Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-03-27
From the Washington Union.

Of all the ways for making money the best and
safest has been thought to be investments IN western
lands. great part Of the land in the new States
and Territories is owned by non-residtnis, having
been bought at about 81 Is per acre What was
purchased at that price three years ago will, as
general thing, perhaps, bring from four 10 fifteen
dollars an acre the preseBt time The non resident
purchaser will still cling it, waiting for something
to ''turn up" TO increase its value
Tie consequence Of selling of the public lands Ia
pidy is hat the actual settler is obliged to travel
over extensive tracts of unoccupied soil before he
comes to any which he can pre-empi This is an
obstruction to the development OF new Territories,
inasmuch surely discourages settlers from pene-
traling the frontier On che side OF The line the
pone is toiIing TO cultivate the land which he pur-
chased of the government. He increases IFS value.
On the other side the land is owned by some non
resident capitalist. 1t remains unoccupied, but is
rising in value through the industry OF the adjoining
settler Now it is very clear that it is contrary 10
plain principles of political economy, as well as a
gains equity and justice to crowd the public lands
into market and thereby suffer them 10 fall into the
hands of men who never intend to improve them
into the hands of mere spectators. practice more
equitable and economical is that which we are IN
formed has been of late TO a considerable extent a.
dopted by the General Land Office. This is 10 reserve
the public lands for actual settlers, after they have
been surveyed as long as there is prospect that
actual settlers will purchase and occupy them We
are reioced observe that the present administration
that disposition exists on The Part OF The Executive
to have il faithfully canied into operation Mr. Blu,
chanan's views on this important subject, as stated
in his Inaugural, are wise and discriminating:
"No nation in the tide of time has ever been blessed
with so rich and noble inheritance we enjoy in
the public lands In administering this important
trust While it may be se to grant portions OF them
for the improvement Of the remainder, yet we should
never forget that 1t is cardinal policy to reserre
these lands much mag be. for actual setHer'-~
and this at moderate prices. We shall thus not only
hest promote the prosperity of the new States and
Territories by furnishing them hardy and indie
pendent of honest aud industrious citizens, but
shall homes for children and our chidren's
children, as we'll for those e1iles from foreign
shores who may seek in this country to improve their
condition, and to enjoy the blessings OF civil and re
ligious liberty.
Lands now be pre- empted in The new Terrific
ries even before they surveyed In this respect
the settler has peculiar advantage over the outside
speculator But this advantage is not enough to re-
ward the toll and exposure which the pioneer is sub
jected to- The only legitimate and adequate encour.
agement which can be given him, is 10 reserve the
public lands from public SALE by which means nearly
every will become occupied and cultivated The
treasury is by suffering for the proceeds of
the lands and there is no reason for hurrying the
sal. of them.
Ii is not long since the garden region OF this h mi
sphere-the valley of the Mississppl--was domain
open to the pioneer. But the valley is no longer
vacant The pioneer has penetrated TO the
head waters of the Mississippi, and the Rocky
mountains, to the Pacific shore.
The statesman, therefore, may we'll begin to re-
feet upon the consequences of sty disposal of
The public lands, and inquire il any better plan can
be devised for the development of remote reg ions
than the economical reservation of these lands TO"
the use and occupation of actual settlers.