The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-07
ST. ANTHONY AND MINNEAPOLIS.
FROM Qua OWN REPORTER.

Parent mat great Diversity Oh OPINION
prevails as to the extent Of the lands offered
for sale. Many entertain the opinion that
all the public domain lying within the limits
of Hennepin county is included. Such is
not the fact. By the provisions of the land
grant, the odd sections within six miles on
each side Of the various land grant railroads
is exempt from government sale. The even
or alternate sections not fully pre-empted
are liable to sale, at a minimum price of
two dollars and fifty cents per acre. If any
of these lands are forfeited by nonpayment
of the fixed government price, then they
will be open to private entry at the above
price, notwithstanding the act of Congress
declaring all public lands lying west of the
Mississippi, within the Territory (now
State) of Minnesota, open to presumption.
Lands settled, but not fully pre- empted, re-
verting to the government, are sold as for
feited, and thus cannot be affected by the
presumption act. These lands are subject
to immediate sale, either at public auction,
or afterwards by private entry.
As to the extent of the lands embraced,
lying in Hennepin county, outside the
limits of the railroad grant, we find as fol-
lows : Township l2O, range %, which in
cludes the town OF Hassan. Township l19,
ranges %, % and "a, includes the towns Of
Corcoran, Greenwood and Maple Grove.
Township III, ranges % and "a, includes
the towns of Minuetonka and Excelsior. All
lands not fully pre-empted in these towns,
that is, not proved up and paid for before
the date of the advertised sale, at the usual
government price, if not sold, will be sub
ject to private entry.
No other lands, except such as may be
included in the even sections within the land
grant limits located in townships 127, 119
and l20, ranges %, % and "a, are subject
to sale by the government in the advertised
proclamation go that any settler can read
lily satisfy himself by ascertainiDg if his
claim is included within the limits desig.
mated above.
We deem this statement important, for
the reason that much unnecessary alarm ex-
lists in localities outside said limits, and
which has caused many settlers to sacrifice
their personal property to raise money to
pay for their claims. Any one desiring ad-
ditional information, can readily do so, by
calling on R. Cook, Esq, Minneapolis,
present County Surveyor.
The present land policy permits the
President, in his discretion, to expose any
or all lands included in the public domain,
after the same has been surveyed. Settlers
on these lands must, before the fixed day of
sale, pay for their lands, or they are liable
to be sold to any bidder who offers the gov
eminent price. Such purchaser may pur-
chase as many acres as he desires, there
being no provision of law debarring him.
After the expiration of the time fixed by
the Presidents proclamation has expired,
any lands remaining unsold are subject to
private entry, at one dollar and twenty-five
cents per acre. Lands offered for sale more
than ten years from date of survey, can be
sold at a less price, or for any sum they
may command. Should any considerable
quantity Of lands remain unsold, they would
probably pass into the hands of capitalists,
and remain unimproved for years. Ger
tainly no Minnesotian desires this.
VALUABLE WoRK.-We have been highly
grati6ed as well as benefited by the perusal
of Minnesota Its Place among the
States" recently issued by j. A. Whee-
lock, Esq. Every reader must feel COM
PEELED to acknowledge that the author has
performed Herculean task in such man.
ner as to stamp him as pre-eminenty fitted
for the work assigned him, and gives
promise that he will ere long take rank with
the best statisticians of the country. 1t is
to be hoped that every Minnesotian will
avail himself of this work, not only to gain
much needed information, but that thou.
sands of copies may be scattered throughout
the Union, that others may learn solid
truth in regard to the unrivalled advantages
possessed by our glorious North Star State.
Baseless prejudice must fee away before
such an irresistible array Of facts and
figures. When we consider the vast labor
required to produce such compendium,
we need not be surprised if some glazing
mistakes are made. We propose, in
spirit of unprejudiced frankness to correct
some of these mistakes, not with the most
distant intention of detra S's from the
value of the work, but thatsA ,ext edition
may be corrected. \
By reference to page l20, it will be OBJ.
served that he accords to St. Anthony but
three mills engaged in the manufacture of
lumber, and the number of saws employed
twenty-three. Now the facts show conclu.
sively, that the number of mills is five, saws
employed, one hundred and nineteen. The
learned author estimates the amount Of lum-