The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-06


report, gives some interesting statistics as
to the land service of the country. His
general statistics are as follows: 8 !.
Sold for cash during five quarters
ending the 30:h September last. :. 1879. 500
Located with warrants. .......... 3,6l7, 440
grants. !. l,7l2,o4o
Certified under the grants to States
for railroads. .................. Gals, 2O3
Total .................. II, els, 1873
Surveyed during the same period. =. Il, Sl7 ,22l
Brought into market during the same
Time. 1t, 76S 1858
Acres surveyed heretofore but not
Number of acres now subject to pri- = e
vate entry at all land ofices-esti.
mated aggregate. ................. 80,000,0 90
The policy Of radical change in the
land laws, as proposed in general home
stead bill, is ably discussed and condemned
with brevity. As near as we can classify
his statements, the Secretary condemns the
new policy by four classes of considera-
tions:
Frst-Its ruinous effects upon the results
that have been attained by the discrimina>
ting liberality Of Congress, through series
of years, in its grants of land to States for
public objects and ends. e
Second-The failure of all the partial
donation laws heretofore enacted for partic-
ular localities or portions of the country.
Ihird-Its want of adaptation to pro.
mote the prosperity Of those States and
Territories in which the public lands are
situated. s @o +.
Fourth-Its general injustice. 81 @ $50
The Secretary recommends that law
be passed in spirit of liberality, to settlers
on uDofered lands, allowing to each two
years from the date of his filing his declato-
ry statement, within which to make his proof
and pay for his land and, at the same time
making it incumbent upon the President to
offer at public sale, by proclamation, all
lands that may have been surveyed by au-
thority Of Congsess, at any time within two
years after the plats of survey have been
approved. As protection against fraudu-
lent prescriptions, no one should be permit
ted to effect an entry until after the expira-
ton of three months from the date of filing
bis declaratory statement, and until he has
produced satisfactory proof of three months
continued residence upon the land claimed.
By the adoption OF such amendments the
President would have before him q plain
path of duty in bringing lands into market.
No one could be taken by surprise no
expectations could be entertained, or calcu.
lations made, which would depend for
solution on the Executive discretion. Bona
fde pre-emptors would be protected in the
possession of the tracts upon which they
had settled, and INDUCED with ample time
within which to pay for them; and our entire
land system would work with such simplicity,
Justice, and general benefit to the government
and the citizen, as has never been attained
in any other country possessed of large
bodies of unoccupied lands.
The advantages and profits arising from
the first settlement Of new country ought
to be enjoyed by the early settlers. They
have peculiar hardships and privations to
undergo, especial dangers and labors to en-
counter. The law does not contemplate
that they shall have any competition, except
from other actual settlers, in selecting the
most fertile lands and the choicest locations.
But as all other citizens are debarred the
privilege of purchasing single tract until
the lands are regularly in market, there is
reason to believe that the withholding of
lands from public Offering, and conse-
quently from private entry, has often proved
temptation to fraud, and an inducement
to perjury and INSCRIPTIONS spectators
profit by it more than any other class. Vi
ii