The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-06

11LlL11zzzlEeas1zsszEzEsREk
amount, be acquired under the forms.
laws, if the party entitled to enter under
them will comply with the requirements
They prescribe in regard to the residences
and cultivation. The actual settlerspref
erence and right of purchase is even bread
er, and extends to lands which were sur
veyed at the time Of his settlement. His
right was formerly confined within
much narrower limits, and ct one period
OF our history was conferred
only by special statutes. They were ens-
bled from time to time to legalize what
was then regarded as an Unauthorized in
trusion upon the national domain. The
opinion that the public lands should be
regarded chiefly as . source Of revenue, 10.
no longer maintained. The rapid settle
nent, ana sneeessful cultivation of them,
ID now justly considered of more import
snce to our well-being than ia the fuud
which the sale of them would produce Tn.
remarkable growth and PROSPERITY Of ovr
new states and territories attest the W udor.
ofthe legislation which invites the tilier Of
the soil to secure q permanent home On
terms within the reach of all The pio.
neer who incurs the dangers and privs-
ton of frontier life, and thus aids in lay
ing the foundation of . new common
wealth, renders . great service to his
country, and is entitled to its special fs-
vor and protection. The law selects those
objects and largely promotes their gener-
al welfare, they should, therefore,
be cherished as permanent fen
ture Of cur land system. Coed faith re-
quires IL to give full effect 10 the existing
grants. The time IGNORED and benefceas
policy Oh setting apart certain sections Of
| public land fer educational purposes IN
! the new States should be oOrtIaued.--
When an appropriate provision shall have
been made for the objects, l submit. .
question worthy of serious consideration,
whether the residue ofOar national dcrsia
| should rot be wholly disposed of Under
| the provision Of the Homestead ard Pre-
| emption Laws, in addition to the
swamp and overlooked lands granted
20 the States in which they ara
situated, the lands taken under ngrievlta-
raj college acts, and for internal improve
menI purposes. Under the set CT Sept.
1s41, srd the Gets supplemental thereto
there had been conveyed mp to the close
of the last fscal ye.N by patent and Othes
equivalent evidence Of title, to States and
corporations 27,s36,r57 1900 acres for
railroads, canals and wagon roads. It.
is estimated that the additional
quantity Of ia 1856, 1913 se.'es is still dus
under grant for like uses. The policy Of
thus aiding the States in In. lding works
Of internal improvement Was 1sHsurated-
more than forty years sInce in ite grants
to Indiana and Illinois to aid th,Ne States
in opening canals to connect the y alters Of
the Wabash with those Of Lake Eris, and
the waters of the Illinois with tho se Of
Lake Michigan 1t was followed with
come modification in the grants TO Illin,S
of alternate section of public LAID within
certain limits to the Illinois Central
railroad. Fourteen States and sundrJ
corporations have received similar sgbsir
dies, In connection with railroads COM
pieted or in process of completion. As TIRE
| reserved sections are rated at tie double
| minimum, the sale of them at the en-
| HANGED price has thus in many instances
indenniied the treasury fer the granted
lands. The construction Of some CT
there thoroughfarcs las undoubtedly
given vigorous impetus to the de velop-
ment of our resources and the settlement
Of the more parts ofdistant country. 1t may,
however, be we'll insisted that much OF
our legislation in that regard las been
characterized by indiscriminate ard pro
fuse liberality. The United States should
not loan their credit in aid Of any enter
prise undertaken BY States or CORPORA
lions, nor grant lands in any instance, IN
less the projected work il Of acknovl-
edged national importance am
strongly inclined to be Of the opiaios
that it is inexpedient and unnecessary -
bestow subsidies Of either description, bot
should Congress determine otherwise, l.
earnestly recommend that the right Of The
settler and Of the public be more efeciual.
~ secured and protected by sppiopT;ats
legislation
PA1RNTt
During the year ending Sept. so, 1917
there wre FLED in the patent office. Is, Air
applications for patents, 1914 caveats, and
100 application. for the ..tersiea
Of patents 36a2 patents, including Ie-is-
sues and designs, were issued, lilo ex-
tended, ard csc allowed, but were not
issued by reason OF the ncn payment CT tAs
fiscal fees.
The receipts of the offices during the
fscal year were $1S, $50, 429. in ta,ss, 81,
sets and expenditures
CKNspA
The work Of the Cepsus Bureau hss.
been energetically prosecuted, the prelizs-
mary report containing much information
of special value and interest, snd will be
ready for delivery during the present ses
sion. The remaining volumes viii be
compiled with all the despatch consitea.-
with perfect accuracy in Arranging ana-
classifying the returna We shall thus, g..
no distant day, be fuInishei with an sa-,
thentic report of our condition ard re
sources 1t will, doubt not. attest the
growing prosperity Of the county, a.
though during the decade which has jus.
closed, it Was 81 severely Bisd by sh..
great War urged to maintain its ine-Srity,.
| and to secure and p<rpetuate our free insIi-.
tutiops.
During the lest Ascaf year tS>
sum paid 10 penssonen. including The
cost Of disbursements w. u. 7i8. eS1. and,
,55S bounty land WarTaAts were Issued-
AZ it, close ICE, eee Names were sA ~
pension roll. The hbe,s Of tAs Pension
Once have been directed ~ Ne severe
scrutiny Of the evideDes spbRi<ted n e.
vor Of new claims and 70 the discovery es-
the fictitious claims which have been hsrs--
tofore allowed.
KDucA1iON AND AshleuL9uRA.
The subjects Of educaijoa aaa.
agriculture Are Of graf iaaEs-
ct to the success Of oor Rsp,hsisaa
institutions. happiness and grandsns -
he's bsen established in the IsseTisr De-
and in the iatersss e the oahes
agriculture. believe great general good
- TO how frVn she operations Of both
these bureaus, IL properly fostered
cannot commend 10 your CAREFUL cen
alteration too highly the reports Of The
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