The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-07
FIRST EDITION
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Annual Report of the Commissioner of
the Land ofioe-Lands Disposed
Of During the Year-Pre-
emption and Homestead
Rights-Railway and
Special Grants.

We extract from the report OF Land Commissioner
Wilson the following passages OF general Interest,"
The PublIc Land System.
The operations OF the public land system during
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1862 were prosecuted
in all the public land States and Territories except
Wyoming and Alaska. Surveys have been completed
bama Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Iowa The entire
area OF the public domain is 1884 99s 400 acres, OF
which, during the past year, 0s22s 500 acres were
surveyed, involving 40 $40 lineal miles of survey.
The entire surveyed is bOs 1852 acres leaving
unsurveyed 1,326 430 6ls acres. Interesting accounts
of boundary surveys are given, with chorographical
and typographical Information of great value.
Lands Disposed of During the Year.
The disposed of public lands in Heventy-three local
land offices during the year embraced 7,66G,15l 90
acres being nearly million acres IN more than last
crease of S2,S40 100 IS over last year.
Prescription Rights.
Thc policy of forbiddng settlement on the public
was overpOwcred by the press of Immigration Con
gress first healed multitude OF breaches of this law
by special retroactive Statutes and finally by act of
September4 A. 1S41, established the prc-emption prvi-
leges as a permanent element of our system.
The homestead policy is the worthy supplement OF
the pre.empton. great increase OF appropriation
OF public lands by actual settlers under these two
classes OF laws il shown. 1t is estimated that by
direct and indirect operations OF the land system
during the last fiscal year, 10000 small farms were
added to the freeholds of our republic about double
the entire number Of land owners in England,
ported in the decennial census OF 1861.
Incrense of Immigration.
The liberaity OF our naturalization laws has 6rawn
10O0O,0OO OF our population are due to this cause.
These have largely ayailed themselves of the kindly
provisions OF our land laws, absorbing immense
amount Of pub ic land. 1t is estimated that foreign
immigrants have brought to this country since $780,
S400, 1000, gold value. Grants Of land have been
made TO officers and soldiers the different wars of
the republic, thus testying the nations gratitude to
its defenders. Our immense grants in aid OF popular
education are vindcated as social neces-
sity, the only means OF securing such q diff
fusion Of intelligence as will serve basis OF free
institutions.
SDecinI Iund Grants.
Large grants have been made for the support OF
universities and colleges. special donation has
Senator and Representative they were entitled to
under the apportionment OF 1860. The aggregate
grants will be not less than ,s02 acres. The
disposition OF these grants by several OF the States il
given in the report
Grants for Railways and Internal Improve
The policy OF grants for internal Improvements,
and especially for railways is considered at length
and sketch OF the railway system OF the United
states is gwen at large. Its history naturally di-
First. Its primary stage, the Atlantic slope in
which 1t had to await the slow accumulatlons OF the
necessary capital for its construction.
Second. It's secondary stage, in the Mississippi
Valley, in which, by the donation of public lands
otherwise unstable, it created its own endowment
by the values it impaired to the soil.
Third. Its defntive stage west or the Mississippi,
In which it appears as forerunner of civilization,
gathering strength TO project itself across great will
derness tracts to reach our Pacific States. At the
close Of the present year there will be in operation
mated at 100 900 000 representing cash value
OF sl2 O00, 100000 AT the close OF this century
will have less than 100 900 miles ia operation, with
a tonnage beyond present estimate. The enormous
expansion OF railways OF our national neces
stiles. The liberal policy OF landed and loan subven
tions by the Government was the groundwork OF
this prosperous movement, but the Commissioner
thinks that the time for such extraordinary assist
ance has passed, and recommends its withdrawal.
The Pacific Railroad and the Future Of the
The report concludes with review OF the COM
mcrcial position OF the United States, tracing line
OF commerce around the earth between the 10th and
50th parallel to which all the local currents Of trade
will converge. The completion OF our Pacific Rail
road, with the increasing advantage OF railway COM
municaiOn over every other, is making this country
the highway OF the worlds commerce. our ability
to compass this splendid result springs from GU :
libeIal-handed policy. Its influence Is specially
marked. The growth OF our resources is startling
The gold value Of personal and real property II
S30U0 10000 Our gross annual earnings amount to
e0,0000 100000 OF which not less than ten per cent,
$1,000, 600 900 surplus for investment Our ciyiza
tion being Industrial In its chief characteristics LOOK
TO broader sweep OF original production, and hence
our accumulation of wealth will be more rapid than
M any nag a0p