Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-02
senator Call and Public Lands.


Senator Gail, of Florida, a few
days ago offered in the Sem
ATE Il resolution calling for the ap-
pointmentof a special committee o. i've
Senator's to Investigate alleged unauthor-
lied or fraudulent appropriations OF pub
Inc lands in the State Of Florida Mr.. Call
stated thar there were many complaints
by homesteaders and other sett ers IN
that State OF interference with their ri ght
He thought that if these complaints were
wen founded steps should be taken 10 re-
move the cause Of them.
senator CalPs resolution touches upon
something which ought to have enga ged
the attention OF Congress long ago. II is
the reckless way in which the public do
main is being wasted, and the rapidity
VITA which the land is passing into tue
possession Of those who derive an income
from il but VINO do not till II. A writer
ia the January number of the Nortb
Amey7c0R RaBieo cabs attention
TO this subject in very
interesting aud careiuly-prepar-
ed article. II seems that Of all the
vast quantity of rich and ullable land of
which the government was once possessed
less tnan 100000 acres remain. \ very
large part of it has been given away to
railroad corporations, and much more Of
it has been fraudulently obtained in one
way and another by shrewd land specula-
tors. There is a variety OF Jaws under
which land may be obtained. These laws
are so loosely drawn that very little diff
Guilty is experienced IN Obtaining land
without complying with the spirit Of
them.
Before the next census is taken 1t is
doubtful if the government viii have any
land tit for farming purposes to sell or
give away. 1t will have millions of acres
OF mountains which will never be suitable
for agriculture and millions OF acres OF
deserts which can te made valuable only
by expensive irrigation, but it will have
no more bomesteads tor the landless.
The effect of this condition of affairs Is
already apparent. Prairie lands in
the Western ana Northwestern
States which, not long ago, could
have been homeste8ded for very small
sum or purchased from the government at
81 - per acre cannot now be had tor less
than $40 or $l5 per acre. Every year, as
the public domain becomes smaller, the
prices Of improved and unimproved lard
will particularly unimproyed
land.
II IS not very many years since 1t was
Thought that the land Of the government
could not possibly be exhausted in a CEN
fury. Those who called a halt when
millions of acres were being voted to rail
road CORPORATIONS were laughed at. They
were told that the government was so rich
in land that 1t could afford to be prodigal
with it. Time is showing if it has not
already shown that the would-be wise
ones We're fools.
Another phase Of this land business is
the rapid increase in the number Of ten
ant farmers. This is not country IN
which every farmer owns his own farm,
as Is so loudly and so boastingly asserted
by spread eagle orators. II is rapidly be
coming a country Of tenant farmers. In
deed, 1t is asserted in the article to which
attention has already been directed, that
there is q quarter Of a million more Ten
ants in this country now than in England,
Ireland, Scotland and Wales together. A
sort Of landed aristocrscy is growing up
all over the country. In the city Of Spring
field, ill.--and it is not a very large city,
either-it is sand that there are 200 resi-
dents whose incomeF-sOme as much as
100000 year are derived wholly from
land rents.
The trouble in Ireland to-day is due to
the la dl9rd and tenant system. one OF
the chief causes Of the overthrow of the
republic OF Rome WAS land troubles
growing out of the relations of landlord
aud tenant. May there not be ground for
apprehension that in this country event
ually there will be grave troubles growing
out OF the ownership of land?