The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-10
LAND GRANT FORPEITURES

The Proud Reoosd Of tho Republican Party
on tho Subject.
ChioaSO Inter Oodn.
Tho two great parties have always had
radically different views on the public
land questions. Almost tho first tri-
umph won by the Republicans in Con-
gress was the passage Of a free homestead
bill which Democratic President,
James Buchanan, vetoed, but which
became a law in the early days OF the
Lincoln administration. The policy en-
bodied in that act has done incalculable
service in developing the West and con-
verting wild prairie into farms. The last
Republican National Convention had
good reason for the pride with which it
Recalled the record made in this regard
by the purity of freedom, union and
The reference made TO railway land
grants in the same resolution pointed 70
another phase OF the party's record Of
which every Republican may well be
proud, namely, the policy OF encourag,.
ing railroad construction in advance Of
settlement by liberal grants, OF public
land. That policy has greatly reduced
The hardships OF pioneer life. The from
tiersmRn is not obliged now to wait un-
ill local traffic would make railroad TO
his doorway, but can make his very first
trim by rail. While the policy is good
Il e fable To abuse. Less than half the
land set apart for the promotion OF rail-
way construction has been actually
earned, and not IN acre has been decided
over in advance OF the actual railway
building. During the administration Oh
President Arthur the policy was ~
augurated of restoring to the pup,
lie domain by forfeiture land
grants which had not been earned.
Under that policy about 5O,0OC0,MO
acres have been reclaimed, which is
nearly the total amount of land grants
already earned and delivered. There
are still good many large grants which 1IS
are neither earned nor reclaimed: The
Senate recently passed bill for the rec
lamatjon OF ali which can be taken
back now under the Interpretation put
on land grants by the Supreme Court oil
the United States, but last Thursday the
House refused to concur in the bill, and
thus indefinitely postponed Just rec
lamation. The decision OF the Supreme
Court referred to affirmed the right OF
the railroad companies to go on with the
construction OF their lines after the date
fixed in the granting acts, in tho ab-
sence of prohibitive clause, as tast us
their road progressed and the selections
were made, to sell their lands. This had
been the policy Of every administration
down to and including the present one,
and was the principle OF the Senate Dill.
In discussing the matter, Congress,
man Payson showed that delay would
have the effect to cloud the title to a
great deal OF public land, doing so in the
| interest OF railroad corporations. That
| is no doubt the explanation of the &c
ton OF the Democratic House OF Repre-
sentatiyes. Pretending all the while to
be for restoring the land to the Govern
ment in way to be open to settlement,
the Democracy really played into ~ me
hands Of few large corporations. inns
sort of duplicity does not pay IN the
long run. a..
The total area OF public lands in this
country, not including Alaska, can not
vary far from |, 800, 900, 900 acres, nearly
9,56O,OOO square miles. Much OF this
land consists OF mountain range and
barren plains. The tillable soil still In
government hands subject to homestead
pre-emption forms very small percent
noe Of this grand total. The great thing
to be guarded against is the falling Of
large tracts into the hands otspeculators
and syndicates OF capitalists. The Sen
ate bill provided all feasible safeguards
on that point. 1t would contine the for
FIXTURES to the lands opposite the por'
tons OF the railroads not already com
pIeted, involving 5,627, 1896 acres, the
House bill covering the lands lying oppo'
ate the portions not finished ut the time
specified in the granting acts, the Iattei
would embrace nearly 50,000, 900 acres
more. In the face OF the decision al
ready referred TO no actual settler would
dare to go upon any OF that fifty millions
OF acres, even II it was nomlnaliy re-
stored to the government, lest tie shoatG
take up q claim and make Improvement
for the benefit OF some one else. Only
speculators would dare venture to touch
| the land, and they would hold 1t Tor
rise. The proper way is to proceed or
solid cround-forieit only what is Tor
| feitable-and If hereafter the area can bt
extended lawfully, then extend 1t; bu
do not tie up a thirtieth part Of the CRANE
total Of public domain in litigation b!
attempting to go, in Congressional legis
lation, beyond the limits OF power pre-
scribed by the court OF final resort