The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-25
Truth VinsIIcatet.

To The Editor of the Union!
In the Union of the 10th Instant writer over the sig
nature of "T," in article headed Error Corrected -
nmates that the late Commissioner OF the General Land
Office, in his annual report induced an erroneous i'm
presson to the cost TO the government OF snperntend
ing the lead mines of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, and
the amount of derived from them; and that the
acting commissioner in his annual report reitentes this
error.
ing commissioner requires that this inmaon should be
refuted; and the means Of doing SO are most ample
In that part the annual report Of the late commissioner
which relates to the reservation and leasing OF the nine
raj lands he states that upwards OF 100000 acres en-
bracng some of the richest agricultural lands of the
northwest had been reserved from sale as mineral land
that these lands, at the minimum price would have yield
ed and that the interest on this sum- at SIX per
cent, would have been $4,000 per annum If "I"
doubts the correctness OF the number OF acres reserved
the fact will readily appear by reference to the records OF
the General Land Office. The conclusion follows from
this as matter of course Here, them the interest for one
year the purchase money which these lands would have
Produced would have almost equalled the whole OF the
revenue which has accrued to the government from
the entire leasing system, embracing Missouri for the
last quarter of century, according to Ts own state
ment. j,
The late commissioner then proceeds to show from the
report of the Secretary of War OF the 10th February,
ls43 that in the years ls4l and only 1924 pounds
of lead had been received by the United States, worth
about $l 600. The value fixed on this metal by IT. is
greater than that given by the missioner and would
make it worth $2oeT 90, after deductng the cost OF
retary of War shows, that during those years. the gov
enment paid to the superintendent agent and clerk
Moved in this business that region 700 per annum
in cash besides the amount paid to others, from time to
time as therein stated, &c. making $5,f0O paid by the
government in those two years for $2067 30 worth OF
lead being loss in cash. in the salaries OF those officers
alone for two years, of 3,332 10. III 81" or anybody
ese doubts the correctness of this statement the doubts
will be removed by reference to document No. 1853, vol
s. Elk Doc, Sd sess., 27th Congress-
The late commissioner then proceeds to show that,
from statement of the War Department then before him,
being letter from the Ordnance Office OF the 18th Oeto-
her ISIS, to the Secretary OF War; it appeared that the
government had expended on account OF the mineral
lands including officers, agents, laborers, &c. for the
wears 1913 and 1914, the sum OF $20,729 H. while the
rent received for the same period only amounted to 242
sia pounds of Ieadestmaied by the late commissioner
to be worth 81 $50 IS at Gaena making the actual loss
in cash to the government &i5s72 81. Assuming the
price fixed by.T" il would be worth however &c 6ol 81,
and the loss to the government consequently would De
xI4l27 "A, or $7 ,O63 re per annun.
IL was from these startling facts, thus shown by Official
documents from the Ordnance Office that the conclusions
of the late commissioner and acting commissioner were
drawn and when it thus apparent that the EVIL was
that the actual loss to the government ~ cash
,yas four times as great in 1874 it in 1911, no
other conclusion could nationally have been dedced from
the premises. a. ..ro,,,o.s 80 tho
ouoed by ssT from the report of the Ordnance
Rursau which no doubt exhibits the correct amount OF
rent lead and money, received from the mineral lands
and The EXPENSES usually charged against them, as de-
tled in the report of the Secretary OF War OF the 10th
February Isf3 IT Is suggested ta' II 10 tnose expense
States used in smelling the lead the pay OF officers and
xpepses at St Louis and IN this city, Tor at
tending TO the business, the court expenses Oh every
kind for the time occupied in the trials OF the suits orougn
against essees to recover rent lead, and the interest
sb;ch Inc purchase money of those lands would have
IN the United States the balance would have been
sv greater than that shown by 1T = but TO the debit
instead Of the credit side OF the leasing system j.