The Lincoln County herald., 1870-12-15

acres Of public land were disposed Of OF
this quantity 3,69S,9 $40 acres we're taken
under the homestead law, and 2,lOO751
acres sold for cash. The remainder was
located with military warrants, college or
Indian scrip, or applied in satisfaction Of
grants to railroads, or for other public
GSes The entries under the homestead
law during the last year covered 061 ,545
acres more than during the preceding
year.
Surveys have been vigorously prose.
cutel to the full extent Of the means ap.
plicablc TO the purpose. The quantity
of land 10 market will amply supply the
present demand
The claim Of the settlers, under the
homestead or the pre- emptou laws, is
not, however, limited to land subjects to
sale at private entry. Any unappropria.
ted surveyed public land may be acquired
under the former laws, If the party emit
tied to enter under them will comply with
the requirements they prescribe 10 regard
to residence aud cultivation. The actual
settlers preference right Of purchase is
even broader aud extends to lands which
were uusurveycd at the time of his set.
Element. His right was formerly con-
fined within much narrower limits, and at
one period of our history was conferred
only by special statutes. They were
enacted from time to time to legalize what
was then regarded as en- unauthorized
intrusion upon the national domain.
The opinion that the public lands
should be regarded chiefly cs a source Of
revenue is no longer maintained The
rapid settlement aud successful cu'tiva.
ton Of them is now justly considered Of
more importance to our well being than Is
the fund which the sale of them would
produce. The remarkable growth and
prosperity Of our new States and Terrific
ries attest the wisdom of the legislation
which invites the tillcr Of the soil to
secure permanent home on terms within
the reach of all. The pioneer who incurs
the dangers and privations Of frontier
life, and thus aids in laying the founda-
ton Of new commonwcalths, renders a
signal service to his country. and is enti-
tied to its special favor and protection.
The laws secure that object and largely
promote the general welfare. They
should, therefore, be cherished as per.
mauent feature Of our land system.
Good faith requcies us to give full effect
to exs ing grants.
LANDS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
The time honorcd and bene6cent pol.
icy Of setting apart certain sections Of
public land for educational purposes in
the new States should be continued
When ample provision shall have been
made for this object | submit, as ques
ton worthy of considerations whether the
residue Of our national domain should
not be wholly disposed of under the pro
visions Of the homestead and pre- cmp,ion
laws.
LAND GRANTS 10 CORPORATIONS.
In addition to the swamp and over.
flowed lands granted to the States in
which they are situated, the lands taken
under the agricultural college acts and for
internal improvement purposes, under the
act Of September, 1871, and the acts sup
pie entail thereto, there has been con-
voyed, up to tho close Of tho last fiscal
year, by patent or other equivalent evi
dence of title, to States and corporations
q, 1856, ,257 .l3 acres for railway, canal aud
wagon roads.
1t is estimated that an additional quan
tity Of 174,7355 523 acres is still due
under grants for like uses.
The policy of thus aiding the States iu
building works of internal improvement
was inaugurated more than forty years
since in the grants to Indiana and Lii,
nois to aid those States in opening canals
to connect the waters of the Wabash with
those Of Lake Erie, and the waters Of the
Illinois with those Of Lake Michigan,
1t was followed, with some notifications,
in the grant to Illinois of alternate sec.
tons of public lands within certain limits
of the Illinois Central railway. Four.
teen States and sundry corporations have
received similar subsidies in connection
with railways, completed or in process of
completion.
As the re served sections are rated at
the double minimum, the sale Of them at
the enhanced price has thus, in many
instances, Unidentified the treasury for
the granted lands. The construction Of
some Of these thoroug hfares has undoubt.
edly given vigorous impetus to the
Development Of our resources and the
settlement Of the more distant portions of
the country. 1t may, however, be we'll
insisted that much of our legislation IN
this regard has been characterized by
indiscriminatiO and profuse liberalty,
Tho United States should not loan their
credit 10 aid Of any enterprise undertaken
by States or corporations, nor grant lands
in any instance, unless the projected
work Of acknowledged national impor-
tance. am strongly inclined to the
opinion that it is iuex psdient and unnec.
essary to bestow subsidies Of either
description, but should Congress deter
tmine otherwise l earnestly recommend
Ia Al ~ L