The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-03
THE FORT SMELLING RESERVATION.

The Republican press generally comments
with severity upon the recent sale by the Gov
eminent of the Fort Smelling reservation 1t is
claimed that what was sold for 500, 900 is well
worth 100000; that it was a private sale,
intended so to shut out competition that the
Mr.. Steele, or Stole, who is the purchaser, is
but go-between and that the real buyers are
gentlemen in high position, and everywhere
known in the political world. We quote the
following statement of a gentleman who has
been upon the Reservation, that our readers
may understand the matter. We cannot, of
course, vouch for the accuracy of all the state.
ments, and, indeed, think they had better be
taken with several grains of allowance and,
even then, it is evident that the Treasury has
we will not pronounce:
"The Government, a. an early day, purchased
from the Indians tract ten mile square, st the
confluence of the Minnesota river with the Mis-.
sissipp, for military purposes. Major Pike made
the selection and the purchase, and every one
who has visited the spot bears testimony to his
wisdom and judgment. The post being a com
handing an important one, the works were laid
most substantial manner. Immense sums of
money were expended, year after year, con
structing here of solid masonry what, in most
inland forts. is formed Of square timber and
rough pickets.
"In lS49-'50, the Government purchased
from the indians the entire Territory of Mime
sofa, and then commenced the growth of two
cities either side this military post, St. Paul
and st. Anthony, the aggregate population of
which is, at this time, over 20, 600. In lS53-54.
the people, being crowded for space, petitioned
Congress, through their Delegate, to throw
portion of the ten-mile reservation into market.
which was done, retaining with the Fort but
one mile square, the property now in question
" The present value per acre of the lands
thrown into market in lS53-'54 is very easily
sscertained. They range from SlOO 10 $500
per acre, and as they lay around and adjoining
the recent sale, of course, the same causes which
made the old reservation valuable apply also to
this. The growth of cities, the peopling and
improving the country, the development of
manufacturing, the construction with Govern
ment funds of excellent roads, the crowding of
the Mississippi river with steamers, the building
at Government expense, railroads through this
very land, connecting the cities of ST. Paul and
st. Anthony, aud running hundreds of miles
still beyond, into the agricultural lands north
and west. Here are some of the elements that
give value to their property-or rather to the
acres.
"Now, for the Fort property. 1t is an i'm
mense establishment, enclosed by lofty walls of
solid masonry. 1t contains blocks or squares
of stone building, put up in the most substan-
tial manner, and capable of garrisoning several
companies with excellent quarters, from the
commandant down. Magazines, storehouses,
stables for draooon horses, icehouses, houses
for guns, &c, all of which certainly could not be
replaced to the Government for one million of
money, and was of practical value to the Gov
eminent at the moment it was sold, all it origi-
nally cost the country.
eve may now put the bill in form:
1900 acres of land, worth 500 per
acre S75O,OOO
Fort proper worth, say 100000