Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-02-18
Frem the Daily OF Feb. 10.


capital of Prussia, nom the 9th TO the
nth of September last, for the purpose
OF obtaining statistical information from
the different nations.
The Hon. Samuel b. Ruggles was APP
pointed by the President as the delegate
from the United Stats, and reached
Berlin, Sept. 7th. In his presentation
of statistical information, he confined
himself to four departments, viz |. Ter
ritorial Area; 2. Population; 3. Taxa
Bile Wealth. 4. The Metalliferous Re
gions. No notice whatever is taken of
the great manufacturing interests of the
country.
This Report has lately been transmit
ted to the United States Senate, in ans
wer to call Of that body, and has been
published in the New York papers. We
commend 1t to the thoughtful attention
of all who can obtain copy thereof
The New York Tribune takes occasion,
from this document, to show the folly
of repeating the Homestead Bill, as urg-
ed by Thurlow Weed in some of his
''more last words"
In May last there were nearly $685.
100000 acres of land belonging to the
Government. The largest amount re-
ceiyed from the sale of public lands
in any one year was less than ST.
100000; the average income from that
source has been less than 100000 a
year. The increase of population i'm
eight of the food producing states from
1850 to 1860 was 1854 ,O95 inhabitants,
very large proportion of which was
from the Atlantic States, and from Eu-
rope. This influx of population increas-
ed the quantity of improved land, up
wards of 25,000,000 acres, being nearly
equal to the whole arabic area of Eng
land, estimated at 28,OOO,0OO acres
To say nothing of the consequent in
crease of cereal products, cattle and
swine, we find that the increased taxable
property in these eight states is nearly
$4,000, 100000.
To repeal the Homestead BIZ for the
sake of realizing two or three paltry mil
lions from the sales of public lands
would seem very much like the act of
the woman in the fable, whose hen laid
a golden egg daily, and who killed the
hen in order to get big lump at once,
thereby forever cutting off her daily in
come. But we will let the Tribune
speak; r.a
Mr. Ruggles' report has been trans
lated into German and French and other |
languages, and widely circulated among I
The people. 1t says to them, in sub
stance, the public lands Of the United
States are yours if you choose to Guilt
Vate. You may share in the unequaled |
which produces such results
as these. The same inducements operate
upon the people of the older Atlantic
States. Homes and a competence for all |
await your Industrious settlement of the
West. Continuing TO maintain the poll
~ which thus appeals to the people of |
The world to occupy our lands, the next
ten years will witness an increase of |
wealth still greater than the last ten
There remain in the eight States above
'eielred to 26O,308293 acres yet to be
- ~.~a, ri--n We invite or exclude
settlers
III we Invite them, as the Homestead
law now does, we may look forward to
UGH q development of the natural ca
'acities OF the West, such an increase of
population, of products and of wealth.
s no previous decade has witnessed =
We're it even no greater than the last,
here will be S3,000,000,O0O of accumu-
ated values as objects of taxation, plus
he enormous annual increase of pro
ucts which equally go to enlarge the
ources of revenue. IF we exclude i'm
migration by repeating the Homestead
Jaw, and arrest this magnificent growth
I great States, we may possibly hope to
ffset against our loss by the petty rev
1ue Of 100000 year from the sale
those lands which ought to be gratu
ously opened to Improvement. Surely
Q considerable portion of the American :
eople can ever advocate, and no Con-
ress can ever adopt, a policy SO demon
trably ruinous as this.