The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-26
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cal Congress sitting in Berlin last Septem-
ber and has since been transmitted to the
Senate from the State Department. accom-
panying letter to Mr.. Seward, also printed.
Mr.. Ruggles went to the International Con-
gress as the authorized representative of the
United States, and as such made statisti-
cal report of their condition and progress
The document will be found of value at home
not less than abroad, condensing and clearly /
exhibiting as it does the facts and figures
necessary to comprehensive view of the
prosperity of the country.
We ask attentions at this momer.G to Mr..
Ruggles' statement especially forts bearing
on the question of Free Lands. 1t supplies
a complete answer to a recent proposition for
the repeal of the Homestead Law which was
urged as a revenue measure. 1t is only ne
cessary to look at che facts in this report to
see that the Homestead Law is to prove one
of the s'arest and largest sources Of future
income.
In May last there were 64,90l, 625 acres
Of land belonging to the Government. The
aggregate income during the existence of the
Government from the sale of public lands is
estimated at about $50, 900, OOO-an average
of less than $20Oo,0oO year. We believe
the largest amount sold in any one year never
reached 81 100000, and latterly the revenue
from this source has been very small. Ifthe
sale could be so stimulated as to yield S., 00O,-
600 yearly, that sum would pay the interest
on less than one-thirtieth of the debt which
it is supposed will remain at the close of the
War 1t is not probable that even this
amsunt could be realized since this country,
burdened by direct taxation and BY indirect
taxes in the form of high prices Of ell articles
of consumption, no longer offers the same in
ducements which once drew hither emigrants
from Europe. We can still offer them land,
if it is worth while to offer them anything
Let us SEE what light Mr.. Ruggles's report
throws on the value of such an emigration as
may hereafter be expected.
The whole number of migrants arriving
in the United States during the last 40 years
was 5000, Ala, more than one half of whom
came between. 1850 and 1860. The yearly
average for that period was 270,762. 1t is
certain that if we adhere to our present poll
cy, we may. reckon on immigration hereafter
as one great source Of the increase of our
population, and that large proportion of
the immigrants will find their way to the
fertile West as settlers on the public lands.
With reference to the eject of this immigra.
ton on the value of the lands and the aggre.
gate of other property, Mr.. Rugglcs's report
is instructive, Taking eight food-producine
States, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri
we find that their population between thu
years 1850 and 1860 increased from 5,403,
595 to 1857 500, an accession of 1854, 09t
inhabitants, of whom very large proportion
were emigrants from the Atlantic States ant
Europe. This influx of population increased
the quantity Of improved land within thesi
States from 26,680,36l acres in 1850 to 81,
826,395 acres in 1906 the increase, 25, l46,
O54 acres, being nearly equal to the who'll
arabic area of England, estimated at 2S, 900.
900 acres.
We find the cereal products of these State
increased from 309, $50, 295 bushels to 558,
l6O,323 bushels, which is greater than tn
whole cereal product of England, and nearl
equal to that of France, Swine increase
from 1886, 1872 to 1l,039, 1852, and cattle fror
4,973,7l2,to ,204,8l0. In addition to thi
vast increase Of agricultural and other prc
ducts from this enlarged area brought undo
cultivation, we find that the assessed yalu
of the real and personal property of thes
States was augmented from 81, 1l6, 600, 90
in 1850 to So, 100000 in 1861 being a
excess of $2sl0,000,0O0. And all these i'm
mensely Increased values are traeeable i
great degree directly to immigration.
Accepting these splendid results as an evi
dence Of theayalus of immigration, we are I
inquire whether it is expedient or not to er
courage immigration in the future and whs
means of encouragement remain to us. Gu
adoption of the policy of Free Lands is know
all over Europe. Mr.. Ruggles's report en-
bodying these facts has been translated I'M
German and French and other language
and widely circulated among the people,
1t says to them in substance the publ
lands of the United States are yours if "
chsose to cultivate. You may share in t
unequaled prosperity which produces SUI
results as these, The same indueemen
operate upon thspsOple of the older Atlant
States. Homes and a competence for
await your industrious settlement ofthe We
Continuing to maintain the policy whi
thus appeals to the people of the world to {
cupy our lands, the next ten years will W
ness an increase of wealth still greater Thu
the last ten. There remain in the Gig
States above referred to 23o, 3os, 2O3 acres :
to be imprcEeds Shall we invite or exclu
nss d. -
If we invite them, as the Homestead Il
now does, we may look forward to such a
velopment-of the natural capacities of !
West, such an increase of population, of P
ducts, and ofwsalth, as no previous does
has witnessed Were it even no greater th
the last, thess-#ill DO nearly So ZOO, 0O0,(
of afpS q ain 90 Of ohiacts s{ tn fif