The daily union., 1856-12-23
RAILROAD lands.

II will be by this statement that the quantity Of
lands liable to be disposed Of is greater than
any previous period in the history Of the land system
In regard to the lands in and the valley of the
Mississippi the progress of actual settlement has been
rapid under the preempon system aud the proprety Of
dealing with this class of citizens in the liberal
spirit obvious that has been deemed advisable TO
precpitae public sales of these lands; and this fact
counts for the present great accumulation former
years. and for the small quantity introduced into market
by public sale during the year 1856. Except far
Congress may make grants to the land States and Terri
tories in aid Of educational and nernalimprovemen pur
poss ii is believed TO be the true policy of the government
to the public lands to actual settlers thereon and
withhold them far az practicable, from speculators
This may be accomplished under the present system by
slight modification of the preemption laws In the
Of lands not subject private entry having been
offered public SALE the existing laws prescribe linn
tied period within which the preemptor shall complete his
entry by the requisite proof and payment except that 1t
shall be done before the time fixed for the public sale Of the
land. To compel contamination Of the entry II s
cesssy to proclaim the land for public sale Were time
fixed by law within which the proof OF settlement and inn
provement should be presented and payment made IL
would obyiate the necessity Of public sales and leave the
entire public domain TO the settlers under the presumption
laws An amendment Of the act Of ls4 with this view,
is recommended.
During the fiscal year ending 3Oh June 1866, there were
sold for cash, acres.....,,..........,. 9227 s789S
Located by warrants, under military bounty
land laws, mainly under the act Of Sd
March, 1885, s3s24sooo
Making total acres....... ........... I78loa5s ss
In addition, there have been reported under spamp
grants, 6,03e, ,s743s
Estimated guam tty covered by railroad grants,
by acts Of May, June, and August 1856,
and sscertained quantity Of other internal
improvements acres......,.,........... Ib6sos7boo
Making aggregate In OFF,. sy32s losa7
For the quarter ending September 30, 1856,
there we're sold for cash. part estimated,
s3422s2l
Located with military bounty-land warrants,
sofVoVVo
Being for said quarter acres-........... l7ss,2s82l
Making grand aggregate for tho FIVE quar-
ters ending 30th September 1885, OF acres. al 1858
BY comparing the foregoing with the last annual report
II will be found that whilst there has been falling OIL IN
the present In the cash sales when compared with
the previous there has been compensatng increase
in the quantity disposed Of by bountyland warrants in
satisfaction Of military services
In the aggregate dpoui Of the public domain, II will
appear that there has large Increase Of millions
acres the quantity Of the FIVE quarters ending with
the third calendar quarter Of 1885, caused by the recent
extensive railroad grants.
The dmnuion In the sales locations for the quar-
Ster ending 30th September 1856 attributable TO the
withdrawal OF large bodies Of public lands along the lines
Of the roads In the land States which the grants
were made by the acts of Congress above mentioned
FOR the fiscal year ending soh June 1885, the receipts from
the sales Of the public lands amount ala SO
The receipts for the quarter ending 3oth Sep
tember part estimated, 726639 64
Making total 9,54sob4 ~
The dimnution n the cash receipts caused also by the
sale Of large quantities lands at reduced prices hred the
act Of 4th August ls54 varying from l23 onts
per the regular minimum OF 81 as, and the fact
that lands 70 considerable extent have been
posed 70 public sale during this period.
The following table exhibits at view, the quantity
of pubc land aold the regular aNd graduated prcea