New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-02
puBl.1C LANDS.

wv SiCat IL AS tN''
session of great estates has been prolific
of miniature wars and bloodshed; but
happily, in our land that day is past
The late war. in some degree, was owing
to the settlement of orr public lands IL
the Territories west of the Mississippi
river, as to whether it should be under
free or slave government. The arbltEit
ment of the sword, to which an appeal was
made. has determined that 1t shall be
free. And now these lands are passing
too rapidly into private possession ever
TO be likely to evolve another quarrel
Every settlement under the presumption
or homestead laws, and every railroad
GRANT. is an argument in favor OF peace.
In 1893, at the close Of our Revolutionary
war. we were in possession of 22", 0oO.OHJ
acres of uninhabited lands. Those
acres were comprised within the area OF
what was then known as the thirteen
colonies and became subsequently the
Western and Northwestern States and
Territories.
In 1903. by the treaty with France, we
acquired 1000. 900 square miles OF terri
tory, on which we have founded ten
States. two Terri.orie, and portions
of two more States In 1919 we obtained
Florida from Spain. In 1913 and 1888
tod Nt.fn "a
territory north of the Gil;', Colorado and
RIO Grande, giving Us California, New
Mexico, Utah. Nevada and Montana, and
in 1867, by the purchase from Russia of
Alaska, 1000. 600, 900 acres we've added
to the public domain. All this immense
territory of !, s34, 1913, 400 acre, is capable
of supporting population of 12O, OOO. 600
of people, or more than half the popula-
ton now living on the globe. OF this
land about 44O. 900, 600 of acres have been
sold and parted with for pre-exemption and
homestead rights, donations. school and
college grants, canals and railroads. and
for military grants to the old soldiers of
the Revolutionary war and the newer
soldiers of the war of 1912, of lS47 and
of Indian wars since the first settlement
of our country.
There are now in market, under gov
eminent survey, 70,0000OO. There still
remain one billion three hundred mil
lion acres Of wild lands, stretching over
hills, valleys, prairies and
mountains, ready for the occupation of
future generations. who, in the prospect
of so much land. are demanding life i'm
patient to be born Our government is
using these wild lands as incentives to
immigration and the education of the
people. Over 7J.0OO.O0o of acres have
been granted for schools and colleges:
% coo, 900 have been ap ropriated for
railroads: $4,000. 900 have been bestowed
upon the brave soldiers of our country,
their widows and children: II, 900 acres
5000, 900 reserved for the Use Of the
Indian tribes and 1900. 600 appropriated
for other purposes. 1t seems that our
government in regard to its public lands.
hold these lands as the trustee of the
people rather than the actual owner
thereof. The disposition Of the public
lands for the various purposes to which
the larger part of them has been devoted
shows laudable desire on the part of the
United States to use these lands as rewards
and incentives to emigration, settlement,
internal improvement and the education
O. its citizens.
The United States in two respect, diff
fer from other nations, which gives supe
riority over them. The first is the extent
of its common school system. which is en-
couraged and fostered by liberal grants of
public lands for the maintenance Of pub
lie schools. In every township in the
Western territory there is allowed and re-
served for school purposes, twelve hun
bred and eighty acres, or eight farms of
the average size of one hundred and sixty
acres each-the whole of the minimum
value of sixteen hundred dollars, of an
actual average of seven thousand dollars.
or thereabouts.
1t is estimated by the Hon. Joseph S
Wilson, of Washington, the highest au-
thority in the United States on all ques-
tons relating to public lands, that to-
day there are ten millions of persons in
this county who might receive instruc-
ton in our public schools, and that one
of ali the land ia the great
West-over eight hundred millions Of
pledged for this purpose. IN
another respect do we differ from other
nations in relation to our public lands
that is, our government gives to every
man or woman who claims to be the head
Of a family, the poorest, the most igno-
rant, without regard to nationality or
birth place, Il farm or homestead of one
and sixty acres, free Of charge or
expense upon two conditions. viz That
of becoming an American citizen, and
agreeing to reside on it for five years.
It has been we'll said that PRUSSIA may
equal us in education; England and Ger
many may surpass us i'll the intellectual
culture of the higher classes; France. has
more scientific men; but in the number
OF happy families, where the home is
owned by those who occupy it, the United