Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-05-20

i
right secured Congress in this BILL OF establishing iar
prices for carrying the mail the road, II secured 10
the roads carrying the mails, would save annuay
Of the post Office revenue, about $500 OOO-neary one
sixth oil the entire cost of transportation OF the mails IN
the United States and nearly fourth the amount re-
ceved from the sales Of the public lands Waat tnen
sir, will this right be WORTH when the roads now COM
menced, or in contemplation, are completed, ana TWO
thirds OF the mail transportation Is upon tnem Sr
would annually the Government nearly as muen
as we receive from the lands have no means Of estl
mating the annual saving the Government likely to
from the provision ia these bills that the troops,
munitions OF war; and army supplies oil the United states
shall be transported on the roads at the lowest rates
paid by individuals for like services; but will say tnat
ii the demands Of the railroad monopoes for this service
exorbtant and unconscionabe, as they are iSr
carrying the nails then this provision cannot but be val
liable, and in time Of war; for the speedy transportation
CT the army without extoron u would be OF the great
est importance.
In his report of last November, the Commissioner of
the General Land Office speaking Of the Western States
and the Territories, says:
"Iu those States and Territories there BOW remains
aggregate Of than fourteen hundred millions o:
OF nnsold land Astounding in all the varieties oil
mineral wealth, and fruitful in all the productions OF the
earth that minister to the happiness or comfort OF
man."
Fourteen hundred millions of acres So is it, sir,
that our minds fail 10 fully take in and comprehend its
Fruitful in all the productions of the earth,
that minister 20 the comfort happiness OF man.,
this vast portion Of the earth lies yet a wilderness
Holding these lands for the people, in what way shall
the Government dispose Of theml What, sir should be
its policy in reference this great territory Should
be liberal, encouraging its early settlement and the
speedy development Of its vast resources or, TO secure
three millions Of dollars annually to the public
Treasury should the lands be held on to with misers
grasp Sir, let them be settled improved, and cuitl-
vated and the settlers will pay into the Treasury In the
import upon foreign goods which they must con-
sumo, than annually realizing from the
sales Of the lands. And what market will New Eng
land be called upon supply from her shops and aco-
res and Pennsylvania from her furnaces, and the South
with the productions Of her soil And how will our
commerce be stimulatedour ships laden down with the
productions Of that country say to gentlemen Of
New England and the Atlantic States, that we all nave
an interest in this great enterprise.
But met with the sectional and seihsn reply,
that the advantages Of this liberal legislation cannot be
available to the people Of the East ask, why not
Why not the industrious and enerprsing young men
Of your States who have not means to secure home
stead where the land is high 60 the West and, at
the cheap rates which propose to themselves
freehold and the independent position Of Western far
mersf
1t is true, Mr.. Chairman-and freely admit t-that
this policy the Western States have the greater inter-
est BY bringing these wild lands into cultivation, and
snhectng them to State taxation, made the rich
err while you made the poorer. In this we take
ching from you but will bring our wealth up out oil
that earth which is idle and waste. We ask no I'M
equal end unjust protective law by which you shall he
taxed that We may become rich Mr.. Chairman, will
disguise the fact that upon this question feel and
speak Western man; and am bold to say that the
West may rightfuy claim that liberal, generous
To show sir, the profit made by the Government in the
sales Of the lands L. the people of the West will read
from the report Of the Commissioner Of the General Land
Office, of December 9, 1880. He says
"That by a careful examination il is ascertained that
the entire Of the public domain exclusive Of the
lands in Oregon, California, New Mexico, Utah, the
Indian andNebraska Territories, 424 $50 acres
About fourth Of this land has been sold and The pur
chase money received for it amounts To- 3l35 sa9 o92
The cost Of the whole Of these lands, including the
amount paid to France for Louisiana Spain for the
Fondas, and amount paid for extinguishing the Indian
A portion only Of these lands has been
veyed the cost Of which, including salaries
Of surveyors general, and clerks and ex.
pense attending.the survey. s...... sos, 83S
Less than half the land surveyed has been
sold, and the whole cost of selling and
managing the same, including every
Pense, not previously charged is........ 7,466,s24
Aggregate outlay OF every kind SD, es7 s79
Net profit to the Government $50 3Sl 2l3
This will be more fully appreciated when it is I'M
derstood that the average cost to the Government OF
acquiring teto the public lands, including the extn-
punishment Of the Indian title, IS. cents IA Al per acre.
Cost OF zuI per acre.
Cost of selling and managing. 532 per acre.
Total average COST. II, 80 pr acre.
While for each sold the Government gets 81 25
net profit, over and above every cost and expense,
81 OF l.5 per acre"
Yes, Mr. Chairman, the lands cost the Government
not twenty-five cents per acre. and she sells them for
81 25 The eighty costs her not quite SIT co.
and she sells it for $780, And for the quarter section
which costs her less than $50 90 she $780, making
profit OF Sl64 &c. every quarter section she sells TO
the farmers Of the West. This profit not being required
to meet connected with the lands in
TO the treasury and forms part OF the general revenue
Il is tax, sir to that amount upon the settlers oil the
West.
But, Mr. Chairman, let prosecute this Inquiry lit
tie further. When the Indian title is extngushed and
the surveys completed, what the lands that
situated lar out from the settlements Worth to the Gov
ernmenii What she get for themi Not anything.
SIR Not even the twenty-five cents per acre. But as
the advancing column Of emigration approach bearing
down the forests, opening farms, building up towns,
constructing roads, erecting school houses and churches
organizing society," and law and order these
lands brought into market, and rendered vau-
able and desirable, and then the Government may CON-
mand for them the 81 rs per from the hardy,
prlsng adventurous men, who lead the advanced ranks
OF civilization. Sir is the bold pioneers OF the West
that have given value to your lands And when they
their wish TO improve and cultivate portion thereof
their Government charges and taxes them with this very
value which they have given to il. To show the profit
which the General Government has made out oil the
sales of her lands the people, will refer the sales
that have been made 10 the State which have the hon.
or in part represent Aud frst, sir will say, that
have heard very much said since have taken my
this Hail. about the donations OF land that have been
made the State OF Indiana and other Western States
And these donations have been spoken OF they
mere benefactions from the hand Of the Government
Let US see how the account stands with Indiana.
The grants made 10 her for schools colleges, &C., for
roads, canals and other internal improvements for the
seat Of government and for swamp lands in the aggre
gate 400 acres which, at 81 % per acre.
would amount to 81 0s4 1925 But, sir for 67e9l7
or this, amounting at 81 % to S844 1885,
ed by the law providing for her admission into the Unon
Indiana surrendered the right of taxing the lands sold
the General Government for Ave years after the SALE
full consideration, and that grant no donation. This
caves the Government TO claim donation to the
on acres to ~