Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-12-24


bursements in pursuance Of appropriations
by law.
Il PUBLIC LANDS, PRE- EMPTtoNs, &c.
Under our present land system, limiting
the minimum price at which the pubI;c
lands can be entered at SIPS per acre
large quantities Of land Of inferior ouaE'
ty remain unsold, because they will moi
command that price. From the records
of the General Land Office il appears
that, of the public lands remaining onsold
in the several States and Territories i
which they are situated, 80, los, SIT acres
have been in the market, subject to entry
more than twenty years; i9,638,644 acres
more than fifteen years; 1904 500 acres
more than ten years; ll6,l76,96l acres
more than five years. Much the largest
portion Of these lands win continue 10 h
nnsaleable at the minimum price at which
they are permitted to be sold, so lonp a.
large territories Of lands from which The
more valuable portions have not been Sc
lected, are annually brought into marke.
by the government, With The view to the
sale and settlement Of these inferior lands,
| recommend that the price be graduated
and reduced below the present minimum
rate, combining the sales at the reduced pri.
ces to settlers and cultivaters in limited
quantities. If graduated and reduced in
price for a limited term to 81 per acre,
and after the expiration Of that period for
a second and third term 10 lower rates,
large portion of these lands would be Dur.
chased, and many worthy citizens, who
are unable to pay higher rates, could pur-
chase homes for themselves and their ia.
miles. By adopting the policy Of gradu-
alton and reduction of price, these infe.
rior lands win be sold for their real value,
{ while the States in which they lie will be
, freed from the Inconvenience, il not nlus-
lice, to which they are subjected, in con.
sequence of the United States continuing
10 own large quantities OF public lands
within their borders, moi liable to taxation
, for the support of their local governments.
. recommend the continuance Of the
r policy Of prescriptions, in It's most liberal
+ extent, to all those who have settled, or
may hereafter settle on the public lands,
i NHCkt1GE SulttyGu VI uuSutfC1 Hut W WtilLh
) the Indian title may have been exllngulsh.
ed at the time of settlement, 1t has been
found BY experience, that in consequence
of combinations Of puschasers, and other
, causes, very small quantity Of the public
+ lands, when sold at public auction, COM
t mands higher price ;han the minimum
rate established by law. The settlers on
e The public lands are, however, but rarely
, able to secure their homes and improve
ments at the public sales at that rate; be.
cause these combinations, by means OF
e the capital they command, and their su'
perior ability to purchase, render It lmpos'
/. sible for the settlers 10 compete with them
/ in the market. BY putting down all COM
/ petition, these combinations oil spectators
flare usually enabled to purchase the lands,
1 including the Improvements of the SET
Tiers, at the minimum price of the govern.
: ment, and either turn them out OF their
homes, or extort from them, according to
n their ability to pay, double or quadruple
d the amount paid for them to the govern.
ment. tits to the enterprise and pefse'
n verance Of the hardy pioneers OF the west,
n who penetrate the wilderness with their
. families, suffer the dangers, the prIvaiIons
!. and hardships attending the settlement
!. Of n new country, and prepare the way
for the body of emigranls who in the
4 course Of few years, usually follow them,
!. that we are, in great degree, indebted
y LOT 'ie rap'u s"'."s'o' 1AN
d mem y ou. .pu''' .,.I ~. :. no,,on
rAPe'len1o nus p.o,sa 10 a, ~ han
;, OF our poPu.a.'u 49," ~ ~, ~ ~ fror,oy
J, 'he marry o "a 800 ~ ohov ,be ali Of heir
Z VI 'iio'o 80 A. ~ ca 10 r;ab,s and bo.
y country anu - ue'I -. ~" onenv ~.
y mr. m"e IT, a aha,,lJ ho nro,ec,ed from