The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-13


dy on our Soil.
Boston Herald Of Sunday.
1.-THE board Of aid to land ownership
TO its advisory members and the public
submits the following report:
In December last the formation Of TIL
board was announced, It's object being u
promote associate migration to fertile
unoccupied lands; to aid their develop
ment into agricultural townships ant
homesteads; by these means contributing
to q redistribution Of labor-iA diver
sion from trade and manufacture, wherl
In surplus TO tillage Of the earth-th,
basis Of all industries, and the primar!
source Of all wealth." It's proposed plar
Of operation received general common
dation as practicable and for the public
good. Meanwhile committees have mad,
four extensive journeys 10 The Western
and Southern States, occupying iv'
months time.
The frat delegation left Boston fol
lows, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas ant
Texas, in the prospective discomfort o
the winter season, that work might b,
prepared for the following spring. They
Investigated thoroughly the various rail
road land grants In those States, ant
their opportunities for organized settle,
ment. Through the courtesy OF the Off
cials they were favored with
UNUSUAL FACILITIES FOR OBSERVATION
along the lines Of the following compa
mics:
The Chicago & Northwestern Iowa
lines, Union Pacific, Burlington & Mia
souri, in Nebraska, Kansas Pacific, At
Gibson, Topeka & Santa Fe, Missouri Ri,
YER and Fort Scott Missouri, Kansas 4
Texas, Little Book & Fort Smith, Texas
Pacific, Texas Central, Houston d sai
Antonio, 81. Louis &Iron Mountain.
This tour. occupied two months; exten
ded $500 miles, from Omaha 10 Calves
ton and San Antonio southwark, and 4
various places 600 miles westward from
the Mississippi.
With the flow Of emigration and III,
movement Of heavy crops, these lines ex
hibited marked prosperity under e%ficienI
management. They offered In competi'
tion millions Of acres Of land, their sub
sidy from the Government.
But II was found that the Limitation o
these grants to alternate square miles wa
a serious impeachment TO the plan OF th,
board, which requires solid tracts, tina
the territory may be entirely under thei
control for the common benefit, as t
roads, building restrictions, temperance
laws, etc. This opinion was confrmet
by the subsequent observations of othei
committees.
During this travel much valuable in
formation was obtained, to be made pub
lie on opportunity, concerning facilitie
for settlement OF the unemployed upol
farm homesteads in happy Independence
Details aud facts noted bearing upol
this subject might fll q volume upon eacl
State visited.
ONE CONCLUSION WAS UNANIMOUS:
That emigration 10 the aggregate doe
not obtain permanent prosperity at Al
extreme change OF latitude. Climate
influences control health, mental ant
physical energy; upon these depend 10
austry, happiness, success. New England
ers should not change to q great yaria
tiou in temperature from that Of thei
nativity. Upon this consideration decis
ion was made against any attempt to col
onire south Of Kansas, unless it may b
in the plateau region Of the Middl,
States, where elevation compensates
warm latitude.
The only solid tract that was suppose
possible 70 be obtained, of Acceptable
quality, situation and area in Iowa, Ne
braska or Kansas, was the Pawnee Indian
reservation In Nebraska, OF about 500
900 acres in extent and about to be offered
for sale by the Interior Department
The purchase OF this valuable tract wa
unanimously desired by the board. Two
delegations went to Washington 10 con
fer with the Secretary Of the lnterio'
and the Nebraska members OF Congress
who cordially supported the measure
But its accomplishment required specia
legislation, which the Secretary could no
consistently advocate, from danger Of
precedent which might be corruptly imi
lated. He had just received a fourteen
pound sweet potato, grown upon land OBJ
iained from Government by special aci
upon representation OF is worthless
ness a desert.
This effort abandoned, COMMITTEES mad
4 second and third visit to Kansas, secur
ing the services q an expert Of Mr.. o. i
Davis, late land commissioner OF the I'm
ion Pacific Railroad Company, to selec
10000 acres from the lands OF the Kan
"a. Pacific and Atchison & Topeka Rail
road companies. Such tracts were chosen
plans made thereof and equitable term
proposed by the corporations.
Meanwhile 4 liberal charter was OBJ
tanned from the Legislature Of Massachu
sets, and capital sufficient for the fra
purchase was subscribed BY the board.
But after again
TRAvERsIsG THE PRARIEs N WAGONS
for days (tor 10000 acres 10 alternat
sections cover nearly 500 square miles
the committee decided unanimously tha
the plan contemplated would not be effet
tive with ownership only Of every othe
square mile, one half being in possession
OF settlers independent OF the board
Further effort to develop railroad land
WM therefore finally abandoned. Thi
conclusion limited exceedingly the feel
Of operation In Nebraska and RanIas,th
only Western States offering large area
Of arabic land and adjacent 70 railroa
communication.
The only available parcel Of Ian
found by the three committees was a trag
ment Of an Indian reservation Of 1000
acres, with an eligible town site, upon
main line Of railroad. Il was voted IN
animously to purhale II upon the term
offered. Asurvey into so acre lots va
ordered, IN agent and appraiser selectet
and plans for q hotel received, that th
land might be Immediately offered y
many applicants on file, that cod coul
Be broken and a crop secured the prsser
But, to our great surprise, the enter
prize was arrested on the 4th inst. BY tn
decision Of counsel, plainly WARRANTED
that the title rendered for the land va
void. As II lad passed directly iroE
the United States Government to a wea
thy corporation Of another State, Whic
was TO convey Il 10 the board, Il SCENE