New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-16
LAND REFORM.

seven long years. Will again De ulleu ny hel
representatives. For the first time since
Louisiana became State these representa-
tives will be the representatives of the peo-
ple-not of privileged class, but of the
whole people. Weighty responsibilities
will rest upon them. Their constituents
will expect much at their hands. We have
no disposition to point out to them the path
of their duty; doubtless they see it for
themselves and walk therein. But there is
one subject upon which, in common with
their colleagues from the other States, they
will be called to legislate, and of which less
has been said than its importance demands.
This is the subject Of the disposition or the
distribution Of the public lands of the
United States, 1t is theme so vast and
with so many ramifcations that we can at
this moment glance at but one of its parts.
We deem it to be of the very highest i'm
portanee that the reckless squandering of
the public lands which has prevailed for
some years past should cease, and
that in its stead these vast resources should
be, not boarded up as a miser boards
his gold, but carefully and judiciously
used, as a prudent parent applies his wealth
in setting up his children in business for
themselves. Vast and almost illimitable
as the public domain of the United States
has been, system, or rather want of
system in giving it away has been pursued
which, if continued for many years longer,
will leave in the hands of the government
nothing but the icebergs Of Alaska. If the
lands sold and given away by the govern
ment had gone into the hands of actual
settlers no objection could be made to the
wise Hberality of the act; but the trouble
is that the greater part Of the lands have
either been sold or given away to individ-
uals or corporations which have played
the part of the dog in the manger with
them-neither cultivating them themselves
nor allowing others to do so-but keeping
the lands out of market, causing them to
lie idle, and holding on to them until the
necessities Of the people compelled them
to buy the lands at high prices.
The government, since its foundation,
has sold or given away 415, 100000 acres
of landau area large enough to make
fifteen States of the size of Louisiana. Let
the reader pause for moment until he
comprehends all that is meant by this state
ment. An area of land fifteen times as
large as this State-more than twice as
large as the whole empire Of France, four
times as large as the British islands--has
been sold and given away by the govern
ment of the United States within the last
eighty years. Ifthis land had been equally
divided among thepeople every adult male
in the United States would be the owner of
seventy acres, exclusive of that owned in
the older States, whereas it has been given
away or sold in such a manner that only
comparatively small part of it has ever
passed into the hands of actual settlers or
cultivators. These 415,000,O00 acres of
land-these fifteen States of the size of Lou.
iEana-have been disposed of as follows
Sold by the government ..........l4O 600 orc acres
Given 20 railroads, canals, 200 O0000 acres
The Agricultural College grant 100000 acres
Mexican war bounties - OO0g0o acres
Now, of all this vast body of
land only about 7O,OOO,OOO acres have
gone into the hands of actual set
tiers. The lands given to the rail-
roads were bestowed upon them under
conditions that enabled them to withhold
half Of the land from market altogether,
and to demand So so an acre for the other
half. As long ago as 1885, 5000, 900 acres
Of these lands fell into the hands of speou-
lators, and still remain unimproved. The
Agricultural College grant has resulted in
the same way, a company of spectators
having already bought up the scrip for the
college grant Of nine States, amounting to
two and half millions of acres. The
bounty lands given to the soldiers of the
Mexican %ss assa. nearly al are Ee% II the
hands Of spectators, and the sO-called
swamp lands" have gone in the same
way. t
There are now before Congress schemes
that threaten to absorb all the public lands
that the government still retains, and which
amount to about one thousand millions Of
acres. There are fifteen railroad eempa-
mics, each of which asks fer tens of millions
Of acres and there is a scheme TO give to
every soldier who fought in the U Mon army
during the rebellion from forty to one
hundred and sixty acres, which would
absorb about sS5 100000 acres more. We
are certainly in favor of giving land to
every soldier whe wants 1t for his own use.
and who viii cultivate it /; aud for that
matter we are in favor of giving land to
every citizen who will cultivate it, be he
soldier OF not. But we are very strongly
opposed to any more land going into the
hands Of speculatofs and that is where
this bounty land would uuquestionably 90
to if it were granted on assiguable land
warrants. Nearly all Of the soldiers would
sell their warrants for little or nothing
and the Spectators would buy them up. A
far better plan would be to enact that to
every soldier who applied for it piece Of
land should be given, which should not be
assignable, but which he could retain as
his OWE, with liberty to sell It after The OK
piration Of a certain number Of years. As
to the railroad grants they should be care
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