The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-02-18

AT the Close OF lCS arllcl6 ID TculdThs.
GIN the last ten years there has been an
immense emigration from Ohio to Hi
nois, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska
This has been uniformly the case with
all the States where lands come to $50
or $50 per acre, and is caused simply
by the fact that it then becomes a specu-
lation for farmers to sell out, and COM
mence new farms at Government price.
This process will go on for only a few
years, for the government is rapidly part
ing with all the good land it possesses.
In the meanwhile, the rapid increase of
town population ~cempensates, In part,
for the loss of farmers. "-SanduSky
Reg.
* The emigration westward has
been an ~exhausting process by the draft
it has made not only upon u popula-
ton bat upon our money. Every sur
plus dollar of our farmers and mechanics
has been invested in Western lands,
cities and towns. And not only all the
'suTPlus, but large sums have been Dor
rowed, and withdrawn from legitimate
business, for these investments. We feel
the evil effects of these things here, but
they feel them with ten-fold severity al
the West. There is unquestionably
much that is real and substantial in the
wonderful progress which has been made
in the Western States and Territorie!
during the last few years; but it ii
equally true hat there is an immenst
per centage of fiction in the programme
as published. There's too much steam
too much speed, for safety. Thu
hectic flush of 1886 rests upon the fac
of the States and Territories West AMI
North West.
It strikes us that it is a good time TO
prudent men to get out of debt, and pu
their houses in order. A storm is gath
ering-it would have broken before this
had it not been for California gold an
the Democratic financial policy of tn
Federal Government,-but the time j
approaching, nevertheless, when me-
will be miserable in proportion to thei
indebtedness, a0ithout any regard to til
amount Of their Interests IN the pape
cities and lands OF the West.
The journal from which we have quo
ted says that 'tthe government is rapid.
parting with all the good land it pos
sesses." This is true. But it is no
being disposed of to actual settlers. I
is being squandered, in quantities tina
amount to P~rincipalities, to Railroa'
Corporations. It is but the other da
that we noticed that one of these Rail
road ~monopolies had realized, within tn
last two years, from the proceeds of th
sale of its lands, over Ten MILLIONS o
DOLLARS, and it has sufficient for a
Empire yet remaining. Quarrel abou
the question of Freedom or Slavery i
the Territories Why, unless this pol
cy of squandering the public domai
upon Railroad Corporations is soon al
rested, both whites and negroes, as wei
as the whole Legislation of the West
will be under the dominion Of Railroa
Monopolies. The Federal Government
has sold the entire balance of what re
manned to it, in trust, of the People
.birth-right, in Iowa. Illinois, the. pic
.neer State, for the benefit of whose me-
s~nopolists this work of land plumber wa
inaugurated, is "cleaned out !" Micl
igan has gone-and if one-half tt
schemes now before Congress succeed
the best portions of what now const
tute the public domain in Minnesot
Nebraska and Kansas, will soon be
possession of the land pirates. The CO..
ssolidated power of this interest will ru.
the West, and convert the mass of Il
e~ultiyators Of the soil into a dependel
tensntry.
For . permanent home, then, havir
regard to the safety and stability of 4
investment-and consulting every m
fsrial interest, we would prefer Ohio
any portion of the West. Our embs
rsssnsnts are temporary;-ths evils th
beses the West will become chronic, al
ma5 endure for years and generation
AZ regards the character of the soil, t
climate, convenience to markets, Al
hexsFy coisideration that should inluen
prudent man, in the purchase Of