New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-31
LAND GRANTS TO RAILROADS-SQUAND
ING THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

To the razor Of The Tribune.
SIR: While a very wholesome disposition 10
shown to condemn every species OF waste or msappro
priation OF the public money property have looked
in vain OF late for one OF pesenta
tIyes who have given away the public lands with so
reckless hand. In saying this intend no reflection
upon what has been done I'm the way Of grants 10 rail
roads running across the continent TO the Pacific Most
territory given TO them remote from population
and without railroad facilities would remain unoccupied
perhaps many years What would like to have the
press say about is the giving away
valuable territory so near to population as AT,
many Of the grants made TO roads whose bonds
advertised at the present time. Many of these
are through regions where capital can well afford
to build the roads and look TO their legitimate
and inevitable earnings for its recompense, and the
portion Of territory embraced in this observation in
cudes all the country of Kansas and Nebraska, ana
the easterly half If not the whole OF those two states
Millions ana tens OF millions on dollars WORTH o, pupo
hhus III thlS region Ma Deeh s'ludlueIeu uucI he tc
tense of encouraging the construction OF railroads, when
the present and prospective business OF the routes
SUFFICE of itself TO insure the building OF iron roads az
speedily without as with land grants Take, Tor single
example, the road leading from St. Joseph, on the Mis-
souri, to Denver City fold Fort kearney on the Platte
River in line nearly due west through North Eastern
Kansas and SOUTHEASTERN Nebrsska-a distance OF about
40 miles This IL one of the oldest Travelled routes m mo
country, furnishing business almost ready mtue
million and-a-half acres of tins valuable land
to a railroad companyi Did they need 1t TO assist
work is already done, and the residue will probably
be finished without the OF dollar realized IN any
grant had been made. Here Is ease where tho
land is worth more to-day than the entire cost OF tho
road and equipment, and | venture 10 say that VITA
iudCiOus mama cement onehalf the proceeds OF any q
these grants OF land the settled portion OF our
country will be sufficient Ia build aud equip the roads
Does puDlc necessity require me mAing H sn be.t an,
and is be continued until ali the Oes' ant
NJ 81 Tppi,is Amv Ok A KANSAS TRAVELLER.
We fear that our correspondent Is not close re"'i
THE TR,prrSR Rise he would have seen IN its column
many editorial protests against the numerous ana emo
grabbing schemes which have been introduce
into Congress some Of which have been enacted INT
Laws while many Others have failed TO reach that co..
eted goal We are much inclined 10 agree Win o.
rrveer I'm the opinion that there was no publc Just
.cotion for the grant question. The only Just srouh.
,,r craptipg aid, in the form OF public Lands
tborvise 10 railroad corporations Is found Ia ID
allegation that the general public are TO be thereby Del
ad Immense tracts OF the fertile lands Of the great
West have been opened to settlement many year,
earlier than they would have been settled ana ii1o
Int for tie construction OF railroads when toaus n
moi have been built but for Governmental aid fAss'Dy
,bere may be portions OF the country where fa'o'
rant. mdiciously made would It'll be Jusiihaoe' puN
= cory, clear case should be made OUT before gian".
auy n,or, public lands to private corporations i"
h,ld ma preserved for the free settlement Oh 'Ho'
yin occupy and improve them. II Isl happy on''n ""
rho neonle are becoming awakened "a the HnPoi"
,b. Puhl, Domain, and are likely 10 hoId 10 " s.'
countability such Of their Representatives n 49,,
,s shall hereafter foolishly or cOrrupty s9uaN"''
norton OF 10.