Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-08-14
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1855.
SALE OF THE PUBLIC LANDS.


We know not what representations have been
made to the Government that should induce it to
offer the public lands in Minnesota for sale, but
we do know that If these lands are sold, (embra-
cling some Eve millions acres,) that Minnesota
will he retarded in her growth and materially IN
jurcd in other respects. The actual settler who
dcrelopes the resources and adds to the wealth Of
the Territory. does mt desire that Government
should throw the land open to the greedy naw Of
the speculator, and the natural inqsiry is-why2
Because land adjoining bis own, which is puf-
chased by the gold Of the rich man, is scarcely if
ever cultivated-it lies in dormant state, and
is advanced in value only by the sweat of the
brow of the tier Of the soil. Forproof of our as
sertion the reader need only take q trip up the
Mississippi River, and view the land on the east
side of said river, which has been in market for
several years. For miles and miles, the land is
held BY SPECTATORS, and it is only occasionally
that the eye is relieved by we'll cultivated fslds
the result of the industry of some worthy man,
who had. few hundred dollars with which to
commence life. The great curse TO The settlements
on the east side of the Mississippi rirer, has been
A.at the land tgus brought into market too SOON
and it will continue to lie there until the Govern.
ment land in other portions of the Territory 10
all taken up and then it will be offered at $40 and
Sd5 per acre, which originally cost the purchaser
81 25 per acre. Had this land not been offered
for sale until the prcscnttimc, where now is bar
renness would be thriving farms, and instead of
&c one-horse'' towns would be good-szed cities
Does any body gnin-say this ?-cur they gnins-
say it? II, then, such has been the effect in
throwing the land on the Upper Mississippi, into
market, what will be the effect in throwing the
land in other portions of the Territory into mar
ket? Precisely the same results will follow
Worthy but poor nacn. will be driven further and
further from market for their produce, and in
stead of concentration of the forces of our Ter
ritory, they will be difuscd and misdrscted.--
We should strive to avert this blow to the pros
perity Of our Territory, and it can only be done
by the voice of the People, requesting the Govern
ment to withdraw its notice of the sale ofthe pub
lie lands.
But there is another reason why these lands
should not be thrown into market, at the present
time. A majority of those who have settled up
on them are poor-they have been enabled by
StElCt cCOuOiny "uu w PuiVuoS0 suS SCCu
to- put into the ground and the implements to cul-
tivatci it. They may have built them rude through
comfortable habitations, and are looking forward
to the incoming of their crops, upon which they
hope to realize a sufficient sum to pay for the
land which is still in the hands of the Government.
Now, suppose their crops fail-suppose sickness
or some unforeseen accident prevents them from
laying by the necessary sum, to purchase the land,
what followss The speculator steps intakes
the land with all its improvements, and the poor,
hard working laborer, is once more sent drift
in search Of . homestead.
There is still another reason why the lands
should not be brought into market. For the al
tiAate success and prosperity of our Territory il
is absolutely necessary that our agricultural re-
sources should be developed, but how canthey be,
if the land falls into the hands of specuiators?-
Not one acre of ground in this Territory or any
othor, should be thrown into market until actual
settlers have chosen their claims and have had
sufficient time to cultivate them. Then, il they
prepared to pay for the land, let it come into
market, and after it is paid for and put under good
cultivation by the owners il spectators desire to-
purchase it we'll and good-but we do protest r.
gainst the effort which is now being made t. drive
off the actual settler in order to furnish the spe-
culator with means to retard tho growth and pros
perity Of our Territory. Let the people, look to-
this matter. y, el.fa ,Br es1 IL r..5.s SID