Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-28
THE PUBLIC LANDS.


Extract from the Report Of Mr. NcCzel1snd, Score
tary Of the Interior.
The land system is founded in correct principles,
and needs but little modification change. The
presumption feature might possibly be advantageous
y enlarged and more liberal. Sound policy requires
that every encouragement should De heo out Ior ac
S tual settlement and cultivation.
= Nothing rctards the growth and prosperity OF the
country more nor inflicts greater injury upon the
resident than the possession, by individuals or COM
panies of extensive unculVated tracts of the public
lands To correct this evil, facilities should be lib
erally extended to the actual settler and withheld
from the mere spccuator.
During the last fiscal year 9,819,411 acres have
been surveyed, and 10,363,891 acres brought into
market. In the same period there were
Sold ,083, 405
Located with military bounty land war
Iocatedwi other certificates. ....., 9,42I
Selected for the States, swamp lands 10 6S4 255
Donated for railroads. &c. 1880. ~ '+o'
Maxine tot,, of $40, 992
Showing an increase in quantity sold and located with
land warrants and under grants, of Il PSI SIS acres
over the previous fiscal year.
third quarters of 1852, was 1874 451 acres; amount
received therefor, 1928, 687 so.
Quantity sold second and third quarters OF 1858,
600 919 acres amount received therefor s., 226,-
S76 &c.
The whole number of land warrants issued, under
existing laws, up to the 30th September last, was
266 OBJ of which there were then outstanding o.
947 The quantity of land required to satisfy the
latter is 4 us 40 acres.
= Warrants have been issued to the SOth September
last, under the act of 18th February, 1917, calling
for. ..... ..1z,oi 9,zoo acres'
Under the acts of September %,
1850, and March D, 1852, for. 12,5O5,36O .,
Making a total of 800. .25, $751; GAO
There have been issued, under the act of 31st
August 1852 for the satisfaction of Virginia land
warrants 657 pieces of land scrip, embracing 229,-
500 acres 1t is supposed the scrip yet to be Issued
under this act will require 1000 acres.
It may be several years before the land warrants
and scrip will be exhausted, and until then the a.
mount of land sold for cash will be comparatively
small.
The entire area of the public domain is estimated
at about 1874 100000 acres. That within the
States Exclusive of California; is A 1872 439
Its purchase effected at the rate
of 1441 cents per acre, amounting
To this should be added the Indian
reservations which enter into tho
original cost, amounting to {, 4O0,-
725 acres, which, valued at 81 %
per acre, would make .... 4,25o,9o6
Up to the S0th June, 1853, 334, 1885,
SO acres had been sold at an eN-
pcnse of 2.07 cents per acre. max
ing. ..........,.... 6,919,110
And 184, 66T, 135 acres sold at an adj
dtional expense for selling, at
$50 cents per acre, making -. 1924
The entire cost Gncluding survey and
sellng) being ..........:... es,994,o1S
The whole amount ACQUIRING from sales
up to 3oth June, 1863 was. 142, 2S3, 478
Being $50, 2S9 4G5 than the cost of the whole,
thus far, inclusive of survey and SALE
OF the surveyed lands there have been granted
For educational purposes. II, ,g73 acres
For military lbountcs. ........... "a, S41 $50 "
And for internal improvements. . 166O7013 d"
Making ......5 2,64s, 966 "
There yet remain of the surveyed
lands sc, $40, 700 acres worth (aftcr
deducting the cost of selling yet to be
borne)... observation-disclosures. s11eo1s,641
And 49,, $50, G29 acres worth CATER
deducting the expense ofsurveying
and selling) ................... 16l,873, 263
Making. neutrality-suspicious.. 1881, 9O4
To which add the netprofits received
for land actually sold ..... 53,2s9, 465
And we find that while the purchase
survey, and sale of the p1blicl lands
will, in the end, have cost SS9, 1884,
O13 the net amount which will
have been realized therefor is the
enormous of...... 831, Isl, 1863
1t Is thus shown that the general government in
stead of being loser, many have supposed, by
its connexon with the public lands has found them
not only source of revenue, but ready means of
promoting the of general education and of be-
slowing wcll-earned rewards for military service.
In the Territories and new States where many of
the public lands remain for long period UNFOLD
liberal grants should be made for those great high
ways which, to a certain extent may be considered