Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-15
.GIVE US LIGHT"

"GIvE US LIGHT"
The Times, in its discussion of the land ques-
ton. has been influenced by no other motive than
n desire to arrive at correct Interpretation OF
the orders of the Land Commissioner, relative u
The rights of those men who have expended nun
dreds of dollars in improving and cuitiVatins the
land, now living on the line of the contem-
Mated railroad. knowing, we do, that these |
lands are the most beautiful in our territory, and
that if spectators in Wall street could get hold
of them they would exclude the honest settler and
pocket millions of dollars from the sale there
from, we have been exceedingly anxious that ali
legal technicalities appertanng TO these iahos
should be made public, so that those persons inter-
ested could govern themselves accordingly
Those who have read our articles will bear Us
witness that such has been our aim, but IN con-
sequence of mystifyiny disposition on tho part
of those Interested we have been unable to ar
rive at anything conclusive until the appearance
eff Mr.. Wilson's letter, and even now we are IN
clined to believe that a different Interpretation
will be put upon that letter when the time arrives,
and these are our reasons:
|. When Ny. Wilson's first letter appeared no
body dreamed that further settlements could be
made on the lands withheld for railroad purpo-
ses. the term ':yalid pre-emption' evidently
n,eaning those on the lands previous to their
withdrawal Such was the understanding of the
Minnesotian-such was the understanding, If we
mistake not, of Mr.. Olds, Of the Minneapolis
Land Ofice-such was the understanding of the
community generally, and such is our understand
ing now.
,. We cannot see the propriety of withholding
lands for railroad purposes and at the same time
allowing settlers to go on those lands and take
them all up, when it is well known that thousands
will flock to this point in view of the fact that the
land there will be worth much more than in any
portion of the territory. The plea that the OBJ
ect is to shut out Spectators is very good one,
and if there is any sincerity in it, we are glad
of it.
These are our reasons for believing that diff
ferent construction will yet be put upon Mr.. Will
sons letter: still, if such construction is
made, then we are heartily glad that tho Land
Commits ncr has been considcrate to those who,
above all other men, should be protected from the
graspng hands of railroad spectators and land
sharks. Such course meets with our decided
arprobation and it is the very course we have adj
yocatcd from the commencement OF the discussion,
seeking to throw the lands out of the hands of
Il railroad monopolv-om of the hands of spec
ulators into the hands of honest, worthy men,
The question, then, being decided by the Mime
sotian, that persons can 90 on these lands and
scttlc-caa prove up their pree mpticn right here
after, we hope hundreds, thousands will settle on
the lands, although by this course it seems to us
it would defeat tie rery object Of the Gorern-
meat IN trittdrGring The lands, these lands Were
10 be reserred for railroad purposes, and if they
ran all be settled before the line Of the road is
Surveyed. let us aSl; cilere is the reserratoin 3
Bat conccding the ground that Mr.. Wilson is
right, we sincerely hope that the information will
hes!resd far andnear; that orr citizens will inform
their friends east of the magnificent land lying on
the line Of this road, and OF the chances now
offered of procuring farm which in q very short
time Will double in value. Let them come by
hundreds, by thousands: let all this land be ia
ken up by actual settlers, and Minnesota will 60
forward with rapidty unparalleled in the histo-
~ Of the Northwest. These lands all under cul-
tvation would at once give St. Paul an excellent
market, and the fact that the actual settler
on the line Of the road could sell his land for
our times what he gave for it, should be a sufi-
cient inducement to bring thousands and thou
sands of persons to our territory. Let us not be
mistaken. According to the Interpretation of the
Mimi esotan-pcrsons now living on TIE land and
who can prove up valid presumption, can re-
main there; persons who can prove up pre-
emption right can remain there and per-
who go on the lands ''noU'' can obtain
pre-emption right and remain there. Settlers
will govern themselves accordingly and look out
for No. l.