Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-12-08

/ During the last fiscal year S095 4I3 acres O
the public land was disposed Of OF this guam
tity 3,69S,91O acres were taken under the home
stead law, and ,159 515 acres sold for cash. Tn
remainder was locatee with military warrants
college or Indian scrip, or applied in satisfac
tion of grants to railroads or for other publi
uses. The entries under the homestead law dur
ing the last year covered 961, ,45 acres more THAI
during the preceding year. Surveys have beer
vigorously prosecuted to the full extent of tn
means applicable to the purpose. The quantit,
Of land in the market will amply supply tn,
demand. The claims of the settlers under tn
homestead or the pre-emption laws, are not
however, limited to lands subject to sale at pri
vate entry. ANY unappropriated surveyed
public land may, to limited amount be ac
quired under the former laws, if the party en-
titled to enter under them viii comply with tn,
requirements they prescribe in regard to tht
residence and cultivation. The actual settler.
preference right Of purchase is even broader
and extends to Lands which were unsurveyed a
merly confined within much narrower limits
and at one period of our history was conferred
only By special statutes. They were enacted
to legalize what was then regarded as an un-
authorized intrusion upon the National domain
The opinion that the public lands should be re-
garded chiefly as a source of revenue is nc
longer maintained. The rapid settlement and
successful cultivation of Them is now Justly
considered of more importance to our well-be-
| ing than is the fund which the sale of them
would produce. The remarkable growth and
prosperity of our new States and Territories at
vites the tiller ofthe soil to secure permanent
home on terms within the reach of all The pi-
oneer who incurs the dangers and privations OF
frontier life, thus aids in laying the founda-
tion of new commonwealths, renders signal
service to his country, and is entitled to its
special favor and protection. The laws secure
that object and largely promote the general
welfare. They should, therefore, be cherished
as permanent feature of our land system.-
Good faith requires us to give full effect to ex-
isting grants. The time honored and benifcent
policy of setting apart certain sections ofpub-
lie land for educational purposes in the new
States should be continued. When ample pro-
vision shall have been made for these objects, I
submit as question warthy a serious consid-
GRAFTON whether the residue of our national do
main should not be wholly disposed of under
the provision OF the homestead and pre- -cmption
laws. In the addition to the swamp and over
flowed lands granted to the State in which thew
are situated, the lands taken under the agricul-
tural college acts and for internal improve
ments or improvement purposes. under the act
Of september 1911, and the acts supplementary
thereto, there had been conveyed up to the
close of the last fiscal year, by patent or other
equivalent evidence of title TO states and cor
poratlons 2,tS3, 9oT 13-100 acres; for railways,
canals and wagon roads, it is estimated that an
additional quantity of 17,4sS5ae a-l00 acres is
still due under grants for like uses The policy
of thus aiding the States in building works of
internal Improvement was inaugurated more
than forty years since in the grants to Indiana
and Illinois, to aid those States, in opening ca
mails to connect the waters of the Wabash with
those of Lake Erie and the waters of the nli-
nois with those of Lake Michigan. II was fol-
lowed with some notifications in the grant of
Illinois of alternate sections ofpublic land with
in certain limits of the Illinois Central Rail-
way. Fourteen states and sundry corporations
have received similar subsidies in connection
with railways completed or in process of con-
struction. AS the reserved sections are rated
ut the double minimum, the sale of them ut the
enhanced price has thus In many instance in
dempiAed tae Treasury for the granted lands
The construction ofsome ofthese thoroughfares
has undoubtedly given a vigorous impetus 70
the development of our resources and she set
tlement 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 literally. The United States should NOT
loan their credit in aid of any enterprise un-
dertaken by states or corporations, nor grant
lands in any instance unless the projected
work is OF acknowledged national importance,
and ala strongly inclined to the opinion that
10 Is inexpedient and unnecessary to bestow
subsidies of either description, hnt should Con-
grcss determine otherwise, earnestly recon-
mend that the right of settlers and Of the pub
lie should be the more cffectually secured bv
appropriate legislation.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
During tho year ending September 3Oth, $50,
there were filed in the Patent ice 10 al an
plications for patents, ard 100 applications for
the extension OF pstents; lS.6s2 patents, in
cluding reissues and designs, We're issued, li0
and ,0s9 allowed but not issued by |
reason OF the non payment Of tho final fee. The
receipts of this ohicc during the fiscal year |
were Fis6,3oi % in excess of its expenditures.
THE CENSUS.
q Tho work Of tho Census Bureau has been en- |
prosecuted. The preliminary re- |
port, containing much Information OF special |
value aud interest, will be ready for delivery |
the present session. The remaining volumes |
will be completed with all the despatch consist
INT with perfect accuracy In arranging and
sStsVt day be furnished with an authentic '