New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-13
DIR NATIONAL RESOURCES.

" hich we print this morning, was presented u
the International Statistical Congress SttinG II
| Berlin last September, and has since been trans
mitted to the Senate from the State Department
accompanying letter to Mr.. Seward, ais1
printed. Mr.. Ruggos went to the international
Congress a. the authorized representative oi The
/ United States. and as such made q statistical
report of their condition and progress. The
document will be found of value at home not
less than abrou1,, condcnsing and clearly exhib-
Iiting a. it does the facts and figures Necessary
to comprehensive Wow OF the prosperity Of the
country.
We ak attention at this moment to Mr.. Rug
rlcs's statement, especially for It's bearing on
the question Of Free Lands. 1t supplies n COM
ple,o answer 10 recent proposition Tor the
repeal Of the Homestead Law, which was urged
"a revenue measure 1t il only necessary to
look at the facts in this report to see that tho
Homestead Law is to prove one of the surcat
and largest sources OF future income.
In MAY last there were 96i,9Ol ,625 acres OF
land belonging to the Government. The az
gregato income during the existence of the
Government from the sale of public lands Is
estimated at about $50, 900, 000-an average OF
less than 81, 100000 year. We believe the
largest amount sold in any one year never
reached $1,000 900, and lattcrly tho revenue
from this source has been very small. If the
sale could be so stimulated ~ TO yield 5000, 900
yearly, that sum would pay the interest on
less than one-thirtieth Of the debt which
it Is supposed win remain at tho close OF
the War. 1t il not probable that even tins
amount could be realized since this country,
burdcncd by direct taxation and by indirect
taxes in the form Of high prices OF all articles OF
consumption, no longer offers the same induce
mcnts which once drew hither emWanis from
Europe. We can still offer them land, if it Is
worth while to offer Thorn anything. Let IA see
what light Mr. Ruggless report throws on the
value Of such an emigration as may hereafter he
expected.
The Whole number of immigrants arriving in
the United States during the last 80 years Was
5,O62, Ala, moro than one half of whom came
between 1850 and I-G0. The yearly average
Cor that period was 270.7G2. /, is certain that
i we adhere 20 our present policy. We may
reckon on immigration hereafter ~ one great
source OF the increase Of our population, and
that large proportion Of the immigrants Will
find their way Ia the fertile West as settlers on
the public lands. With reference 10 the effect
OF this immigration on the value of the lands
and the aggregate OF other property Mr..
Rugglo-s report is instructive. Taking eight
food producing Staies Ohio, Indiana.
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin. Minnesota.
Iowa. and Missouri, we find that their
population between the ycarS 1850 and 100 in
creased from g. iO3, 59j to 1857 $780, accession
Of 3, 5Ji, O9j inhabitants, Of whom very large
proportion were omigrants from the Atlantic
States and from Europe. This influx OF popu-
laton increased the quantity of improved land
within these States from 2G,6-0, 36i acres in
1850 TO 81 $40, :)gJ acres in l-G0 the increase.
y liC, 0ji acres being nearly equal TO the
whole arabic area Of England, estimated a,
=, 900, 900 acres.
We ind the cereal products of these States
increased from 3O9, y5O, 29j bushels 30, leo 323
bushels, which In greater chan the whole cereal
product of England and nearly equal to that of
France. Swine incrcnHd from 6,536, I52 to
/ .O39. 49, and cattle from ;,37J.7I2 TO :, 2Oi,-
80. H. addition 10 thiB vast increase of agri- /,
cultural and other product from this enlarged
area brought under cultivation, we find that the
assessed value Of tho real and personal property
Of these States Was augmented from 81, ll6,
900, 900 in 1850 to I392G, OOO 900 in l-GO, being
an excess of S2,5l0 OO0. 900. And all these ini-
Inensely increased values arc traccable in great
degree directly to immigration.
Accepting thcge splendid results az an evil
dcnce OF the valHe Of immigration. We are to III
quire whether il is expedXnt or not to encourage
N the future and what means oi
encouragement remain to u.s. Our adoption Of
the policy Of Free Lands is known all over Eu-
rope Mr.. Ruggles's report embodying these
facts has been translated into German aud
French and other languages, and widely circu-
lated among the people. 1t says to them in
substance. the public lands Of the United
States are yours if you choose to Guilt
yate. You may Share in the unequaed
prosperity which produces such results
as those. The same inducements operate
upon the people of the older Atlantic States.
Homes and competence for all await your in
dustrious settlement Of the West. Continuing
to maintain the policy which thus appeals To
the people of the world to occupy our lands, the
next Ten venra will wtnaaa IN inaxaana nc ,ranllh