The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-12


in theory; but in practice, il is not only absurd but
IL is radically unjust.
When district Of lard is proclaimed at public
sale, nonresident capitalists select all the valua
BILE lands in such district not previously secured by
pre-emption and purchase the same at an average
of 81 81 per acre; while subsequent settlers are
to purchase inferior lands at 81 25 per
acre. give an exorbiant price 20 these capitalists
and spectators. Ii is idle TO talk about COMPETE
tion in such case. There 10, in fact, no COMPETE
ton, except amongst spectators, and they are a-
ways sagacious enough TO arrange the extent Of il
beforehand Il has been estimated tina, about an
average Of one-tenth Of the public domain is un-
saeabe, being composed OF swamps, marshes, har.
rens, mountains, and other lands OF very inferior
quality. The residue salesblc lands, may be di-
vided according to quality into five classes. As
81 2Tis the average maximum price Of the best
quality of lands il must be admitted that 81 25 per
acre will be sufficient minimum price for lands of
the first Glass; 81 for the second, rs cents for the
third so cents for the fourth, and 25 cents for lands
of the fifth class. This will do away with the in
congruity Of holding lands Of every kind and quail
ity subject TO sale at the same minimum rate. The
private owner Of particular co nmodity, who
should act upon the principle of the present pub
lie land system, would be regarded as impol-
tic; and surely such policy is no less Objectionable
in the government which is not so much an absolute
owner, as trustee of the public lands for the pub
lie have already stated that the government, in
should be satisfied with Naturalization for all ex-
penses incurred in relation to the public lands.
The scheme here recommended must, in every pos
sible event, do than indemnify the government.
The estimate of the whole expense of purchasing
territory from foreign nations, extinguishing the
Indian title, and surveying and selling the public
domain is as an average Of % cents per acre. By
taking the data already given, and by allowing
loss of 90 cents per acre on one-tenih, being the
whole of the unsaeable lands, the residue, or nine
tenths will amount at these graduated rates, TO an
average of GIL cents per acre. thus leaving excess
of AL cents per acre, to meet all possible contingent
cies. These calculations are based upon reliable
data, not exact il is true in mathematical sense,
but accurate in general and practical sense. will
even hazard the prediction, based upon experience,
that graduated system, conducted on the plan pro-
posed, will derive larger amount Of revenue from
the whole of the public domain than the present
system. This position which might at frat appear
is to be accounted for by the quantity
of land unsaleable at present, which would be select
ed and purchased at reduced prices. The gradual
ton system has been tried on the Chckasaw eession,
and the experiment has proved, to the full extent,
the truth Of every position which have advanced
upon this subject. The Chickasaw territory EN-
braces, after deductng Indian reservations, 1885,
925 74l00 acres of surveyed public land. Ofths area,
6,205 100 acres sold under the old system
being in the Choctaw country, before the line of the
Chickasaws was established; leaving net area
of 4,30s 720 1900 acres in the Chickasaw cession
subject to the operation of graduation OF this adj
ding 36,005 6S-lO0 acres of orphan reservation
saes and making surface Of 4,344, 1875 acres there
were sold up to Goth June last, 3,469, 800 95l00
acres-being within the space of nine and a half
years. The residue Of the public Chickasaw lands,
being 875404 80 100 acres, is in process of speedy
sale. The lands thus already sold under gradua-
ton, brought s3,l ,2l9 "a; being an average price
all round of 9l-69 cents per acre.
will now take an adjoining territory of equal ex
tent, mainly selected on account of fertility and the
wants of settlers, which has been in market equal
number Of years under the operation Of the old sys
TEN, and compare results.
Of43447lO acres in the States of Arkansas and
Louisiana, which have been in market about the
same number of years the Chickasaw lands,
1851 ,9l9 acres remain unsoldonly CSC, 79l acres
having been sold; the proceeds Of which, at 81 25
cents per acre. amount to $500 1888 75l00, leaving
a balance Of 2,8l2, $50 acres, and of ~, 800 230
49 of purchase-money in favor of the gradua-
ton system. .|n *
To this must be added the advantage to the States
in the settlement and improvement OF wastes and
barrens, swamps and morasses-an advantage not
only to the prosperity but saubrity of country,
which cannot be calculated in dollars and cents.
The principle to be adopted in the classification of
the public lands, is the next consideration 1t
cannot be accomplished by personal inspection;
and besides, experience shows that in those States
where taxes are assessed upon lands according to
personal ValuatloH, greater disparity ana lnequa-
ty exist than in States where lands have been arb-
trarily classified and assessed by legislative as
semblies. Neither will Indications on maps and
plats afford any better index TO valuation. This
has been tried in the mineral region, and has result
ed in throwing the land system Of that whole coun-
try into inextricable disorder. Schemes like these
appear very plausible sometimes, in theory, but are
wofully defective in practice. The bes-in fact the
only practicable basis for this rlassifcation--is
tn,e--the time the land has continued in market
unsod And this, upon strict scrutiny, will be
found to be excellent general criterion Of quality.
1t has been ascerained by experience that all the
irst-rae land in any particular district is generally
selected within the first FIVE years, after it is brough,
into market, and SO in proportion through any given
series of years; and that the refuse which remains
unsod in such district after the lapse of twenty
FIVE years, will surely indemnify the government for
the expense incurred in its superintendent and
management. Considerable quantities of land which
have been in marke, twenty-five years, have been
donated to particular Staes for purposes Of public
Improvement; and when these are deducted from
the general statements this head the residue will
be so uncomfortable as to bear me out in this as
sumption therefore recommend that all lands
that have been in marEet not exceeding five years,
constitute the first Glass; more than five, and not
exceeding ten years, the second class; more than
ten and not exceeding fifteen, the third class; more
than fifteen and not exceeding twenty the fourth
class; more than twenty, and not exceeding twen-
ty-hve, the NTH Glass; ana tnat all the residue IN
market overy twenty-five years, and remain
ing unsold, rest absolutely in the particular
States in which they are situated. With an incon-
siderable additional force in this Office, all the public
lands now in market can be classified, and the sys-
tenn put in operation in six months. Lands brought
into market hereafter, should graduate through
these classes in such manner as to continue sub
iect to sale five years at 81 25 five years more at
ST. five more at Is cents, five more at so cents, five
more at Is cents; and all the residue remaining UNI
sold, after passing through this series of gradua-
tons, should vest forever in the States.
This will constitute species Of sliding scale,
which win CLEAN and clear out districts, and give
the new States, within reasonable time, the control
of the lands within their limits Objections may
perhaps, be made TO the quantity Of land which this
process Of classification will vest at once in some
particular States. 1t viii vest 400 329 acres in Ohio
1856 095 acres in Indiana, 1866, l0i in I'LL
nois, 1907 pos in Missouri, lac s7e acres
in Mississippi 1l4l, COS acres in Louisiana, 1870.
a95 acres in Alabama, and 27,426 acres in Michi-
gan. can obeiate these anticipated objections by
stating that, according to our estimates, only COM