The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-06

Grant, fair proportion Of lsodS q all qualities have
been sAnuAly entered leaving the relative proper
ton in each class OF lands subject to entry Moreover
time OF elapses and setlements increase and extend
lands comparatively poor and unfruitfui become more
valuable because Of increased facilities for market or
requisition the peculiar products Of those lands
For these beds Of sand and fields OF rock or
gravel In the vicinity Of growing towns or Villages
though unfit for cultivation actually valuable
to their account of the materials for building
and improvement obtained from them, than the most
these facts found in the state Of Ohio where the rich
est lands had all been taken ago. and yet IN pro-
portion to those remaining unsod the sales have been
heavier than in any other Of the land States
Indeed evidences might be produced to almost any
extent corroboratve OF this view showing rather
that generally speaking lapse of tune better reason
This, however, is not the only erroneous view that
seems to have been entertained on the subject OF the
public domain. 1t has been alleged on the one hand
that by IL injustice s done to the old States, while the
utmost berality 10 manifested towards the new; while
being the great iandhoder in the new States and its
lands not subject to TAXATION the sparse settlements
Of those States compelled to sustain the expenses OF
the that should be derived from taxing all the
lands These views both sides OF the question are
show.
The land system was originated by Jefferson, and
fashioned into form BY that great statesman, aided by
King, johnson, Stewart, Gardner, Henry Grayson Bail,
Houston and Monroe In the enactment OF the ordinance
had the benefit Of the wisdom and patriotism Of the
sages who, under Heaven founded free and happy
government The advancement Of the public interest
was then the only object sought The heavy debt Of the
Revolution pressing the young republic required qui-
daton and every means at the disposal Of the govern
ment vas carefully and judicaly applied to that OBJ
ject Among these the public lands were considered
permanent and prominent item. With the utmost care,
forecast and wisdom the land system was brought to
decisions till by the passage Of the act Of Gath April
1870, the cash substituted for the credit system.
THIS Is brief summary Of the inception and progress
Of our land system which has continued for
~ years unaffected by any radical change until the
passage Of this graduation act and which, in its past
iormity has commanded universal admiration A' w
Let US now see how this system has been administer
the public lands by the old and States respectively
excluding, of course, the lands on the Pacific.
The bounty lands for services in the revolutionary
the old States and say half Of those for services in
the Mexican war.
act Of 4th September 1884, the surplus revenue
Of course, chargeable to those States,
As the proceeds Of the public lands went into the
treasury, and were applied to aid in deraying the ex
penses Of the the necessity thus olivia
ted of increasing the tariff to that amount The tariff,
j. is admitted bears more equally on the entire Popula
ton of country than any other tax. The old States
originally and until within few years, were
vastly more populouss than the new, and this re-
pose them that for the entire period of the operation
Of the land system the average proportion OF the popu
laon of the old States that Of the new three
TO one On this basis the pie Of the old States would
have been benefited by Of the proceeds of
the public lands, and those Of the new States by one
fourth OF those proceeds.
To state the account then on the hypothesis the old
States chargeable with the amount Of lands given as
bounties in the revolutionary war and that OF 1917 in
Guiding that under the acts OF say sSS ~
One hall the act Of iis47, S477 $50 do sos7s5O 90
Amount actually paid 1.-THE old states) I'M 20
Three. iourths Of the proceeds Of the pub.
lie lands. o.
Making total Of. STAG 1876, 641 %
The benefit of which has flowed chiefly il not entirely,
to the people Of the old States This amount it will be
eight and quarter millions net receipts for imports at
the ports of Florida and louisiana which went into the
treasury and BY which the people OF the old States were
also proportiopaly benefited.
One Of the greatest benefits, however, to the old
States that which cannot be estimated by dollars
ambitious and enterprsns citizens q the former, and
the facilities furnished them by government OF obtaining
valuable farms at mere nominal They nave also
the supply being vastly increased thereby and the cost
proportionately reduced
States and Territory Minnesota for schools, academies
universities seats of government, public buildings and
ernal the swamp lands being left out
the account because by the terms Of that grant the
proceeds 10 be applied in draining those lands
Say............. "a, S91, 063 60acres,
One half the Boun-
is47 .......... CATFISH 90 /" ;. soe7, $50 90
Amount actually paid under act of $780,. 1874 80
One-iourth the proceeds. u ,Ioz u
Two, three and Ave per cent fund..... 4562,sls "a
Making total of................se4 a44 1887 II
The benefits of which have flowed to the States
This basis.
Thus it will be perceived that mutual benefits to an
immense extent, and in about equal proportion, have
flowed to both the old and States under this judi
cous system, and il either has spparen y the advan-
age, it is all within the one great family, and not
sufficient ground of controversy between sres and
sons
the actual settlement and improvement of the
public domain.
This may be done by such amendments to the pre-
empton laws as experiences may prove necessary for
the purpose, and by which he may secure his inn
provements in reasonable time without risk of COM
petition.
And second, to aid in providing the necessary fac
ties for INSTRUMENTATION and for the transp0rta
ton Of tie products Of the lands to market Although
the railroad excitement in many has been carried
to excess experience has proved that grants for such
purposes, when carried out in good faith, are alike
beneficial to the people, the States AID the general
To prevent more speculation, and secure equiva
lent to the for the lands granted for these
purposes, some notifications in the acts making them
proper for instance that no grant should be
made except the application of the Legislature of
that the lands should be taken in alternate
tons within certain distance each side OF the i'm
provement, the minimum price of the remaining
tons be doubled throughout the whole extent Of the
grant and the lands b certified to the States the
work progresses with provision Of forfeiture in case of
failure.
is impossible to portray the vast benefits already
derived by the West from this system. Immense re-
gions have been disposed Of that thought to be
wholly unsaleabe because OF the difficulty Of access
and the applications for these lands
that in some cases, for want Of time, they cannot
be acted for months after they are made. The
erpment has consequently been benefited as will be seen
in part from the following tables
Statement showing the quantity Of land sold, with
Of purchase money received for the same also
the quantity located within the six and fifteen mile limit
Of the Illinois Central Railroad from the date Of being
offered at public SALE commencing July 1852, to Goth
September 1854 within the state of Illinois, viz. =
Within six miles 424 acres, yielding 81 0I9 r.
or this amount 341 216 were located with war
rants In addition to these totals there excess
$3.50 U75 SO paid by parties who located with
rants odd amounts Of land which their warrants did
not cover.
Within the fifteen miles, $3.50 acres, yielding
SASS 3l7 81 OF this amount 1903 424 were To-
Gated with warrants, and on which excess Of $780,,
200 % paid in money by the parties
Acres sold within both limits. 1883 rs