The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-09

all competition. these combinations OF
capitalists and speculators are usually
enabled to purchase the lands, including
The improvements of the settlers, at the
minimum price Of The government. and
either turn them on, of their homes, or
extor. from them according TO their abiii-
~ TO pay, double or quaddruple the a.
mount paid for them TO the government
II is to the enterprise and perseverance,
OF the hardy pioneers of the West, who
penetrate the wilderness with their faml-
lies, suffer the dangers, the Privatiuns.
and hsrdships attending the settlement OF
new country, and prepare the way for
the body Of emigrants who, in the course
of a few years, usually follow them,
that we are in a great degree, indebted
for the rapid extension and sggrandize-
mcnt Of our country.
Experience has proved that no portion
of our population are more patriotic than
the hardy and brave men of the frontier,
or more ready 10 obey The call Of their
counlry, and 10 defend her rights and her
honor, whenever and by whatever enemy
sssaileJ. They should be protected from
The grasping speculstor, and secured, al
the minimum price Of the public lands.
in the humble homes which they have
improved by their labor. With This end
in view, all vexaiious or unnecessary re-
stric,ions imposed upon than by The ex-
;sling pre- .emption laws should be repeal
ed or medifed. Il is the true policy OF
the government TO afford facilities 10 lis
citizens to become the owners OF small
portions of our vast public domains al
low and moderate rates.
The present system OF managing the
mineral lands OF the United States is be-
lieved to be radically defective. More
than a million of acres OF the. public
lands, supposed 10 contain lead and other
minerals, have been reserved from sale,
and numerous leases upon them have
been granted to individuals upon stiP-
ula,ed rent. The system OF granting
leases has proved TO be not only unProfi-
tnbIe 10 the government, but unsaiisfac-
,ory to the citizens who have gone upon
the lands, and must, if continued. lay
the foundation of much future difficulty
between the government and the lessees.
According te the official records, the a.
mount OF rents received by the govern
ment for the years ls4l, 1912. lS43,
and 1914, was So, ,S44 "A, while the ex-
peEses Of The system during the same Pc
rioG. including salaries Of superinien-
dents, agents, clerks, and incidental ex-
peases, were twenty-six thousand one
hundred and eleven dollars and eleven
cents-the income being less than one
fourth of the expenses. To this pecu-
mary loss may be added the injnry sus-
tanned by the public in consequence OF
The destruction Of timber, and the care
less and wastefuI manner of working the
mines. The system has given rise TO
much litigation between the United States
and individual citizens, producing irrita-
| ton and excitement in the mineral re-
gion, and involving the government in
heavy additional expenditures. II is be-
lieved that similar losses and smbarrass-
ment will continue 10 occur, while the
present system Of Leasing these lands re-
mains unchanged. These lands are now
under the superintendance and care OF
| the War Department, with the ordinary
duties of which they have no proper or
natural connexlon. | recommend the re-
peal Of the present system, and tha. these
! lands be placed under the superinlen-
dence and management Of the General
Land Office, as other public lands, and
| be brought into market and sold upon
such terms as Congress in their wisdom
may prescribe, reserving to the govern
mens an equitable per centage Of the
gross amount of mineral product, and
that the pre-empton principle be exten-
ded 10 resident miners and settlers upon
Them, at the minimum price which may
be established by Congress.
refer you 10 the accom- anying re-
port Of The Secretary of War, for infor-
nation respecting !he present situation
of the army, and lis operations during
the past year; the state of our defences;
the condition Of the public works; and
our relations with the various Indian
tribes within our limits or upon our bor.
ders, invite your attention TO the sug'
gestions contained IN that report, in rela'
tion 10 these prominent objects Of naIio-
nal interest.
When orders were given during the
past summer for concentrating military
! force on the western frontier OF Texas
our troops were widely dispersed, and il
small detachments. occupying posts re-
mote from each other. The prompt sne
expeditions manner in which an army
embracing more than half our peace es
tablishment, was drawn together on ar
emergency so sudden, reflects great ere
DIT On the officers who were entrusted
with the execution OF these orders. a:
well as upon the discipline Of tho army
itself. Tc be in strength to protect ant
defeud the people and territory Of Texas