Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-07-02
U. 8. House of representatives.
Thursday, June 4, lS46
MINERAL LANDS.

Mr. Dodge, who said he had lew facts
which he wished TO submit to the House
before the vote was taken. He felt a
deep interest in the passage of the bill for
the sale Of the mineral lands so called
1t was a measure for the passage of which
large portion of those whom he repre-
scented had been anxiously looking for
the last six or eight years. He would
appeal to members. and ask them if, in
disposing Of the public lands. they would
discriminate between the States and Ter
ri,ories! If they adopted the amendment
of the gentleman from New York. Mr.
Rathb,m,) which provided minimum OF
FIVE dollars, they would do so.
The mines of Missouri had been work
ed since 1923. having been opened at
that time, as was stated by the gentleman
from Illinois. (Mr McClernand.) by Re
| naut for the Royal India Company
! They became ours by the acquisition OF
| Louisiana in 1909. from which time up
to 1929, covering space of twenty six
years. this same penny wise and pound
foolish policy of leasing them was OBJ
served. During seventeen years of Ter
ritorial dependence, and nine of State
sovereignty, and against the solemn and
urgent appeals of her representatives,. and
in utter disregard of the interests OF her
people, the government of the. United
States continued to withhold the Missouri
mines from sale, under the ridiculous and
absurd idea of obtaining an increased
price for the lands containing those mines.
And what was the result when, in 1880
and 1896, these lands we're offered for
sale under proclamation OF President
Jackson! Mr. d. held in his hand let
ter from the commissioner which furnish
ed the answer There were 592,726 50.
100 acres of land offered at the land
offices at st. Louis and Jackson. offered
at public sale or cutlery after having been
advertised for six months, as well In the
Atlantic city papers as in those OF the
western country, and less than 5000
acres were sold, bringing but little up
wards of nine thousand dollars. and aver
aging just 81 3s4 per acre. But gentle
men might think that perhaps the people
Of that State had combined to prevent
bidding at those sales. Such was not the
fact, and he would prove it. II comblna
lions are ever formed to prevent bidding
on or buying the public lands, those com
bina,ions, from the nature of things coull
only exist during the public sales. And
in The case OF the Missouri mines, he bat
gone to the trouble of getting sta,emen
: from the General Land Office, which
shows that in the whole of the year sub
sequent to the public sales, there were
entered at private entry but 1921 w
100 acres at s 25 per acre. This state
ment demonstrates the fact that me va'u
placed upon mineral lands is entirel,
incorrect, that they are by no means
valuable as agricultural lands. Ccnlras
this offer TO sell more than hall million
acres of mineral lands, which had bee
reserved and worked by our governmen
for upwards of quarter of century :
and for about century before by tn
French and Spanish governments. with
O. sale that had taken place in the Plat
district. so called in the same State. l
this latter district there had never been
mound of mineral discovered-and "
r from a statement which hold in my han
from The General Land Office, it is show
, that within one year after the lands wei
proclaimed TO be sold, 407,576 06 10
acres were bought, bringing into Il
treasury upwards OF half million OF do
lars. These statements were official, ar
. their truth beyond question. But gent
men may think that the mines OF illlno'
!: Wisconsin, and Iowa are more valuab
than those Of Missouri were. Such w
no. the fact. He spoke of the mine
and would give some of the reasons up'
which he based his assertion. The MI
H souri, mines are 500 miles nearer to ma
Ike, than those Of Iowa, Wisconsin al
. Illinois. The cost OF transportation W
Ms therefore much greater from the iat'
than the former. This cost was great
enhanced, because of the obsTuc!lo
E which the ..rapids' interpose to the ma
iga,ion of the Upper Mississippi; and
the shorter period Of navigation. by reas
- of the low water in The summer. and t
closing of the river by ice in the wint
I. reducing the whole duration of sale amt
navigation over the rapids to about s
md months. In Missouri, timber an essenl
Ingredient in The manufacture OF lead. "
much more abundant, the climate mild
- and navigation unobsruc'ed during
greater part Of the season. Advantage
,U which all who know anything OF
working Of mines, cannot but see
very great.
The government. Of the United Stat
(said Mr. d. according TO the oilic
on statement from the Commissioner of
,' =, General Land Office, have reserved a
withheld from sale, in the State of Hin
o on account of its supposed lead mine
- character. 242,409 acres of land; III W
consin, 242, $50 acres; and IN Iowa. %
les. 1876 acres; making in the total no, 4
ent acres: an area. in superficial extent. gre
err than that embraced by the State
- Rhode Island, by 2,4l5 acres; 81
having two representatives on this flo
and two in the other wing of this Capt.
Put And upon this vast extent OF eoun
there are estimated TO be at this Il
. thirty or forty thousand inhabitants,
voiing nopulation of ten or twelve til