The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-16
DEMOCRACY AND The PUBLIC
IANDE.


No government on earth had at one
time finer or larger public domain
than the United States. Millions upon
millions of broad acres stretching
from ocean to ocean invited the home
steader and actual settler, upon easy
terms, and in thousands of instances
the opportunity was seized and wealth
and luxury now surround the poor and
lonely settler of decade,or SC. ago. In
course of time railroads were pushed
into solltudes and across deserts, and
the government went to the assistance
Of these pioneers of trade and civiliza-
tlon by liberal grant Of lands then
thought to be practically beyond the
demand of homesteaders for century
yet to come. Scores Of millions of
acres were thus disposed of and mil
lions more " ere taken up by specula-
tors and sharks and syndicates, under
homestead, presumption, timber culture
and half-dozen othor laws, scrip, etc.
In short, since tho war, particularly,
there seems 10 have been but one rul-
ing policy in our land office, and that
was as soon as possible b dispose Of
the puplic domain.
But these great land grants TO rail-
roads were made on condition that the
roads should bo completed In such a
time, or SO much should be completed,
before the grant vested. In majority
of instances these conditions were
nevor complied with and the grants
were forfeited years ago. In others
the lands haVe been engaged by the
roads and disposed OF In tracts varying
in size with great profit to the COM
panies. When the Democrats &C.
cured control of the lower house
at Washington they began to
look after these forfeitures. Bills
whose effect as laws would have
been to reclaim for the public do
main lG0,00O,0O0 acres, wore fGyorably
acted upon by Democratic representa-
tiyes, but were checked in tho Repub-
lican millionaire Senate. The gross
est mismanng0ment, tho most reckless
waste OF the government lands were
exposed, but to no avail, and all that
could be done was to commit the
house by resolution to the policy of
hereafter sacredly preserving the pub.
lie domain for homestead purposes
and entries only.
But not only were the railroad lands
withdrawn from entry, but the in
demnity lands, the reserved domain
from which the roads could draw in
case their grants were infringed upon,
were also taken out OF market and
closed to the settler. Hundreds of
thousands of acres to which tho cor
porations had no right and millions
more TO which the public did have a
right were locked up, 30 to speak, and
the poor man defraudod OF a homo. 1t
is said that 100000 acres of these in
demnity lands are now withdrawn
from public settlement. A Washing.
ton authority says: "Tho railroad
companies sot up claims to the indom-
nifty lands as against settlers, and
II became the practice of tho land
Office to withdraw tho granted lands
on the filing of n preliminary map of
tho indemnity lands whenever the
definite location was made, and when
the indemnity lands were withdrawn
they woro withdrawn from settlers as
vol as cash entry mon, and remained
Withdrawn from settlement for years
until at last tho railroad had com
pleted It's road and proved its right 70
a portion OF the indemnity. Undor
this practice 100000 acres might be
withdrawn from settlement aud kept
withdrawn for 20 years, and at tho end
of that timo tho railroad would got
only 100000 acres of It.
Tho now Democratic commissioner
OF the general land Office proposes to
corr0c. this abuse and injustice to tho
actual aettlor and homostoador, and
has rendered just recently q decision
which will rovolut!onize tho practice
Of tho office. Our dispatches from
Warrington yesterday morning con-
talned the following: "Land Commits
sioner Sparks has rendered decision
affirming tho right of entry under the
public land laws and decisions of the
Supreme Court Of the United States,
OF lands heretofore withdrawn by vol.
untary action of tho general land
Office FOR railroad indemnity pur-
poses, whore no requirements
OF law existed for making
such Withdrawals. The effect of
this decision, II sustained by the Score.
tary Of the Interior, will DO to restore
to entry under tho homestead and
othor laws many million acres of rub
lie land, which havo bsou kept out Of
the market for many years because
claimed by railroad corporations"
Tho now commissioner liz on the
right track. The public lands are for
tho people. Every 200 acres ought to
have q citizens homo on II. Tho vast
tracks upiustly hold from tho public
should DO reclaimed aud tho Domo-
eraoy should make good it's boast that
1t is tho poor mans friend. II tho
Democratic party should accomplish
nothing else, II Would be entitled to
the gratitude of tho nation for check.
ing tho destruction Of tho public do.
main and seeing to 1t that tho pioneer
aud tho actual settler shall enjoy what
yet remains.
%@
WANTED-.A CEOl OcIOh Gin