Jamestown alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1882, 1882-01-20
The I're.EmDtiOn Law.


introduced a bill in congress to abvl-
ish the pre.emption law, claiming
that it is of no benefit to any one but
dishonest land sharks and spccula-
tors, who have abused it's privilege,
and dcfrauded the government to Tie
extent Of millions Of dollars. 1t II
probably true that three -foulths oI
the land frauds pcrpetra,ed, can be
traced directly to entries made undcl
the pre-emption act, and it is lkely
that its adjustment would not onl,
result in materially benetitting tn
government, but would further the
interests of all honest claimants BY
making it possible for them TO secure
many valuable tracts Of laud under
the homestead act, that would other
wise be gobbled up by spectators.
The Fargo Republican, ofyesterday,
commenting upon the bill now under
consideration offers the following i'll
it's behalf:
The opportunities for fraudulen,
entries under the pre-emption law
are numerous and inviting, and
while it may be, as promised by the
Pioneer Press, that the proposed ra.
peal is aimed more particularly a,
glaring abuses said to exist in the
lumber districts Of Minnesota and
elsewhere, it would have, probably,
quite as salutary an effect in the
purely agricultural sections of the
public domain. The government is
simply trustee, holding these lands
for the benefit Of their owners, the
people, and it is moral, il not
political axiom, that every citizen
has natural and inalienable right
to enough Of the public land to make
a farm if he wants it, and this with
out being obliged to pay heavy com.
missions to middle men coming be.
tween the trustee and himself. The
homestead law is amply sufficient to
provide for his natural right, while
the pre.emption fraud allows spccu-
lators and middlemen to take advan.
tage of the actual settler who wants
a farm on which to liye. This mag
nl6ccnt region will never be develop
ed to its full producing capacity
until every quarter section shall
he the home Of an Independent,
farmer. 1t requires some courage to
leave the old settled portions of the
country, leaving home and friends,
and often the conveniences and COM
forts Of life, to start anew Oh the
broad and fertile prairies Of the west.
Often the entcrprising pioneer has
exhausted his means to reach the
goal Of his llopes-thc place where,
BY labor and energy, he can create a
new home and surround it with the
comforts of life. Such men institute
tho true wealth Of the country, be.
cause they .rc the wealth producers
-sreators, so to speak-and any
law which compels them to pay trib-
! ute to any body but themselves or,
rather, which affords an opportunity
for non producers to compel them to
paw tribute before they can secure
16O acres of land on which to create
a hone, ought to be repealed.
1t is not our purpose to condemn
those men who take advantage o.
existing laws to obtain possession o
lands aud hold them for settlement
and improvement until the effort
and labo,s ofactuai settlers surround.
ing them shall have materially in
creased their value. II is n.tura
for men to do this, but the true III
terests Of the great masses OF ths
people require that any law undeI
which this may be done should to bt
repealed.
Cnder the homestead law, ihc
provision requiring residence for 8
term of years before the title can be
transferred from the trustee to tic
owner, is no hardship, for the settle.
must have a home, and it ensures the
actual occupation and improvement
of the public domain aud while the
ewner Is increasing the vaue OF his
possessions, he is a producer ant
adds to the wealth of the common
wealth. The homestead law is al
that is necessary to accomplish tbs
purpose and it is hoped that Mr.
Washburn will be successful in Sc
curing the repeal of the pre.empticl
law.