New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-25

i is5 sS S53tiS 5000 $500 10000 $4,000
The extent 10 which private lands, plantations which
have been abandoned since the abolition of slavery
have been sold 10 new settlers the South, cannot be
stated The disposal may have amounted TO 100000
acres a year, and ii may have risen to 1,OO0OOO
There is no way of ascertaning how much IT has been
All that can be said is that the acreage sold has been
very large.
This table given above begins with 1872 because that
was the year of heaviest immigration since the discovery
Of continent and because the land sales were also
enormously large The effect of the hard times is shown
nv the falling off both i'll immigration and sales OF
land in the years following 1878. Now compare
the two years of 1872 ana 1873. In 1872,
there was an influx OF 449.4S3 aliens 10 the United
States and sale of about 9500000 acres of new land
10 new settlers. II is thought that nearly 100000
people went into the regions Of the West and South
in that year. Nearly all of them, plainly. were new
immigrants 10 the United States from Europe and
China. Some Of them were former residents OF the
Eastern States OF the country but the East did not
lose population in 1872, for the places at home
OF those who went were moro than supplied by mm
grafton and the East gained IN population in 1872 as
well as the West. But in 1873, the facts were very
different The sales OF new land amounted to the
enormous quantity OF 100000 acres at least,
while tho immigration 10 the country was
less than 10000. 1t is certainly known that
not over One-haf OF those 10000 Of new corners
went south and West. Vast numbers OF them went to
different destinations. The records OF Castle Garden
and other landing depos show that the scarcity of farm
labOreTs and good household servants in the state OF
NewYork and other parts OF the East resulted in detain
ing nearly half OF the mm grants arriving on this coast
in this part Of the country Some Of the corners
went TO Canada. few thousand became servants and
residents in the Pacific coast cities Not over 10000
Of the immigrants Of 1873 went to the new
States and Territories. Yet the sales OF Gov
ernment. railroad, and Texas public lands, added
10 the large sales Of private lands and the
migration TO Western towns show that at least 100000
people took up their residence III the new parts of the
West and Southwest during the calendar year 1873.
The number of farms and lots taken up about
100000 the average quantity Of land per family being
100 acres This may o small average size for a
farm in the West but while it is true that the new set
tier can acquire 100 acres by homestead and pre-
empOn entry If he desires the letters received by THE
TRIBUNE snow that the average not great that
The average Of all the sales appears TO be about 100
acres to tie family. Now, families will about
lOur in number, and this, with the mgratiOns
to Western towns, estimated at 10 per cent
Easily indicates an accession OF 100000 TO
the population Of the West and South In
ls7a Now Of this Co., 000 1t is evident that at least
$4,000 OF the settlers were from the older States
Of the country and that the population of the East has
been diminished in 1873 by that number OF people.
The heaviest migration oOk place from New England
tue Middle States and Virginia. These regions have
been the most troubled with a surplus Of unemployed
labor and they have been Of late the scene Of active
eauyasng for emgrants by Western land agents, who
while advertising their own lands. have also done
much good by calling attention to the fertility and
eheapness Of the Government lands, thing they did not
care to do particularly but which result OF their
operations Private aGvces received by The TRIBUNE
report that these persons who have gone West and
South are in general citizens OF intelligence aud some
small means. and mostly men with families. Many OF
flErpo Icrf
ehanies, Who being OF work, have drawn their de-
pos out Oh the banks and rather than stay the East
aud eat up their accumuaOnS, have taken their money
and furniture West and begun the world anew. |
They have gone out the prairie. broken
up the virgin soil, so rich as not 10 need |
lerulzng plaBed crops and groves OF timber, |
and made themselves independent OF all the vicsstudes
Tabor and fortune in the East They ALL like their
predecessors IL that region in fair way TO make CON-
peteDoe.
Inc regions to which they have principally gone |
are Texas, Kansas. Dakota Nebraska, Minnesota and
'aOfnla, IN the order named, but some have gone 10
i4orlda' Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, NewMexico. and
'ne regions beyond the Rocky Mountains. Nebraska
cameo 100000 OF these settlers during 1873. Gov
ernor Pilsbury, Of Minnesota, writes that his State
sSned 9OOOO Kansas gained probably $4,000. The |
AStsas valley III Kansas alone gained $4,000 settlers
mIe'e That State has done remarkably well in every
way TINS last year II attracted rush Of settlers
~ sViTtepOnCCnt writes from Topeka as iOlOwS \
sbOat It's crops:
from The complete figures Of the business of 1873 and
e Psst hVe ears which now inclose you form
Vue cea OF the progress and development being made.
a1sas IN 1873 stands at the head Of all the States in
Union IN wheat production. the crop beng imsted
49, osel 900 bushels. OF this amount 49,
VvVOO bushels raised in twelve counties in the
hAhsSs Valley where there were no agricultural set
sents eight years ago, and the buffalo still held pos
isSeoIoh The dra w1acks under which Kansas has I
Oie0 by reason Of distance from Eastern markets
rapidly reniedied by the opening mp OF
seu the mining regions OF Colorado, New-Mexleo and
i,IOnA Where very large emigration has been pour
:. oI the past year or two, ana promises 10 be still
bsS t, 20 the future Nearly all the produce Row pre-
Z,t Tor consumption Is shipped West from the
ndAahsat Valley. Wheat goes East because we have
shp Vest "N ~ INV N
tAe eminence Of Kansas In wheat production in |
Ie due 10 the immigration OF previous years, and
I hss been the rush this year, that the position OF
Kansas as the banner State in wheat guaranteed
W some time TO come. While Kansas gained $4,000 |
nc" settlers IN 1875 IL s estimated that Dakota did
e same, the rush 10 that region being OF course |
% largely TO the mining excitement, although ex
1Sxa ala haVa mad hale