New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-20
RIGHTS OF ACTUAL SETTLERS.

IL SfsArE, feo. 4, 1891.
Mr. WILSON, move that the bill to secure 10 actual
settlers the alternate sections Of the public lands re-
served in the grants TO the States for railroads which
introduced yesterday be taken from the table for the
purpose of reference.
The motion agreed 10; and the bill read the
second time.
BILL to secure settlers the alternate. secor Of the
Public Lands reserved in the grants TO toe States Ss Hal
Ben enacted 81 tae Senate and Hsr If Rtpysss tses
he Uaitsd State II =era coasrs's G''s@sss That tss
Alternate sections Of land reserved in the srsnis OF land nAas
the Se which hereafter be made tor The ssn.rse
railroads and canals b. and hs same Arr hereby With
from ae except SEXUAL setters
AsS Be fsrnsy I'd, That setsAi settlers .s.i
the the fourth september eighteen hundred
aud sriyone entitled An spproprst. the Proseeds
The .es 9 t.e p.sf S I - hi@ Of s land. 90.
ouser section only In nskius aid entry sd persons .Aa
comply With al 'he proyisots Of said act except thar The
price 10 be paid or laid lands sh. be two dollars and nJ eenis
SIC Tad Re further ,ractoS That tn. Commissioner
n. ,p.r. LAndOce .h. make ana publish all necessary
rules carrying effect this act. according
Mr.. WrsoN-Mr President At the last session
twenty -one millions Of of the public lands were
granted 70 several States, by Congress, FOR railway
purpo.es. These grants reserved alternate sections
and placed upon them the price OF two dollars and
fifty cents per acre. These reserved sections OF the
public domain, amounting TO ten aud half millions Of
acres will coon come into the market at two and
half dollars per acre; and tbese lands thus located on
the lines of the proposed railroads, will be promptly
purchased by land speculaors many Of them montreal
d Its of the States to the great disadvantage of the
Stses and of the sexual settlers Thus the twenty one
millions acres OF the public domain, which was open to
the actual settersto the Immigrants from tue older
States and from the Old Norld--will pass, one half
into the control of railway corporations, and the other
half into the hs ds of land speculsors. The people
the actual cutiyatos of the soI-will Dc compelled 10
pay exorbant prices for these lands to railway corpo-
rsops and lano spectators.
This bill prouofes TO withdraw from the market these
alternate sectops reserved in the grants 10 the States,
and that they shs be sold to actual settlers in accord'
n ce with the PROV isons OF the act of September 4,
1871 This act of 1871 clearly defines the rights OF
actusl settlers upon the public domain Under that
act Ireempon rights are secured TO settlers. By With
drawing the alternate sectons reserved In the railway
grants from the market, secure TO the peope-the
eng rants TO the States-tle men who are TO cul.
tvste the soil upon the lines OF the railroads., some OF
tie advantages which will accrue by the grants t. the
Ststes of tie lands for railroads. This policy Will
bring upon the lines of these proposed railways, not
large clsss Of nonresident specuators-men who con.
tribute nothing TO the development OF the resources OF
the country or 10 the support of the railroads when con-
sructed but large class Of actual cultivaors OF the
sol-men who will develop the resources of the coun.
try on the lines of the roacs-men wh zee lsbors will
contribute something the support of the roads, ibis
policy of securing 10 actual settlers, under the guards
and restrictions of the act Of sil, these millions OF
acres of reserved lands will be not only beneficial to
the actual culvators of the sJ but II will be condu'
Give TO the interests of the States to whom these grants
were made and to the railroad corporations themselves
The policy Of granting these alternate sections OF
the public DOMAIN for railways is resisted by some
gentlemen because il places millions of acres OF lsnds
under the control Of corporations. That there are some
evils come cted with the system no one can doubt
That the policy tends TO the rapid development OF the
country-to the wealth and resources Of the nex State
and to the material interests OF the Atlantic States Is
clear ard unquestionsbe. The adoption, along with
this policy Of granting alternate sections of the public
lapos for railway purposes of reservng the alternate
sections for the actual settlers, will in my Judgment,
be conducive TO the beet interests Of the new states,
the people who are to cultivate the soil and the rail.
road corporations. The Committee on Public Lands
trust will give to the subject that attention il import
ance seem to demand at their hands. have voted,
and shall continue 10 vote for grants of alternate SEC
tons of the public domain for railways Int shall do
80 more cheetuy if the reserved sections are 70 pas
into the hands Of the actual cultivstop of the coil at
the prices fixed upon them by law.
Tie bill was referred 10 the Committee Public
Lalds.