Lewisburg chronicle, and West Branch farmer. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1850, 1850-03-20
Tha Pubic Lands.

Of land, il NAV SEEM use less to inquire ho'
fast il is settled for il sren,s inexhdustble
Bu, there is another and different aspect i
~hch to view this subject. Though Ian
T.. aIm,s. inexhaustibe. aCaiiGble. .e.
tile land is in every country settled and oc
cupied in q few generations. Ia this coun
try the standard Isnds use corn lands 70
iood and coal lands for minerals. Corr
lands are in grea, measure bottom lands
and therefore ou, small part OF The ~hols
OF the coal-ields in the United States there
IS as yet but smsli par, accessible to mar.
kets. |, follows, then, and VIZ know the
fact from actual observation, ,ka, The Jesl
lands in the whole United States are sold
and mostly occupied in single gene ration
10 consequence Of this it is that We fnd
improved farms ~ New.York and Pennsy l.
van;a sold, not unfrequen.ly, at one hund.
red dollars per acre. In another genera
ton the best lands Of Ohio will command
more than that price.
1t is Of importance 10 all men, who eth
er hold or expect to hold lands, to ascer-
ain, il possible, the progress Of actual set.
tIemcnt and cultivation. This problem seems
TO be difficult. but may he solved with q
sufficient accuracy to afford a verv clear
view Of The actual progress Of the Americ
an nation in the settlement, Of new lands.
|, is only necessary to know the proportion
of sgricu l,uris,s 10 The whole people, the
amount OF emigration, the Gales Of the pub
lie lands, and The annual increase OF the
inhabitants. All these We know, Tho pop.
ula,lon increases three and one third per
cent. each year. Taking the year ls4S as
the basis OF calculation, the white popuia-
ton was about eighteen millions. The in
crease in lS49. at three and one.third per
cent. was six hundred thousand. The 90
erage emigration for three or four years,
which is the true basis.) was about two
hundred and fifty thousand. The increase
Of population is thus made vp:-
Increase of native born ssoooo
Do foreign born $780, 900
The number OF persons employed in ag
riculture is seventy seven per cent or ,a-
her more than three four,hs OF the whole
people. OF the increase OF the two ele.
nen,s Of population stated above, the mum
yer of farming and planting people (at three
ourths OF the whole) stand thus -
American born 262.soo |
imigrants ISL aOo
or the fist class. 1852. .50O we may
afely assume tina, about one-half are pro.
ided for BY inher,ances, while the others
purchase new lands. The emigrants must
f course all purchase new lands. Or the
arms Of those who must. in their turn. .pur.
hase anew. The whole OF emig'ant far
ming people must be provided with lands.
he total number of person, 10 be provided
With lands on the basis OF the population Of
SfS is, then -
American born l3l,S50
migrants Is7o0o
Total ais75o
The provision ho~ever is 10 be made by
antilles, and not individuals and ths
roportion of heads Of families 10 tho whole
lumber Of persons is about one in six.
There are. therefore. on the above calcu
alton, ,filty-three thousand one hundred and
tracts of public land required
0 supply the actual demand Of farming
sople for land. The public land is now
old in tracts Of forty. eighty, one hundred
md sixty, three hundred and twenty, and
tx hundred and iorty acres each. |, is
veil known, however, that the emigrants
purchase IN niue cases out Of ten. very
mall tracts Of land. We assume eighty
cres for each family as the amount re-
|uired by actual settlers. This gives Us
or fifty three thousand one hundred and
twenty-five tracts, the aggregate Of fur
Millions Two hundred and fifty thousand
.cres Of land required in le4s for actual
,se and settlement. This is the theory. II
t be correct. it will not vary very largely
rom the sale Of public lsuds, when there
; no speculative fever to create a false de-
nand. lie, Us see how they correspond.
We find the entries Of public lands in lsls
o be ,hue:
Sold by the Government 1887 $50 acres |
Mexican War Warrants enter'd 2ss, $50
State selections under act Al 373O5S
Improvement Of rivers, etc. S2I.lsS
Choctsw Certificates 57240
Total acres entered 4,933,Oo9
Deduc,ing from this total the State and
Internal improvement, selections. we have
four milhoa two hundred and thirty three
seven hundred and sixty three
acres entered for use and seiileneni, al.
most The very sams amosnt, We had arrived
BY at the theory Of incssssisG popsla,ion