Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-11

SIaf Cintre Eua ltffilofles IN Which tney
are situated. ihiry-ninc millions one hun
dred and five thousand five hundred aud
seventy seven acres have been 10 the mar
ket, subject TO entry moro Than twenty
yesrs; forty nine millions six hundred and
thirty eigs. Thousand SIX hundred and
fofty-f0ur acresfor more than fifteen vears;
seventy-lhree millions seyenty-f -four ,nous
and and six hundred acres for more than
tn years; and one hundred and SIX mil
lions one hundred and sevenly-slx lhous-
and nine hundred ard sixty one acres for
more than FIVE years. Much the largest
portion ofihess lands will continue 10 be
unsaleable at the minimum price al which
they are permitted to be sold. so loog as
large territories Of lands from which the
more valuable portions have not been Sc.
lected, are annually brought INTO market
by the government. With the view to
the sale and settlement Of these inferior
lands, recommend tba, the price be grad.
pated and reduced below The present
minimum rate, combining the sales st the
reduced prices for limited term 10 one
dollar per acre, and after the expiration
Of that period for a second and third term
TO iowerraies, large portion Of these lands
would be purchased, aud many worthy
citizens, who nrs unable 10 pay higher
rates. could purchase homes for them
selves and Their idmilies. BY adopting the
policy of graduation and reduction OF
price, these inferior lands will be sold for
their real value, while the States in
which they lie will be freed from Tho in
convenience, lfnot injustice, to which they
are subjected, in consequences Of the Unit
ted States con'inuing 10 own large quanil.
ties OF public lands wishia their borders,
not liable to taxation for the support OF
their local government
recommend The continuance OF the
policy OF granting prescriptions, IN It's
most l,be al extent, 10 all those who have
settled, or may hereafter setlls, on the
public lands, whether surveyed or ursuf-
veyed, to which the Indian title may h-vo
been extngushed at the time oil set,le-
ment. II has been found by experience,
that ia consequence Of combinations OF
purchasers and other causes, very small
quantity Of the public lands, when sold st
public auction, Commands higher price
than the minimum rate established by
law. The settlers on The pubic lands
are however, but rarely able to secure
their homes and imp ovements at the
public sales, at that rate; because these
combinations. bv means Of the capital
they command, and their superior ability
to purchase render il impossible for the
settler to compete with them in the mark
81
these combinations Of capitalists and spec
ulators are usually enabled TO purchase
the lands, including the improvements OF
the settlers, ut the Tinmum price of the
government, and either turn them out OF
their homes, or extort from than, accord
ing to thsir ability to pay, double or quad
ruple the amount paid f,r them to the
governm mt. |, is to the enterprise and
perseverance, Of the hardy pioneers Of the
West, VINO penetrate the whierness with
their families, suffer the dangers, the pri-
yatioas, and hardships Attending the set
Element of new county. and prepare this
way for the body Of emgfants who. in
The course Of few years, usually follow
them. that we ara, IN great degree, IN
dsbed Tor the RAPID extension and az
grau1iz IN mt OF our country.
Expsr ence has proved that no portion
OF or 'pulatan are m re patri,,'c than
the hlrIy and brave men of the frontier,
or more ready TO obey the call Of III If
country, and to defend h~r rights and her
honor, whenever and whatever enemy as
SAILED. They should be protected from
the srasping SPECTATOR, and secured al
the minimum price Of ths prblic lands, in
tho humble homes which they have i'm
proved by thstr Labor. With this and in
view, all vexatious or unnecessary res.
triciions imposed upon them by the ex.
isting pre- empt'on laws should be repeal
ed or mo1,fei. Ii is the true policy oil
the governmsn. to afford facilities to its
citizeGs to become the owners of sma
portions of our vast public domain at low
and moderate rates.
The present system OF managing the
mineral lands Of the United States Is be.
leved to be radically defective. More
than a million OF acres OF tbs public lands
supposed to coatain leai and other miner.
ais, have ben reserved from sale, and
numerous leases upon them have en
granted 10 IullNiUuaiS upon St'pultiru
rent. The system Of granting leases has
proved TO be not only Improbable to the
government. but unsatisfactory TO the CIT
iz"ns who have gone upon the lands, an
must, if continued, lay the foundation Of
much future difficulty between the gov
eminent and the lessees. According Il
the official records, ths amount OF rents
received by the government for thu years
ls4l, 1912, 1913, ls44, was Sc, 3of IA
while tie expenses of the system during
tho same peri ID, including salaries Of su-
psrntendents, agents, clerks, and incl
dental expenses, were twen,y-s'x thous md
one hundred and eleven dollars and elev-
en- cents-the income being less tnan one
forth Of the expenses. To this pecunisry
loss may be added the injury sustained
by the public in Consequence of the des
tsaciioa of timber. and tho careless and
w,sleful manner Of working the mines
The system has given rise To much itiga
aoa bstwsen the United States and the
fndiyidua al cltiZe1s Dro iuclnu il rlfatiOU