The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-01-25
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
Err OF THE LAND OFFICE.

We are in receipt of the report OF the Commits.
sioner OF the General Land Once, Hon. Jos. S.
Wilson. II contains amount Of information
In regard to our public domain which 10 truly
valuable. Mr.. Wilson must have given many
weeks OF patient labor and painstaking research
in accumulating and arranging these materials,
which cover $40 pages. In respect to our public
lands, Mines ETC., etc, this report is very valua
BILE as a book Of reference.
There Is one important matter which this re-
port discusses, to which we desire to call public
attention, and that is the amount Of land which
Congress has donated to the different Pacific
railroad companies. We do not complain of
these grants to railways, because we favor
the construction of these thoroughfsres across
the continent. They are Of immense benefit In
developing the resources Of our broad empire;
but after the very liberal grants of land which
have been made to these companies IL may be
well to inquire whether indeed any further sub
sides In the shape Of bonds should be given, II
asked for.
Let us see what number OF acres Congress has
already donated to these different railways: To
railroads alone, one hundred and twenty-four
millions acres OF land, and to railways and
wagon roads one hundred and ninety -four mill
ions acres of the public domain. The reader will
more readily understand the vastness OF this
empire which Congress has given away when
we state that, according to the Commissioner
report, these donations OF land cover an area
greater than the six New England States, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Della.
ware, Maryland and Virginia. Upon the subject
of these grants of land the Commissioner sub.
mits some very important suggestions, and, as
we think, wise remarks.
The Commissioner says:
"Eminently adyaatageous as the result may
be from these franchises, 1t Is submitted that the
land fund al to restrict it only to such works as
may be OF indispensable public necessity, and
then conane the concession to the most limited
basis compatible with the success of the enter
prise; because the public domain 10 q great ma
tional heritage, and should be looked to as a
,Se.s ausns 20 vsa aO
me United Stats, and beyond the reach of
Of ass or q the osas
pending their adjustment, II becomes necessary
W from or
the railroad grants. 1t should further be the pur-
pose to guard the public lands from a tendency
and opportunities of our people for obtaining
homes upon easy conditions"
We cannot possibly be too careful In husband
Ing these lands and in holding them for the
actual settler. To these lands, and the mine,
which they contain, we must look for our main
sources OF revenue for century or more. We
must not, therefore, waste this patrimony by
giving 1t Unfortunately to build up landed
monopolies or overgrown and plethorlc railroad
companies. We are in favor of encouraging all
feasible railroad schemes which tend to bnild ur
and develop our country, and especially do we
favor at least one great through route to the
Pacific; but much caution Is necessary lest we
multiply these grants to an extent beyond the
demand; and instead of benehtting the settler oil
putting money into the Treasury we waste the
public domain In building up monopolies and
enriching the few at the expense Of the many
What we desire to hold out to the poor man who
tolls for what Is to feed him and his dependent
children, Is that when oppressed or out OF work
Uncle Sam can, and will give him farm, where,
by industry and patient toll, he may soon make
himself home. This should ever be the en-
couragemcnt held out TO the laborer and working
nan In this country.
We shall endeavor to find room for other ex.
tracts from this very able report Of the Commits
sioner OF the Land Office.