The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-23
Report Of the Secretary of the Interior.

sNepout % uht SssHSs"Sy Us w" a"''''"s'
In the administration Of the Interior De
partment, there is no subject OF greater mag
nitudc or OF deeper interest 10 the people OF
the United States than that Of the public
lands. Our system of dlsposing OF them is
the most just and equal, and at the same
time the most conducive to their rapid set.
Element and reclamation from u wild and un.
productive state. that has ever been devised
by any government which has possessed ex
tensiye tracts OF uncultivated land. 1t Is Il
system peculiar to the United States and is
based upon the simple but just principle,
that as the public domain is the property of
the people Of all the States collectively. any
individual desiring to appropriate to himself
any particular portion OF it, is allowed to do
so by paying into the common treasury Il
moderate consideration.
Under our system OF public sales and
presumption rights, settlements have been
made on secure aud permanent basis. The
tide OF emigration has rolled westward from
the Atlantic coast. driving the Indian before
it, and leaving in its rear furnishing States
and prosperous communities, till il has now
reached the heart OF the continent while
from the shores Of the Pacific, tor several
years past, the enterprising pioneer has been
on bis steady march eastward, exploring I'M
known territory and bringing TO light the
rich mine and the prolific soil which the in
dustrious settler will soon occupy and i'm.
prove.
In the opinion Of the Secretary of the In
terror the system yielding these results has
been the work oil enlightened legislation. er
tending through halt u century. II ia pscu
liarly adapted TO the wants and characteris-
tics OF our people. 1t lies at the foundation
OF our rapid progress AS nation, has deyel-
oped our physical resources, and in my
opinion needs no material change.
During the fiscal year ending june 30.
1853, there have been disposed Of 10 individ-
uals 9,G07 Oj8.4G acres Of the public lands
/ Of which 3 s0t .90S acres were sold Tor cash =,
yielding 81 lG,7GS; and 5602,lj3 acres
were located with military bounty land war
rants.
OF the quantity sold for cash 1929 IS
| acres were sold at and above one dollar and
| twenty-five cents per acre, AMI yielded 81, :.
| l50,lG6 30; whilst 1881 ,39Il acres were
sold at graduated prices, for which the sum
Of s965,G0l % was received into the
/ Treasury.
These figures show u greater diminution
Of cash receipts from the sales Of public
1 lands than was anticipated. BIT the condl.
ton OF the people in the frontier States and
/ Territories was such, that 10 bring lands
| heretofore lnO!Iered into market daring the
past summer, was deemed oppressive to the
settlers thereon. The crops had, for the
7 most part, failed. In some localities sick.
nes. and ia others foods. had occssioB,d
losses and distress. whilst the scarcity Of
money was everywhere prevalent and paral
I yziUg. But M longer postponcnent Of
( the saIes. II is believed would be prejuji.
cial 10 the welfare and prosperity of the res
( pective communities and n liberal Indul
genee ha. already been sfDrled 20 the s.t-
/ ten upon unodered lands, il il contemplated
to bring into open market several millions
OF acres during the enuiDg year
The lands which have been sold ard 10
: Gated during the year were, in ID" main, for
actual settcnest or cultivation.
On the Both September 1858, the quan
( i,y of surveyed lands ready 70 ~ brought
into market was Gl 81 ,Oi9 acres, aud
there were then subject IN sale at private
entry, a, ali the lsnd cfi-es OVER 20 200 900
/ acres.
. Cu.leS the yaripu. acts Of t9lgflss, 81
l311 l-j0. 1852. AMI ISIS. ;b're have becf
I..1ed jis16s military bouhiy lAuI var.
rants, reqairitg 1871 $40 sc-cs of tn
puDiic domain 10 satisfy ibem. ~ thee
.lGG32 had been located ~ ID" BON o'
september last, 90 ~ 23- go a 70 q had
.cttlng Outstanding l00l3G rarrart., cal
ing f. Il 49J 80 arres u laud
IL oohddsntIy expected that dunGg
toe usI, c,isodar year the receipts i,or4 'iT
"a o. 4 pal'r .And, snI that The qgsI'' q.
sid ard eatel viii h. greatly irer !
The income from THE -orrrr NJ ~ II i
estimated. a. hat i've millions - d .,iar..
lies agsregals qaan'ity II swamp afs
overhpsed aad. sAeele1 sh1 reported, y
tie 30th OF -ep;, mhsr a. a. earring y
-f,tes under the grant. - l-if All 1870
.. l29 492 scres VI shiEa ''Frv have
Deer approved snd certified 2" - State
uEdgr NJ az. 81 1919 1879, 9JI Arrfs arr