White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1870-12-15
Tl-BySC LANDS.

3cU arrc5 ns untc iano wee ""poSou
Of. OF this q ssntity S69. .8Sl .OO5 acres
were taken up m Fer the Homestead Law,
and 2l5. 5.95l, ,5Sl acres more soil Tor
cash. The remainder WAS located with
Military Warrants. College or Iodi'n
Scrip OF applied in satisfaction Of grants
IN railroads, or for other public uses
The entries nnder the Homestead law
during the l.st gear covered Sol .5lo
acres more than than those during the
preceding year. Surveys have been
viporou.Iy prosecuted TO the fail extent
of he means applicable to the pnrpose.
The qlau.i,y Of land in the make. will
smpiy satisfy ths present demand.
The claim Of the settler under the
| Homestead or Pre.emption laws is not.
hoWeve limited to lands sDtject to sale
at private cntry. Any unsppropristed
surveyed public land NAV. to limited
extent, be acquired under the former
! ws, IL the party entitled to enter under
them will comply with the requirements
they prescribe in rsgsri to re'ilsnce sni
cultivation. The actusi settlers pre-
ference right of purchass is even bro adsr.
! anil extends to lsnis which wers unsnr-
veyed at the time Of his set,lem,n'. His
right was formerly con6nei within much
narrower limits. and at one period of onr
history wss conferred only bv special
statntes. They we're enacted from time
to time to lesalise what was than regar-
ded ss an unauthorized intrusion upon the
pntionsl dom ,in.
The opinion that tie public lands
shoull be regarded chiefly as . snurce OF
revenue is no longer maintained. The
rapid settlement and successful cultivs-
tion Of them are now Justly considered Of
more im2ortance to our well being than
i. the fund which the sale Of them wonld
produce. The rem markable growth and
prosperity of onr new States and Terrific
ries attest the wisdom OF the Legislation
which invites the tiller OF the soil to ae
cure permanent home ou terms within
the reach of all. Tue pioneer who in
ours the dangers and priva'ions Of from
tier life, and thus aids in laving the
foundation Of new commonwealths. rem
Ncts ftSuui sciSiCc W His Cuuuttys "uh
is entitled to its special favor and protec
iion. Tie laws that secure that object
largely promote the general welfare.
They shoul J.. therefore. bs charishe as q
permanent feature Of our land system.
Good faith requires us to give full effect
to existing grants.
The time honored and bene6cent policy
Of setting apart certain sections OF public
land for educational purpose in ths new
States shon'd be continued When am
pc provision shall have been made for
these ohj,cts. l submit as question
worthy OF serions consideration whether
the residue Of onr National domain should
not he wholly disposed Of under the pro-
visions of ths Homestead and Pre- emp.
ton laws. Ia addition to the sv amp and
ove,Aowed lanls granted to States in
Which they are situated. the lands taken
under the Agricultural College acts and
for internsl improvement purposes under
the act of September. lS4l. and the acts
supplementary thereof. there had been
conveyed to the close of the las, fsrisl
year. by patent or other equivalent evi-
dence Of the title to States and corpora
tions. 2,1S3 625. 763 AMI 100 acres for
railways. canals. and wagon rosd-. Il
is estimated that there is and additional
quantity of ia 7S5 523 acres still due
under grants for like uses.
The policy Of thus aiding the States 10
builiiug works of internal improvement
was inaugnrated more than 40 years since
in the grsnts 10 Indiana and Illinois. to
aid those States in opening canals to con-
ncct the wsters Of the Wabash with those
of Lake Erie. snd The waters Of the H.
linois with those OF Lake Michigan. 1t
was folio xed, with some modifics-
TORS. in the grant to Illinois. of alternate
sections of public land within certain
limits to the Illinois Central Railway.
Faurteen States and sundry corporations
have received similar subsidies. 10 con.
uection with railways completed or in
process Of construction. A the several
sections are rated at the double minimum,
the sale Of them at the enh 'nced price
has Thus. in many instances. unidentified
the Treasury for the granted land.
The construction Of some OF these
thoroughfares has undoubtedly given Q
vigorous impetus TO the development Of
our resources and the settlement Of the
more distant portions of the country. 1t
may, however. be well insisted that much
of our legislation in this regard has been
characterized BY indiscriminate and pro-
fuse liberslity. The United States should
not loan their credit in aid OF any enter
prise undertaken By States or corpora
tions. nor grant lands in any instance un-
less the projected work is of scknowledg-
ed material importance. I sm strongly
inclined to the opinion that it is inexpedi-
ent and unnecessary to bestow eubsidies
OF either description; but. should Con-
gress determine otherwise. l earnestly re-
commend that the rights Of settlers and of
the public be more efIectnalIy secured and
perfected BY appropriate legislation.
PATENT cFFTcE-c -csysUs-PESsIoSs.
During the year ending September 80.
1870 there were fled in the Patent Or
fee 19.4ll applications for patents. g.
374 caveats. and 100 applications for the
extension Of patents; Is .622 patents inclu
ding re-issues and designs. were issued.
IL .094 rendered. and ]. .0S9 allowed. bat
not issued. by reason Of the non payment
of fbe 6n.l fees. The receipts OF the Of
flee inring the fiscal year were Sl3.-
$50, ,429 in excsss Of its expenditures.
The work Of the Census Bureau has
been energsticsily prosecuted. The pre-
liminaryisport containing much informs.
tion Of special value and interest. will Be
ready for delivery during the present ses-