The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-06-05
-
Land Grabbing by Aliens.

Pittsburg Commercial Gazette.l
If the Duke of Sutherland, the
Marquis of Tweeddale, or Lords
Houghton, Dunmore or Dunravcn
want to settle down in free coun-
try. where instead Of being subjects
they will rise to the rank of sover-
eigns, they are welcome to come
here, take out naturalization papers
and pre-empt homesteads for them
selves on the public lands. They
must not, however, be allowed to set
up an alien landlordism in this coun-
try as they are doing.
From n recent report made by the
Public Land Committee of the House
it appears that foreign landlords
and land companies have already
acquired a large slice of the public
domain. A list is given of twenty
nine alien companies and individuals
who hold lands of total acreage
amounting to 20,747,000 acres. An
English syndicate owns 5000, 900
acres of land in Texas. Sir Edward
Reid and syndicate own 100000
acres in Florida. The Marquis Of
Tweeddale owns l, $50, 900 acres. The
Holland Company have acquired
4, 100000 acres in New Mexico. The
Duke of Sutherland, whose estate in
Scotland, once held in common by
the clansmen of whom his family
was the head, stretches from sea to
sea, has grabbed 425,000 acres in
this country. These foreign land
lords, against whose methods tho
people of their own country are re-
voting, are Selling upon domains in
this country greater than some of
our small States and exceeding in
area European duchies and princi-
palities. They have no notion of
personal occupancy, and the reve-
nues they will extract from their
American estates will go across the
water to aid in maintaining their
state and luxury in England.
1t would be bad enough if these
domains had been acquired by fair
purchase in open market, but there
is strong reason to believe that the
ownership of great tracts is tainted
by fraud. The facilities our laws
extends to actual settlers have been
outrageously abused for speculative
purposes. 1t is in evidence that 80
900 acres were secured under the
homestead law by means of a house
on wheels, which was moved from ono
claim to another as fast as the fraud
ulent pre-empter was able to make
oath that he had complied with tn.
law by erecting house on his claim
In the Estes Park region Of Colorado
a special agent of the Interior De
partment has reported that 1000
600 acres have been acquired by
fraud and perjury. Lord Dunraycr
now owns 5000 acres of this land
A bill is pending before the House
prohibiting the acquisition of public
lands by nonresident aliens. II
should be promptly passed and steps
should be taken to overthrow all ii
ties which are founded in fraud
Where the title is good, Legislation
should regulate the tenure so as t.
prevent the arrogant growth of land
lordism such as overshadows thu
British isles. The public land laws
need a thorough revision and al
fraudulent assumptions of proprie
torship should be thrust aside. o
all the vast extent of the public
lands it is stated that there remain
only 100000 acres arabic withou
irrigation and only 5O,00O,000 tina
can be made arabic by irrigation
What remains Of the once great Ma
tional heritage should be strict!
guardc for actual settlers who vii
acquire land for their own use. -.