Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-02-17
? @ L [ I [ C A l..
Public Lands.


aud statements are, as he says, important t
a thorough understanding Of the subject, anC
viii commend themselves to the approval o
every man who desires to see our public
lands managed in such manner as to con
duce to the permanent prosperity of the
State.
To The Senate and House Of Representatives.;
Il has been the misfortune of our STATE,
fIem The earliest period of its history, 10
have been largely covered and overlapped
with conflicting proprietary claims. A re-
currence TO historical records will show how
disastrous have been the results to our peace
and prosperity-both under our colonial con-
dilion and while we were part of Massa-
chusets. The evils arising from this source
hdd been measurably corrected BY a wise and
liberal course Of legislation prior to the sep
aratIon of the two States. Proprietary
claims had become exhausted, or their op.
pressve influence overruled-lhe rights oi
settlers were respec;ed-agriculture was fos-
tered, aud we were advancing apace in the
sure elements of prosperity. This State was
at this time becoming point OF attraction
for agricultural emigTants. AT the period OF
the separation there remained within the
limits of the Stale a public domain, un-
touched by any previous grants or claims,
which was assigned by constitutional COM
pact in joint and equal ownership to Msssa-
chusetts and Maine. Ii embraced about one
fourth of our whole territory-was in its ma
tive forest growth, and mostly unexplored by
the foot of civilized man. It's chief value
was then supposed to consist in the induce
..l Ill RL e.. 4
we're managed ia common, and the policy
Of The Two States, as had been that of Mas
sachusettS previous to the separation, was
literally directed 10 promote settlements and
cherish the agricultural interest With a
fresh recollection of the evils (scarcely then
ended,) inflicted by large proprietary grants,
the States seem, for several years, TO have
res0rted 10 the practice OF selling only in
smaH tracts to actual settlers: adopting in
this respect that policy of our general gov
ernment which has been SO fruitful ia bene-
fetal results to the Western States.
Soon, however, il was discovered, that
there was value TO a vast amount in the tim
tser Of this region, which could be made more
Immediately available TO the treasury and
change of policy ia relation to The manage-
meut of the public lauGs eusued. The set
Ting and agricultural interest was thrown
5nto the shade, by the desire of realizing The
greatest amount OF ready money. The re-
suit is that large tracts of these lands, and
they OF the most valuable description for
farms, have been despoiAed of their timber,
90 an extent that wili, IN many Instances de-
f,rive the settler OF the supplies actually nee
essary for his establishment, but TO still
greater extent, will impair the value of The
immense water power, with which this whole
region abounds, in its application TO manu-
factories in wood, so necessary 10 the re-
sources and well being OF an lncIpient com
muniIy, so inviting TO enterprise.
Nor is this the worst feature OF the case.
About one-third Of our whole pubic domain
has by this policy gone into the hands of
Spectators in large tracts, thus revIvlng the
proprietary system ia a more odious form;
tor, in its origin, this system, however II
might conduce 10 the elevation OF the midi
vdual, was, at least, intended TO encourage
settlements. The object of these men is 10
realize the greatest possible amount from the
timber without regard TO other cOnsIdera-
<iOnS: and their interest, as shown IN prac-
lice, is to discourage and even forbid farm
ing operations. Stumpage is carried TO the
highest possible rate, consistent with such
object, and the wages of the labOrer reduced
10 The lowest practicable PItance. Capital
or credit controls him that tolls AMI imposes
its own condili9n-the right of all 10 partici-
pate ia the Tree gifts of the soil is monopo-
Iized by the few-tlse humble but enterpris-
ing are disheartened, and men OF this class
are fast leaving US for regions where greater
inducements are presented. lnjusIlfcaliOn
of such management as a State policy, (fOr
avarice is sufficient motive with IndlvIdu-
aIs) a grand distinction has been pretended
between agricultural and timber lands
These TWO have been represented as being
entirely distinct and remote from each other,
the latter as comprising by the greater por-
ton, and being In present and all iuture time
utterly worthless for agricultural purposes.
A most palpable misrepresentation =
Like the rest of our State these two descrip-
tions of land are SO intermIngled and ar
ranged as to render their interest ene and
inseparabIe. They should have been man.
aged accordingly. The indeleasible right OF
this State 10 have her population and wealth
promoted in the disposition of these lands,
has been seriously embarrassed. The lesser,
but more immediate interest, has been pre-
ferred 10 the greater and permanent interest.
How far Massachusetts is amenable to US for
the injury thus inflicted upon US 10 her bene-
fit, is for you and her to decide. Maine has
Joined her in these whole transactions, has
been inconsideratelY enticed or rather urged
into them from being connected in joint
tenancy.
That Massachusetts has realized an
amount she could not have received consis-
tently with the rights and duties of joint and
equal owners, is undenable. The gross
proceeds of sales have been equally divided
between the States, while the net gains to
each must have been widely different. The
expenses of labor and care in protecting
these lands, of roads and bridges and other
improvements-of everything calculated 10
increase their value or 10 facilitate operations
upon them, should also have been equally
borne.
The following statements will show how
this is: Massachusetts has received in cash
from the lands here from 1920 10 1850 e.
O75.88O O4-in good securities 1896 CSC IS
besides large grants of lands for her own
public uses, approaching in value to one mil
lion more--making sum total up to The
pre- sent time realized by her OF $2,4ll ,5l6 SO
apart from grants.
She has paid out during the same period,
for roads and bridges, for all improvements
of the nforenamed description, $7O,676 "a.
From 1891 TO the present time, Massa-
chusetIs has received IN cash $l,927,7l9 81
In securities the whole of the above men,
toned amount, 1895 .636 55,l as is sup
nosed, and has been paid for improvements
$69,939 40.
Assuming that the receipts OF Maine have
been the same, and they cannot have beea
greater, my present object will be answered
Nv stating, that Maine has paid out for i'm