The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-29
LANDED PROPERTY.

1t is ten years since the set of Con-
gress CONFERRED uron Illinois. the grant Of
lands. In 1852. Mr. Robert Rantoul with
marked ability, presented to his co di-
rectors and the public, his views of the
effect upon the population and resources
of Illinois ty the construction Of his
railway. and the consequent advance IN
the value of properly. Mr. R'ntoul pre-
dicted that the census Of 1900 would
show over one million, seven hundred
thousand population II Illinois, and that
lands. in twelve TO fourteen veals, would
command twelve dollars per acre. The
reasoning was conclusive to hl1 associates.
in face of the fact that Illinois counted
at this period only eight hundred and
fifty thousand souls with a space cover
ing nearly twenty thousand square miles
in the centre of the S ate. nearly desti~
tute of population and that upwards of
| eleven millians Of acres of land in the
State were offered for SAL by the Gov
| eminent at s . per sore. At later
day the dire ctors had TO coutod with pre-
| iudices in regard to the health %! the
prairie country, and ths general convic-
| ton that the Government lands in His
nois, and the States west OF II. would, for
one generation at least, at 81 % per acre.
| present any prairie lands, destitute OF
| fuel, reaching such extravaEant values
| The great extent of the lands OF the
| North w estern territory. was apparently
the strongest argument ayalnst the tul-
flment of Mr.. Rantoul's predictions, and
one which time alone could solve,
The Illinois prairies have proved per-
| fectly healthy, and the supply Of coal and
wood is ample The pioneer has gone
hey ond Illinois TO Kansas and Nebraska,
| and has discovered, practically. the limit
| Of available lands for agricultural pur-
poses Those elevated arid regions, dry
in summer and cold IN winter. are too
near the great desert Of almost perpetual
drought. The Government SURVEYS and
meteorological observations render 1T
certain that the limit OF good lands be-
tween the thirtysseyenth aud forty second
/ parallels has been reached, and that the
annual outpouring Of the Eistern States
will settle upon the lands q Illinois and
Iowa. The most important crop, that OF
Indian corn, Is uncertain IN the States
north Of these; and every season formers
move down from Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin to the milder and more genial climate
of Illinois s. long as Missouri and Ken
lucky are slave States, the lands IN those
| States will not compete with the lands or
Illinois. and this State will stand in re-
lation to Missouri as OHIO has for many
3 wears in relation to Kentucky, absorbin
, the emigration, and the value of land
< will increase in direct ratio with the gain
? in population. The census OF 1900 shows
, one million, seven hundred aud twenty
? nine thousand population in Illinois.
l Nearly one third OF the entire gain in
population OF the six North western
States within the last ten years, is within
her borders The value Of land has quad
o rupled in these ten years the tide o.
emigration TO Illinois is cons ant, and
z with fifty per cent. more added to the
c population, it seems demonstrated tina
e land will double in value.
: Hence, infer that the unsold halt o.
!! our lands will, during the next ten years
command nearly double the amount
: realized for the first half, and 10 secure
!, this | would suggest the policy OF grad
- ually advancing the price, without, no"
= ever, reserving a single acre Tor sale
>. After deducting upward Of one million o
Ia dollars Of sales made in 1853, upon whIci
parties have failed to respond to thei
a engagements, our next sales are on
-, million, two hundred and sixty THOUSAND
n two hundred and sevsnty-threc and forty
sixth hundredths acres, at an average c
- e. per acre, equal TO $I4,09o 3ol
- upwards of twenty five per cent. or tn
= sum of S4, l95, 1913 have been collected !
=. cash. The average of So CT includes tn
- earlier sales, at SIX and nine dollars pc
\. acre. Every acre sold for settlemer
= adds to the value of the remainder; an
he | estimate the ultimate proceeds OF on
an lands as follows:
of .26O,273 acres at SD 67.........sl5, 995, 3