The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-05-12

tAl6 GOO IN inc lace Vi sue IucG tnAt
when we commenced to settle the
above named States we had popu-
latich Of only about five millions,
and immigration was obliged to
make its way from Europe in slow
sailing vessels, whereas we now com
msnce the settlement ofour Western
Territories with q population Of AZ,
500, 600, and q stream of immigra-
ton pouring in from Europe upon
fast sailing steamers which have re-
duced the Atlantic to mere creek.
The policy of substituting railroads
was really a policy to give away or
sell for a mere song, as rapidly as
possible, lands which, before many
years, we should, in our individual
capacity, b. compelled to buy again
at an ekorbitant price from great
landlords ofour own creation.
The 100000 acres given to tho
Northern Pacific railroad would
bring the company many millions of
dollars more than tho entire cost Of
their ROAD statement which was
supported by calculation based
upon tho cost of the Union Pacific,
the price received by that corpora.
ton for the lands sold last summer,
and the fact that the Illinois central
railroad, even out of the small grant
of six sections to the mile, has reali.
zed more than the entire capital orr
ginally invested in their enterprise.
The road would be built in due time
by private enterprise without subsi.
dies, but if we wanted it now, it
would DO much cheaper to build it
ourselves than to donate this encr-
nous belt of land, and thereby create
colossal land and railroad monopoly
the area of the land granted to
this company being greater by 10000
square miles than that of England
and Wales.
The time was rapidly coming when
we should be far less troubled about
settlers for our public land than
about land for our settlers. 1t was
time we should revise our ideas in
regard to the public domain, and &C
commodate them to our altered cir
cumstances. Even leo acres was
too much to give away as a home
stead, and no man should receive as
gift, or at the merely nominal price
Of 81 % an acre, any more land than
he could cultivate with his own
hands and with the helpsof his child
rem. The county and State conven-
tons of both political parties should
put the plank mo more land grants"
in their platform, and write it in let.
ters big enough to be read all the
way from Washington.
Base ball is again coming into
fashion, aud won't be crowded out by
"Shoo Fly" lodges, Notwithstanding
the high popularity of that en,inently
refined and sensible musical gem. At
the Empire House," where l draw
my daily rations, l was somewhat
surprised when the intelligent con-
traband informed me he had "Shoo
Fly Pudding" for dessert. I didn't
know at first whether to accept it,
but feeling like the orphans at Do.
the-Boys Hall, spoken of in "Oliver
Twist" l concluded / had better
take what was offered me and ask
no questions for conscience sake. As
near as | can judge, it was q mixture
Of bread. glue, milk, mucilage and
sugar. | don't want any more.
Mrs. D. p. Bowers, tho eminent
tragic actress, is starring at the
National, to poor houses. She is
supported by that choice stock COM
pany which has disguised tho Wash.
ington public for several years.
Laura Keene is playing at Wallis
Opera House. She has good com
pany, and always gives satisfaction.
.[Iondon Assurance, ""Our American
Cousin and several other good
pieces :lrc underlined.
Il. pOTONAC