The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-26

that ander the present aspect of things all this idle
and prohtles< speculation.
II has become CUSTOMARY here and else here ts
that the public domain already dsspated and that we
can ~ future hope for nothing from this AS source OF
.exsnSs G .aat by our own acts the FOUNTAIN i 'sT up
assertions have been SO often and so confidently made'
that their nsence begins to be felt on our action here
Ia the report of the Secretary OF the Treasury presented
few days since il is asserted that over sixteen years
will be required absorb and satisfy the warrants yet TO
be issued as estimated under the several bounty land acts
now IN orce, aud that the sales OF land should not
hereafter be relied upon with any certainty TO any con-
siderable extent in estimating the receipts INTO he treas
ury" The honorable senator from Missouri Mr. BEN
TONI stated few days since in his place here, not only
that we could not rely upon this of income
Tor the future but that the cost OF administering the land
system would not be remunerated by the sales lhis
cost, IN his opinion to the amount OF some $7oO,0oo
annually, would be burden unremunerated by any cor
responding income upon the treasury.
Now have looked carefully over the statements pre-
sened by the Secretary OF the Treasury from which he
is led to the conclusion have stated.
Annexed TO his report il table exhibiting the esl
mated number Of acres granted by acts o. Congress
opinion will take the place OF sales for cash Tor the next
sixteen years.
The exhibit is as follows:
Acres.
Act of September 4, 1871 977,724
Mexican war bounties 6,O36,96O
Internal improvements 66,fS6
War of 1912 80 ,0S6
Bounties acl Of September IS, 1850 4sooo,ooo
hdlrOdu from CDCaSo 10 MODllc o'o~o,S~o
1879 ,5I3
1t will be seen at glance that the two principal
items in this table, which peculiarly distinguish IT. and
which swell the amount OF outstanding and INDICATED
grants beyond those of former periods, the bounties
under the of September last, and the grant OF swamp
lands to the States These amount TO a fraction less
than sixty millions OF acres, while the aggregate of
all the other items is only fraction over ten millions
The swamp lands ceded TO the States comprise only
such officially reported TO BE- overowed and unfit
for cultivation They ceded for the reason that
from their quality and location they could not command
a sale Gradual settlements around them, ditchng and
embankm and other OF reclamation, will gadu
ally bring many Of them into market at reduced prices
but absurd to suppose they are 10 be taken
instead of ands for FARMS and compete at
once with the government sales. On the contrary, a
large portion OF them will be fit for that purpose,
and the gradual absorption o those which will eventually
find purchasers will scarcely have aPpreclable nhu
ence. The remark will apply, to a considerable
extent to the 800 granted for The Chicago and
Mobile railroad
The bountes for soldiers under the act Of 2sth Septem
Der last estimated at $4,000 900 acres, deserves more
extended consideration.
From examination OF documents, and information oh
tanned at the Adlutant Generals Office principally, and
from the Pension Office, have prepared table, which
quantity OF land which will be required 10 fulfil the
terms OF the law, and how greatly, in my opinion, that
quantity has been over.estmated