The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-23
Total. a ,sos,5i4,7s s,s77,sls,os 25s.
OFFICERS FOR TIE NEW TERRITORIES.

OFFICERS FOR TIE NEW TERRITORIES.
The Surveyor General Of Kansas and Ne
braska, New Mexico and Washington Terrific
ries. have repaired to their respective posts,
with full instructions for their guidance and
government, under the legislation Of the last
session o! Congress.
The land officers for Washington and Oregon
Territories. auth orized at the last scssioI OF
Congress, have been appointed; full instruc-
tons. with the necessary tract books. blanks,
&C. have been transmitted to their Offices. that
they may be able at once to enter ON duty
Those for Kansas aud Nebraska were not ap.
pointed, and as no surveys have yet been made
To ao and
have involved unnecessary expense.
HISTORY OF TIE LAND SYSTEM.
The land system was originated by Jcffer-
son and fashioned into form by the great states
men. aided by Livingston Gerry. Howard
Read. Williamson. Lang. King, Johnson. Stew
art. Gardner Henry, Grayson, Bali. Houston,
and Monroe. In the enactment of the ord-
nance of 1884, and the acts of 1896. 1890 and
1905. the nation had the benefit of the wisdom
and patriotism OF the sages who. under Heav-
en-. founded our free and happy Government.
The advancement of the public interest was
then the only object sought. The heavy debt
of the Revolution pressing on the young Re-
public required liquidati n. and every means
at the disposal OF the Government was careful
ly and judciously applied to that object
Among these the public lands were considered
Il permanent and prominent item. With the
utmost care. forecast and wisdom the land
system was broughtto perfection by series
of laws and executive and judicial decisions
till by the passage of the act of oath April.
1920, the cash was substituted for the credit
system.
THE RESULTS.
1t is impossible to portray the vast benefits
already derived by the West from this system.
Immense regions have been disposed of that
were thought to be wholly unstable because
Of the difficulty of access and so numerous are
the applications for these lands that in some
cases for want of time they cannot be acted on
for months after they are made.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD TO be BUILT III IT.
The necessity for means of communication
between the Pacific and the Mississippi across
the continent, is becoming more apparent and
pressing every year. The only mode by which
this can be accomplished is grant of the char
acter above alluded to. No State can do it.
it has not the power to 60 beyond its own lin
it. The work is too vast for private enterprise,
and too important for further delay Should
the land system be crippled. this work and all
others OF like character will be rendered i'm.
practicable.
PLEASE AMEND AND PERFECT TIE SYSTEM.
With these views the natural suggestion is
that the graduation law be radically amended
If it be the pleasure of Congress to engraft it
permanently on the land system and in that
event it is further suggested. that tho twolvo
and halfcent class be abolished. or rather do
mated to the States respectively in which they
lie. as the profit will scarcely defray the ex-
pense of dispOsing of them.