The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-07
The Public Lands.
WASHINGTON, May4. 1872
To JANIS GORDON BENNETT,
Pronriaior and Editor Of the u.rald.--

To JAMES GORDON BENNETT,
Proprietor and Editor Of the Herald
srR-Boing friend to your paper, and constant
subscriber for two copies Of your daily, think,
rants mo in calling your attention to some recent
statements Of yours respecting the Western and
Southwestern States, in which the public lands are
situated. You have, very Unexpectedly to your nu-
merous friends and patrons in the West and South.
west, takcna very active part in the formation OF
that public sentiment in the East-a mistaken ono
] humbly concevc--whch is destined to defeat all
our long cherished hopes Of aid from the general
government, in the way Of land grants for the
struction ofrairoads in contemplation under way.
OF this, not doubling tho sincerity Of the hostile
views to which you have time and again given ut
terance in your able editorial articles, do not
complain, however much we may and do regret your
course on this question. But have a right to
claim justice and common fairness. from you, and
for the purpose Of obtaining that ut least, | take
leave most respectfully to call your attention to the
extract which | quote below, from your leading
editorial article in your paper Of the Both umo. 1t
is in these words
During the present session. Congress has perfect
y bcseged with petitions asking for donations lands
to aid in the construction Of railroads and in accordance
with the desires of the applicants thousands upon thou
sands of acres have been given to them.
Now you arc correct rs to the presentation OF a
large number Of petitions praying for lands for tho
purpose mcntioncd but you are wholly incorrect in
your statement that " thousands upon thousands Of
acres have been given them" Not one acre has
boon given, granted, or otherwise conveyed to any
OF the new States for railroads canals, river i'm
provements, Of any sort kind during tho present
session of Congress- and Western and re-
preventative. judging from the btterhostility which
has been manifested by the Eastern members in the
House Of Representatives have to say, with the
deepest regret and disappointment, that | have
scarcely hope hat any Of railroad bills for any
new State, will DO passed at this any future ses
sion Of Congress. until get the balance of poiti-
cal power West of the mountains
Except for one road--thc Chicago and Mobile, so
called-Congress hns never appropriated Of
land for railroads in any of the new States. Mis-
souri,, one of the Oldest of tho public land States,
and having seventeen millions of acres of unsod
public domain within her borders, has never received
agrantfo road, river canal, any other grants
than such were made to all ut the time of their
admission
The conditions of the proposed grants to the new
States are most onerous. Tho government reserves
much land as it grants, and for that thus reserved
demands as its minimum ~ so per acrc-double
price, which our citizens have to pay. We would
make something out of the grants-the government
would loose nothing by making them.
Most respectfully, your obcd't servt,
Iowa.