The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-02-26

Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming
Washington and the Indian Territory
The State of Florida. was acquired
from Spain by the treaty of 1919, and
the States of California and Nevada
and the Territories OF New Mexico
Arizona, Colorado (now a State), and
Utah, were obtained by treaty with
the Republic of Mexico in 1S46. a.
The Independent Republic of Texas
-once part of Mexico-wAs annexed
to the United States on the 4th of July
I845, and was by joint resolution OF
the two Houses of Congress-, admitted
into the Union on the 10Th day of De.
cember, 1845. .i
The public lands in Texas belong to
the State. Alaska was purchased by
the United States in 1867 from Alex
ander II. of Russia, and it's limits are
"a deg. 40 min. and II deg. 1t con-
tains 577,390 square miles, and has
oOO,O&O,OOO oCI % Va I6u0g Vi WI IL,
100000 are claimed to be arabic.
By the above treaties and deeds of
cession and purchase, the public do
main has been increased eight times
its original extent, and now embraces
1,S34, ,998, 400 acres, or 1861, ,lS5 square
miles. This area is greater by ,2O0,- :
600 square miles than all of Europe
outside of Russia. The present limits
of the Republic cover nearly 100000
square miles, extending through 5S
degrees of longitude from ocean to
ocean, and through 25 degrees of lati-
tude. i"l @ ''''' '',@ .'t ~.hi
The policy of the Government of
the United States has never been to
look to the public domains as source
of revenue, but to legislate in regard
to it so as to encourage everybody to
obtain homes, to aid in making inter-
nal improvements, to educate the peo-
pie, and to develop the resources of
country. For example, there is
1. The presumption law. The first
act passed upon this subject was
March 2, 1899. The next act was in
1900, and the next in 1880, and it has
since been modified aud extended by
various acts from that time down to
1862. It's object was, as the Supreme
Court of the United State say" "To
reward the hardy and adventuresome
pioneer, by granting him the privi-
lege of purchasing the favorite spot
selected by him for nominal sum-"
2. There is the School law,by which
every sixteenth and thirty-sixth Sec
ton in every township is appropri-
ated for the purpose of aiding in the
establishment of common schools.
The amount thus reserved amounts to
over 81, ,9S3, ,022 acres. eaa- Hae
8 Grants to colleges and universi-
ties which amount to over l,0S2. $50
acres Z! ii-..s 3
4. Grants to agricultural and me-
chanical colleges, which amount to
over 1O,26O. 600 acres.
5. Grants to States of swamp and
overf1owed lands.
6. Laws providing for individuals
acquiring the title for town sites,
mineral and coal lands.
Z. The Homestead and Exemption
law. BY tlis act any citizen of the
United States over 81 years of age can
procure a homestead Of l60 acres of
land by going and living ON the same
for few years and by paying enough
money to about defray the cost of
making out the papers for it.
8. The Tree Culture act. This al
lows any citizen of 81 years old to OBJ.
tain leo acres of land by plowing up
q few acres of land and planting the
same with trees and shrubs. and cul-
tivating it for few years, and does
not even require that he should live
on the land.
9. The Bounty laws, to soldiers,
sailors, and volunteers, are standing
rewards to all patriots, and are more
liberal than those of any other Gov
ernment in the world. ..
10. Donations for canals and rail-
roads, and other public improvements
The Pacific Railroad Company alone
was granted over $50, ,OOO,O 900 acres of
land to aid in the construction of that
railroad. 'niy
Besides these laws the Government
allows settlers and pioneers to take
from its abundance firewood and tim
ber to cut and saw, and build houses
almost without stint or limit. It also
allows the shepherds and herdsmen
unlimited range over its vast domain,
and it would seem that in its gener-
osity there was no class of the human
race left unproYided for. 1t stands in
loco PARENTS to the widow and the
orphan, and is the guardian of all that
are needy and homeless, whether men
women or children. No such munifi
csnce or liberality eyer characterized
any other Government since the world
existed. Those who do not appreci-
ate its kindness and advantages should
forthwith migrate to some other
planet. No man in this country who
can crawl has any business to be with
out home. 1t is IA Government Of
the people, by the people, and for the
people,"
THE RINGlNG ROCKS.
A few days ago a representative Of
the Times and Dispatch paid visit to
the geological wonder known as the
Ringing Rocks, in nMontgomery county.