The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-12

tied after them and have enjoyed the advantages won ~
their toll The chief object OF the law was. doubt,
prevent settlements Indian lands such restriction
should be retained in justice TO the Indians and pre-
vent the collisions which might otherwise sris~. bua
when the lands have been acquired from the Indians.
citizens should be free to settle any part OF them and
their improvements should be protected and secured b.
general concession TO them OF the peempon privilege
\ The nvidious distinction created By the act of ifh Ssv-
embe 1871, against those who settled prior the frs
of june 1870 should be abolished SO far as il respects
land reserved at the latter date but which has be-
come subject 10 the pre- empon privilege and like hen~
hts conferred on ALL without regard the date OF sete
ment-
In fact the presumption principle should be Invested Of
every unnecessary restriction and extend 10 all who may
desire land Tor actual settlement and cultivation, fos
the necessary extension Of their farms plantations
nI navy years as he, Of the &
price liked BY law and pre-emptors required 10
pay that price, It is manifest that pecuna loss san
grow out OF such arrangements WHILE the other hn48
the gain from it of Industrious and Independent yeo-
manry having direct and personal interest in the soil
they cultivate OF ncacuabe benefit, and constitutes
IN fact the true wealth of the country Ii, indeed, there
be any one portion of our citizens Justly entitled TO
the fostering care OF government than another is
tanly those hardy pioneers whose energy and enterprise
are rapidly extending the bounds of civilization reclaim
ing the vast forests OF the western world and converting
them into abodes OF domestic happiness and personal in
dependence.
The expedicncy and poprety of gradual reduction OF
the price OF the public lands it is believed is generally
admitted. TO require from purchasers of waste and
fuse lands the price charged for those OF the best quality
Is maniiesy unjust and impotic 1t is, moreover ncon
sisen with all ideas of commercial policy and
II perseyeTed IN may iasten on the government the
pense OF the present land system for ages The
OF making this reduction is subject which has attracted
much attention, and which there some difference of
opinion. That all the public lands should be arranged
in several classes is obvious and that the value of those
in each class should be determined by the period of time
they have been IN market is concusvcy shown by the
clear and focbe remarks that subject in the last an
nlal report from this office II is but natural indeed,
that the first settlers should select the best lands and
those settlements extend lands less value brought
already made or for cultivation by subsequent settlers
and thus it clear that the least valuable lands are al
ways left the longest in market To establish the sys
TEN Of gradual reduction on this basis it is suggested
that all the public lands which have been in market not
exceeding five years, be subject to entry at dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre those which have been in
market five years and upwards shall be subject TO entry
for one year at dollar per after which, those
that have been in market years and upwards shall be
subject to entry Tor year at seventy cents per
On the expiration OF those two years. those which shall
have been in market fifteen years and upwards shall be
which then remain unsod having been in market TWEEN
ty years and upwards, shall be subject to entry for one
year at twenty five cents per and those then remain
ing unsold and which have been in market twenty-five
years and upwards shall be coded to the several States
in which they lie, for such disposition the legislatures
Of those States may determine on After the lands have
thus gone through the various gradatons of price, all of
than then in market which may thereafter be offered
at public SALE shall be subject to entry for five years.
after having been offered dollar and twenty five
cents per acre. those which remain unsold after having
been thus subject to entry for that period, that mini
mum, shall be subject to entry the succeeding five years
at one dollar per those which remain unsod after
the second period OF five years shall be subject to entry
hye years at seventy cents per acre. those which
main unsod after that third PERIOD shall be subject to
entry five years at nifty cents per those which
main unsod after the fourth period shall be subject 10
entry for five years at twenty-five cents per and
those which unsod after the fifth period, shall be
coded to the States in which they le BY this classified
ton and graduation all the public lands Of any value will
yield to the government fair equivalent and the refuse
falling TO the sates will probably be reclaimed and i'm
proved and thus add materially the general healthness
Of the country, and the prosperity Of the several States
Should it be the pleasure OF Congress, at any future
Gated in detail in the foregoing, in relation the gradua
ton of the price Of the public lands and the extension
Of the redemption privilege all settlers unsuveyed
lands of which the Indian title shall have exngushed
it is believed that very little on the subject will remain to
be accomplished BY future legislation.
The internal business OF this office has been satisfac
orily progressing and rapidly consistent with
its complicated duties and multiplied details.
The business proper of the Recorders Office, in the
preparations recording, and transmission of patents, and
other duties pertaining to that branch has been carefully
and diligently attended to, and efforts have been made
with view to general emanation of such instruments
Of title at early period possible after the official
rendition of sales
In Mississippi large bodies of lands have been long
withdrawn from market awaiting final determination
to all the tracts that would be required to satisfy
ervations under the Choctaw treaty of 1880:
during the ,h present YEAR such return has been OBJ
to despatch to the various local officers in the cession
lists of the particular tracts which would be wanted for
Indian reservations and to release the residue of the lands
which had been held in suspense.
Under the act Of Congress approved the 18th OF june
1914, opening the courts for the adjudication of private
land claims several States by revival and extern
sion of the act of the 26th of May, 1924 considerable
number of claims, of immense magnitude, has
been filed for adjudication They specially brought
to the attention OF this office by reference, with the
transcript petitions, from the Solicitor of the Treasury.
The examination of those cases, the tracing OF them,
in connection with the voumnous reports of the various
boards of commissioners, the preparation of the
~ exemphcatOns from the records, and of the official
reports TO the Solicitor the various Claims occupied
much time, care and attention, and involved great
amount of labor They have ALL however, been reported
on by this Office and docket is cleared, far the
action OF this office has been required in the premises
The surveying business has been carefully managed
securing far practicable, correct surveys, prompt
returns with faithful and economical disbursement of
public moneys; and large number of presumption
referred TO this office for instruction decson which
required supervision and examination have been attend
ed TO with fidelity and promptly settled.
The registering of the various returns of sales has
steadily progressed the quarterly accounts OF the different
of public moneys have been adjusted generally
up the close of the second quarter of the present year
and, addition to the ordinary duties under this head,
complete sets of books have been opened for the
land Office in Iowa. and for portions of different land dis
trics in Indiana which found necessary conse
quence OF legislation had during the last session of Con-
gress.
The miscellaneous business of the Office involving
very heavy correspondence and many perpexing Details
has received its share of attention. and been promptly de-
spatcbed.
In view of the new Territories, now rising in inpor
lance in growing country, IT becomes my duty TO
ommeni the extension them OF our admirable land
system for the present Nebraska could be attached TO the
surveying district Of Missouri or Arkansas.