The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-14
A ZIG LAND BUSINESS.

The amount of domain embraced
in all the states and territories of
the Union reaches 1925, 2S2, 24O
acres. Much of this was acquired
by purchase. Louisiana, embracing
756, 961 ,2S0 acres, was purchased
from France for ,S27, 267, 621, 98.
Florida, containing 1891 $50 acres,
was purchased of Spain for
Sc, 489,76S. The Mexico Guadalupe
Hidalgo purchase of334, AS, $50 acres
was made at cost of $I5,OO0.O0O ;
the Texas purchase, 1850, of $780,
$50 acres for $16,0O0,0eO the Mexico
Gadsden purchase, 1888, of 29,142,-
400 acres for $1O,OOO,OOO. Alaska,
which was purchased from Russia
by Mr.. Seward, in 1867, contains
1858, 529 600 acres, and cost s., 200, 900.
The state of Georgia sold the United
States 56,6s9, 92O acres for Sc, 2OO,O 900.
The aggregate purchases have been
1895, 139, 200 acres for $81, 957, 389.98,
cost of lilo cents per acre.
The United States has disposed of
(estimated) 547,754, 484.88 acres of
public domain, exclusive of Tennes-
see, and has received therefor, net,
$500. 702, 849.1l, or nearly Sc 9-20
cents per acre. The public domain
contains (estimated) 1,852.31O,9S7
acres, and cost, for purchase, Indians,
survey and disposition 1922, O49,-
1886, or about l73 cents per acre.
OF surveyed and unsold lands there
still remain 1862, 455 acres. The
estimated area of vacant surveyed
public lands in the southern states
is 10, 180,256 acres. These lands are
all open 10 private entry at $1.25 per
acre, except some mineral tracts"
lying in the Huntsville and Tusca-
loosa districts in Alabama. The
total unsurveyed lands are estimated
at 1909, 143,727 acres. The total re-
ceipts by the United States from the
sale of lands since June 80, 1896,
have been $2OS,O59,6S7. The public
domain has cost, in cash, stocks or
bonds, paid or to be paid $8S, 157 1889.
The expenses of the surveys and
of the land administration from the
beginning of the, government to
June 80, 1880, was $46,563,302. 1t
has cost the government to quiet
and purchase the occupancy title of
Indians to the public domain, since
July 4, 1875, to June 80, 1880, $751;
326,903. Including all expenses OF
administration, purchase, Indians,
to June 80, 1880. the public domain
had cost the government, in cash,
1921, 316,746 more than it has realiz-
ed. OF the remaining public do
main it is estimated that 85,500,O00
acres are timber lands, 8 1870 coal
lands, and "a, 100000 are known to
contain precious metal and other
valuable mineral deposits. The clas-
sification is subject to great increase
by new discoveries, as there are
larger areas of the public domain
still unexplored. The irrigable
lands, which can be taken under
the Desert Land act, and may be ir-
rigated from the present water sup
ply, are estimated at 100000 acres.
The amount of land which is useless
for agricultural purposes, by reason
of altitude, lack of water or soil, or
which is unavailable because it is in
Guided in private land grants, or is a
portion of Indian and military
reservations, amounts to 565, 701 ,227
acres. A large portion of this is
adapted to pasturing and grazing,
although not suitable for agriculture.
The value to the government of the
remaining unsold and unceded pub
lie domain is estimated at 81, 1884,
92l ,66l. 1t is expected that it will
require a vastly greater period of
time to dispose of the remaining
public domain than the ninety-five
years that have been requisite to dis
pose of the land sold prior to June
80, 1880.