Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-12-10


hundred and twenty seven Thousand
iou, hundred and fiiy.seycr acres. To-
tai amount Of lands disposed Of within
the fiscal year, twenty-five million three
hundred aud inuy.six thousand nine
hundred aud ninety Two acres which
is an increase in quantity sold, and lnca,
ted under land warrants and giants, III
twelve million two hundred and thirty
one Thousand eight hundred and 'isn'
teen acres over the fiscal year immeJ''
a'ely preceding.
The quantity Of land sold during tho
second and third quarters Of tho year
1852, was three hundred and ,hiriy.tour
four hundred and tifty."ne a.
crcs The amount received therefor.
was six hundred and eighty.aerrn dol.
lars. The quantity sold the SECOND md
third quarters Of the year 1868, WAS one
million six hundred and nine thousand
nine hunered and nineteen ncresi and
the amount received therefor, two mill.
ion two hundred and twen.y.six thou
send eight hundred aud seren'y-si% DOL
lars.
The whole number Of land warrants
issued under existing laws, prior to tho
3Vth of September last, wos two hun
bred aud sixty.six thousand and forty
Two; of which there wero outstanding,
al that date. sixty.six thousand nine
hundred aud !1rry.3eYen, The quantity
of land required 10 satisfy these ouistan'
ding warrants, is four million Seven hHn'
bred and seveuly.eight thousand one
hundred and twenty acres.
Warrants kuve been issued TO 3oth
Of September last, under the act Of llIh
of February, 1917. calling for twelve
million cigh, hundred aud seventy'nlne
two hundred and slightly acres;
under acts of September 20, 1850, and
March %, 1852, calling for Twelve mill.
ion five hundred and five thousand three
hundred and sixty acres; making to.
tai Of twenty-five million three hundred
and eighty-f0ur thousand SIX hundred
aud forty acres.
1t is believed that experience has yer
fled the wisdom and justice ofrhe pres
ent system, with regard to the public
domain, in most essential particulars.
You will perceive, from the report of
the Secretary Of the Interior, that opln.
ions, which have often been expressed
in relation to the the operations Of the
land system, as not being source OF
revenue to The federal treasury, were cr-
roneous. Tho net profits from tho sale
of the public lands to June 80, 1853 u
to the sum Of titty.three mill.
ion two hundred and eighty-uino thou
sand four hundred aud si%,y.iiyc dollars.
I recommend tho extension Of the
land system over the Territories OF Utah
and New Mexicn, with such modiiica-
tions as their peculiarities my require
Regarding ourpubl;e domain as chief
ly valuable to provide homes for the in.
dustrious and entcrprising. ! am not
prepared TO recommend any essential
change in the land system, except by
notifications in favor Of the actual set.
tier, and an extension Of the pre.emp-
ton principle in certain cuses, fur rea'
sons, and on grounds, which will be full.
ly Developed in the reports to be Ibid
before YOU.
Congress, representing tho propIio'
tors of the territorial doarain, and char
ged especially with power 10 dispose Of
belonging to'hc United States,
has, for long course of years, begin.
ming with ,headministration of Mr.. JEFF
crson, exercised the power to construct
roads within the territories and there
are SO many aud obvious distinctions be.
tween this exercise of power and that
Of making roads within the States. that
the former has never been considered
subject to such objections as apply TO
the latter, and such may now be con.
siCered the settled construction of the
power Of the federal government upon
the subject.
Numerous applications havo been,
and no doub, will continue To be, made
for grants of lands, in aid of the con.
struction ofrailwsys. 1t is not believed
to be within the intent and meaning Of
the constitution, that the power to dis.
pose of the public domain, Ohnuld be
used otherwise than might he expected
from prudent proprietor, and, there
fore, tina, grants Of land to aid in the
construction of roads should be restrict
ed to cases, where it would be tor the
interest of a proprietor, under like cir
cumstances, thus to contribute to the
construction of these works,
For the practical operation Of such
grants thus for, in advancing the inter.
es,s of the s,atcs in which the works
are located, and q. the same limo the
substantial interests of all the other
States, by enhancipahho value and pro-
noting the rapid eBesof the public do
min. | refer you to the report Of the
Secretary of the Interior. A careful
examination, however, will show tina,
this experience is the result Of just
discrimination, and will be far from al:
lnrdiug encouragement 10 reckless or
indiscriminate extension of the p'inci'