The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-12-19

~ ""'ch me public lands
can oe entered 10 one dollar and twenty
tive cent per acre, large Quantities of land
OF inferior quality remain unsold, becaus,
they VIII not command that price. From
the records OF the General Land Office !,
appears that, OF the public lands remaio;,g
unsold IN the several States and Terr,iories
IN which they are situated, thirty nine mil
hons one hundred and five thousand and
seventy seven acres have been in the market
SUBJECT to entry more than 20 wears; forty
nine millions six hundred and thirty eight
thousand six hundred and forty four acres
Tor more than 10 years: 73,O6i 600 acres
Tor more than 10 years, and lO6,I7606I
acres for more Than ) wears. Much tho
largest portion OF these lands will continue
TO be unsaleabe AT the minimum price a,
which they are permitted to be sold. so lonu
as large territories of lands from which the
more valuable protions have no, been selec-
ted are annually brought into market by the
Government With the view TO the sale
and settlement OF those inferior lands. | re-
commend that the price be graduated and
reduced below the present minimum rate,
contnlng the sales at the reduced prices 10
settlers and cultlvators. in limited quantities.
II graduated n reduced in price for linz
lied term 10 81 per acre, and after the en-
piraiIon OF that period for a second and third
term 10 lower rates. portion OF these lands
would be purchased and many worthy cit
'cenS, who are unable 10 pay higher rates,
could purchase homes for themselves and
families. BY adopting the policy of grad
uauon 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 the Inconvenience, if not injustice, To
which they are subjected in consequence of
the United States continuing TO own LARGE
quantities of public lands within their Dor
ders, not liable totaxalon for the supper, of
then local governments.
recommend the continuance of the mol.
ICY OF granting prescriptions, in its mos,
liberal extent 10 all those who have settled
or may hereafter settle on the public lands,
whether surveyed or unsurveyed, to which
the Indian title may have been extinguished
al the time of settlement. ithas been found
by experience, that in consequence of com
bnallons, purchasers and other causes. A
very small quantity of the public lands,
when sold at public auction, commands
higher price than the minimum rate cs-
tab!ished by law.
The settlers on the public lands are,
however rarely able TO secure their homes
and improvements n, the public rules a,tha,
rate because these combinations, by means
ofthc capital they command, and their SUI
peror ability TO purchase, render il impos-
sibe for the settler to compete with them
IN the market. BY putting down all COM
petition, these combinations OF capitalists
and spectators, are usually enabled to pur-
chase the lands, including the improve
ments ofthe settlers, al the minimum price
of the government, and either turn them
out OF their homes, or eXtort from them ac-
corling 10 their ability to pay, double or
quadruple the amount paid 10 the government.
Ii IS 10 the enterprise and perseverance of
the hardy pioneers Of the West. who
pene,raies the wilderness with their fam
lies, suffer the dangers and Iardships atlen.
ding the settlement OF new country, and
prepare the way for the body of emigranls
who in the course of few years usually
follow them, that we are in great degree
indebted for the rapid extension and ag-
grandzement of our country.
Experience has proven tia, no portion
of our population are more patriotic than
the hardy and brave men of the frontier, or
more ready to obey the call of their country
and to defend her rights and her honor,
whenever and by whatever enemy assailed.
They should be protected from the grasping
Spectator and secured, at the minimum
price OF the public lands in the humble
homes which they have improved by their
labor. With this end in view all vexatlous
or unnecessary restrictions imposed upon
them by the existing preemption laws should
be repealed or modified 1t is the policy
of the Government to afford facilities to its
citizens to become owners of small por-
TORS of our vast public domain 4. low and
moderate rates.
The present system of managing the
mineral lands of the United States is be-
Iieved TO be radically defective. More than
million of acres of the public lands
supposed to contain lead and other miner
ais have been reserved from sale, and
numerous leases upon them have been gram
ted to individuals upon stipulated rent,
The system Of granting leases has proved
to be not only Improbable to the govern
ment but unsai stactory to the citizens who
have gone upon the lands, and must, if
continued, lay the foundation of much
further difficulty between the Government
and the lessees.
According to the official records the
amount, of rent received by the government
for the wears 1871, 1912, 1913 and 1874,
was six thousand three hundred and fifty
four dollars and seventy four cents, while
the expense Of the system during the
same period. including salaries of super
in,endents. clerks, and incidental expenses.
were twenty six thousand, one hundred
and eleven dollars and eleven cents-the
income being less than one fourth Of the
expenses. TO this pecuniary loss may
be added liz injury sustained by the puolic
in consequence of the destruction Of I'M