The Placer herald., 1857-02-21
Sacramento Correspondence,

Mr. Editor:-A very fair amount of business
has been done in the legislature during the past
week; but the main subject Of interest has been
the discussion of the Swamp and overhOwed land
bills in the Assembly.
The Senate bill proposed to amend the existing
law, by bringing into market the swamp and over
flowed lands within five miles of the cities of Ma
rysvlie and Sacramento, which were reserved by
the present law, and dispose of them at two dol
lars per acre, double price, and to authorize the
receipt of State Scrip in payment.
The main Assembly bill proposes to sell the
lands at one and two dollars per acre, payable
only in the legal currency of the United States,
and deposite the proceeds of the sales with the
several counties within which the lands are stu
ated, to be appropriated by the Boards of Super
visors for the reclamation of the lands.
To the first bill there various objections
The state, as we all know, is not the very safest
tishal agent; and any general system of Internal
Improvement carriend on by her would, er neces-
state, be attended with vast deal of unnecessa-
ry expense.
To the latter it is objected that the Boards of
Supervisors are not likely to be the safest and
most efficient agents for executing the work; and
where parcels of lands lie in adjoing counties,
the cooperation of the different Boards might not
be had; besides, the danger of favoritism and
private speculation with the funds.
The act of Congress granting the swamp and
over1owed lands to the State, does so for the ex
the trust-agent for that object
If the proceeds of the lands are not sufficient
for the purpose, then she must apply them, in her
best discretion as far as they will go. If suffi-
cent. then she must so apply them. If more than
sufficient, then her obvious duty is to so dispose
of them, as, having reclaimed the lands, she may
secure the greatest amount of money in her trea
sury, consistent with the general welfare of the
people-thereby extinguishing the debt which is,
vuture-like, devouring her vitals.
- In the first place the lands must be segregated
these lands will lie in seperate parcels, larger
or smaller. and with different degrees of adapta-
tion for drainage and reclamation. Let alternate
sections or half sections of each of these parcels
be given to individuals or companies for reclaim
ing the whole parcel or tract, they gaining no
claim or title to any portion until the whole par
or tract is thoroughly rcclacmed
The value Of the whole, unrecamed, is es-
timated at one dollar per acre. Let the
State sell the reclaimed lands at two dollars
per acre land they will be the most valuable
in the State.) The object of the General
Government, (the reclamation Of the lands)
is thus gained. the settlement of the best
lands in the world is thus secured; Millions
of dollars are thus added to the taxable
property of the State; and the entire value
of the unreclaimed lands is placed in the
treasury, WllllOuI ihJuiy w duy oHo anu w
the great relief of our present embarrassed
finances.
The only objection can imagine to such
course, is the creation of land monopolies.
But this seems to me more imaginary than
real. The land occupied by the recamers
would in the first place, be separated by al
tentative sections or half sections, occupied
generally by actual settlers. In the second
place, much of the lands SO acquired, would
of necessity, be sold, and pass into other
hands, for the payment of the labos Cngag
ed in the work. The taxes upon the land,
too would tend continually towards charge
of ownership.
would not have dwelt so long on this
subject, but that since began writing, all
the Bills upon the subject have been in
definitely postponed by the House; and |
believe there is a 1esre in the Legislature,
and an actual necessity for the devisng of
some mode of reclaiming the lands-and |
believe some such mode WILL sooner or
later, be determined on.
The Senate have just indefinitely post
poned the Steamboat monopoly Bill.
E. A. Rowe is now really on the Prison
Brig, and acW remain there till he tails,
Pardon the tediousness of this.
Yours