Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-30
SALE Of TnR PURLuC LAMBS.
fPioneer Press

61Ou00I EI000sl
Some interesting figures on Q subject
whose statistics are most difficult to OBJ
tain-the Gales and dispoaals Of Govern
ment lands-are presented In the last
number of the Commercial and Finaa-
cial Chronicle. Is appears from this
statement that the disp0aals of public
lands for cash and under the homestead
and timber culture laws during the six
years from 1873 10 1883 inclusive, aRgre-
gate 1881, ITO acres, q territory con-
tanning an area Of 1883 square miles,
or nearly twice ~ large - New York.
The number Of acres disposed of annu-
ally increased from 6,655,87l ia 1873 to
1916, 162 in 1882, and l6. $50, A56 in 1853.
Thus, during the fiscal year ending last
June, the amount of land transferred
from tho ownership Of the nation to
that Of individuals was 1921 square
miles, an area somewhat moro than that
of the State of Massachusetts,. The
largest amount of land 10 taken mp. Of
course, in Dakota, Minnesota and Ne
braska. In 1873 and 1879 Kansas held
the lead, but then Dakota came to the
front, and In the last wear settlers took
possession of 6,689, 596 acres Of public
lands in that Territ0ry-au amount
nearly equal to all tho land ~ dispOsed
Of in the United States in the year 1873.
Nebraska comes next, and Minnesota
foil sws with I, 292, $50 acres, these three
divisions being the only ones in which
the aggregate disposals are moro than
I 100000 acres each. The influence Of
railway construction on settlement u
everyWhero poroeptible.
The divisions along the line Of the
Northern Pacific, in addition 70 those
already mentioned, shoW . steady in
crease In the demand for public lands
corresponding with the progress of the
great through line-M0ntana having
disposed Of 2l6, A68 acres In the last
wear. a against l7,745 In 1873; Idaho
-, eco, q against g, 65l; Oregon 44S, 40
a against LII, los, and Washington
763,779, q against ~, 9S& In the south
vest similar results have followed from
similar causes, dispoeals OF 246, 6S6 aorel
being reported from New Mexico fol
1883. q against $3.50 acres for 1879. Or
| the other hand, the eject Of too lib
| eral policy Of land grants 10 railroads
| II veil illustrated By the oaoe OF Iowa
vhoee largest disp6eal-that Of 1873
va bat l6,3i5 acres, while not an aofl
Of coveenment land i reported . hav
| ine beeu pouRht or occupied under ~
| national land laws in 1883. These ota
tietics do not, Of ooarss, include tha
great quantities Of railroad lands an
nually sold in tie 6tatos and Territories
and therefore give no adequate idea o
The entire ARA nov being opened 70 81
tiemeat. Thsy simply chow how rapid,
~ inoreaae Of population and OF tmmI
Rration b causing oar unooCupisd hand
% b taken up, and they &re nes wishou
their bearing upon the commercial an
induatsial fntare Of the nation. 4 ooun
Try vhere agriculture y yearly exeend
ING In sooh . RADIO. carving With u u
naturally immeooo cxpanelon Of dema1s
fer Ill kinda of oommoditieo and fc
eroueportaSi0u facilities, cannot b
plunged saddenly into any dsploesol
diGeeoos. The abaenoe of any o1,oil
, informaaiou % public record Of e
amount Of public land still 70 b d
poosd Of IN the several 6tatee and Tel
sitorisa y very pcopeEly eensnrsd ~ q
lCAre~icle. Land legialati0a iseooseAntl
novine IN psuminense and impost.ne
DIT ~ en- scarcely b wtoe g hespe'
uusil III the fAoes that shoold dses
q mino IL oharseesr and direction q
|. onoenuiolo. when sheoe aFo pool1.he
|. thero will b. ooue important morals
|. = drawn. which oannst nov b mo-
!. than cautious infegUuses o. hating 81
|, Civilizations.