New-York tribune., 1866-12-05
DIR PnRLIc L1NDS.

Although not perhaps Of such immediate and strik-
ing interest several other Of the Reports from the
different departments of the public service annually
presented TO Congress- tho resume OF the operations
Of the General Land Office is always a document Of
considerable Importance; and that for the past fiscal
year, Of which we publish a synopsis this morning
does not fall short in any of the elements that
bine TO give value to such a document The chief
wealth of the United States lies in their vast territory
embracing not only extensive of fertile arabic
soil and excellent pasture-and, but aboundng also
in the precious metals, and the other minerals
so largely employed in the daily material appliances
of civilized life. To develop to the utmost the latent
riches of our lands should be matter therefore, Of
the FIRST consideration With the Government; and it
is gratifying to know that is vital importance to the
nation has been duly appreciated by those to whose
hands tho control Of The destnes Of the country has
been from time 10 time committed. The success
which has attended the system adopted Of late years
for encouraging settlements amply proves the wisdom
of that system. What tale is told by the figures
disclosed In this report "The quantity of land sur
veyed on June 80, 1866 including private claims, is
equal to s3 $50 farms of 100 acres EACH or more than
q million aud half of 50-scre tracts :" These,
u
Alright the tremendous significance Of the statement,
are settlements. They are homesteads; spots
around which ultimately to gather all the best ee'
ments Of modern civilization; centres from which
are 10 radate the influences Of education, intelligence
aud Christian morality. Their relation, too to the In
crease of the material wealth ofthe country is mat
ter Of great moment The public lands are being fast
pOopled by class Of men who look TO the soil for
their support aud advancement in life and who as
sumo ownership prepared andresovedt to expend upon
that soil all tho OF vigorous industry Ths
division and settlement of lands gives assurance
beyond anything else We know in the wide circle oil
merely human agencies, of prosperous and glorious
future for the American nation.
That Is an eminenty wise and patriotic policy, too,
which spproprates directly portion OF the land for
purposes Of national improvement such as the sup
port of public education and the construction of
great highways. The former is essential to the
maintenance Of republican institutions such as
ours Intelligence is the very life, the
vital sustaining principle Of free govern
ment, for none but an intelligent people are capable
of governing themselves. The latter is as absolutely
necessary for agricultural development and CON-
mercal or without facilities Of transit indus
try dsheartened is sure TO languish and degenerate
into ftul efforts for supplying the commonest wants
Of life. By making the land contrlbutory to the
purposes Just named we make IL what II was destined
by the Creator 20 be, a common benefit, universal
blessing In some countries the ownership Of the soil
Is the monopoly Of the few whom 1t supports in dis
graceful idlensss and prncsy luxury while the many,
yboss tQQsoms Industry extracts lr0p The seQ ha