would not only afford the lawyers rich
harvest, but would be certain to create On ac-
i've aud excited prejudice, and unanimi'y of
feeling against the existence of the mineral re-
serves, lha, wonld subside only with their
sale.
BY the continued prosecution of the leasing
system. in the face Of pecuniary disappoin''
neni and moral injury, the Government stands
or,h 10 more sbhorred light than the sPecu-
alter 10 western lands. The latter have new
y refused TO sell whenever the community
we're prepared ,opay the price demanded
The Government not only denies this privilege,