The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-12-10
The Public Domain.

The Public Domain.
President Grant, in his late message
to Congress, ;hus refers to the further
granting Of the public domain TO rail-
cad and other corporations:
During the last 6scal year S,O95.43
acres Of public lands were disposed Of
OF this quantity $685., 9l005 acres
were taken under the Homestead law,
and 2,l59,5l5.sl acres sold for cash.
| The remainder was located with mill
tary warrants, college or milan scrip,
or applied in satisfaction Of grants to
railroads, or for other public uses. The
1 Homestead law, during the last year,
covered 96l ,545 acres more than those
during the preceding year, Surveys
have been vigorously prosecuted to the
\ full extent of the means applicable to
\ the purpose. The quantity of land in
market viii amply supply the present
demand. The claim OF the settlers un-
/ der the Homestead or the Presumption
law is not, however, limited to lands
subject to sale at private entry. Any
unappropriated surveyed public land
may, to 4 limited amount, be acquired
under the former laws, If the party en-
titled to eater under them win comply
with the requirements they prescribe IN
regard 10 residence and cultivation.
The actual settlers preference right Of
purchase is even broader, and extends
to lands which were unsurveyed at the
time of his settlement His right was
formerly confined within much narrow
er limits, and at one period OF our his
tory was conferred only by special
statutes. They we're enacted from
time TO time to legalize what was then
regarded as an unauthorized intrusion
upon the national domain. The opin-
ion that the public lands should be re-
gslded chiefly as 4 source of revenue,
is 10 longer maintained. The rapid
settlement and successful cultivation Of
them il now Justly considered of more
importance To our well-beng than is
the fund which ths sale ~ them would
produce The remarkable growth and
prosperity Of our new States and Ter
ritories attest the wisdom of the legis
lation which invites the tilleT of the
soil to secure permanent home with
in the reach Of all. The pioneer who
incurs the dangers and privations Of
frontier life. and thus aids in laying
the foundation OF new COmmonwealths,
renders 4 signal service u Ills country,
and is entitled 70 its spec Al favor and
protection. The laws secure that OBJ
iect, and largely promote the general
welfare. They should, therefore, be
cherished rs a permanent feature Of
our land system Good faith requires
us to give full effect to existing grants.
The time -hOnOTed and beneticient poll
, cy of setting apart certain sections of
the public lands for educational pur-
poses in the new States should be con-
4 tinued. When ample provision shall
have been made for these objects, /
, submit, as a question worthy of serious
consideration, whether the residue of
: our national domain should not be
wholly disposed q under the provis-
ions Of the Homestead and Pre-emp-
ton laws. In addition % the swamp
! and overhowed lands granted to the
States in which they are situated, the
lands takDn under TIE Agricultural
College acts and for internal improve
n mcnt purposes, under the act of Sep
TENDER, lS4l, and the acts supplement-
> al thereto, there had been convened,
up to the close Of the last fiscal year.
by patent or otner equivalent evidence
Of title to States and corporations, 81
$50, 257 l. 100 acres for railways. can
ais and wagon roads. lit il estimated
@that an additionaIiquantity of TIA, 1885,
523 acres i still due under grants for
like uses
The policy Of thus aiding the States
in building works of internal improve
! ment was inaugurated more than forty
: years since III the graEts to Indiana
4 and Illinois to Az those States ii open
4 ing canals TO connect the waters ofthe
] Wabash with those OF Lake Erie. and
, the waters OF the Illinois w+th those II
, Lake Michigan. Ii was followed with
some modification i'll the grant to Hi
nois, Of alternate sections Of public
land within certain limits Of the Illinois
Central Railway. Fourteen States and
, sundry corporations have received
+, similar subsidies in connection With
u NRhi kAtANfA VI III DItttSN OF
construction. y the reserved sections
\ are rated at the double minimum, this
enhanced price has thus, in many in
stances, indtmnititd the Treasury for
T the granted lands The construction
N Of some Of these thoroughfares has IN
4 doubtedly given q vigorous impetus to
the development of our resources, and
the settlement Of the more distant
portions VA the country. II may, how
ever, Ne well insisted that much Of our
? legislation in this regard he's been
S characterized by indiscrimiuate and
J protuse iberality. The United States
should not loan their credit IN all Of
any enterprise undertaken Nv States u
corporations, nor grant lands in any in
stance, unless the projected work Is OF
! acknowledged national importance. I
| am strongly inclined TO TIE opinion
! that 4 j. inexp, lient and unnecessary
to bestOw subsidies Of either descrip-
t ton, but should Congress determine
, otherwise, | earnestly recommend that
The rights Of settlers and OF the public
be more etfectually secured ana pro-
tected BY appropriate legislation
Knowledge il Power
That knowledge ~ t,oWa, Was ba,,