Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-12-07
DEPARTMENT or TIE INTERIOR

IN the report of the secretary of the interior.
vhch will be laid before you. the condition OF
the various branches of our domestic affairs con-
Uectad with that department aud its operations
uIrlnS the past year, are fully exhibited, bat a
brief reference to some of the subjects discussed
1 this able and interesting report can here be
made: but recommend the entire report to the
attention Of the congress, and trust that the
sensible and valuable recommendations it con
taiuS will secure careful consideration. l cannot
too seriously insist upon the Importance of
proper measures to insure a right diSpos ton of
our public lands. not only as matter OF present
Justice but in forecast OF the consequences To
future generations. The broad, Iich acres of o II
agricultural plains have been long preserved hJ
nltu-e to come her untrammeled gifts to Il
PEOPLE civilizal and free. unon which should rest
IN well distributed ownership, the numerous
homes of enlightened, equal and fr&tCrntt Citi-
They came to the nation at the possession
with the warning example in our eyes of the
tail of iniquities in Ianfed proprietorship which
ether countries have permitted and still suffer
We have no excuse for the violation of prin-
CipleS cQgently taught by reason and by example
nor for the allowance of pretexts which have
sometimes exposed our lands to colossal greed
The laws which open the door TO fraudulent
acquisition or the administration which permit;
favor to rapaciouS seizure by q favored few of
the expanded acres that many should enjoy are
necessary to offenSe agairst our national welfare
and humanity, are not 90 be too severely con
,emned Or punished 1t is gratifying to know
that something has been done at last to relresI
the injuries to our people and check the perilOus
tendency of the reckless waste of the nationa!
domain. In all over 50, 000, 900 acres have been
arrested from illegal uSurpation and the
covery of unimproved grants and fraudulent
entries and claims to be taken for the homestead
Vt honeSt and honest industry, although less than
the greater areas thus unjuStly lost must afford
profound qualification to right feeling citizens
us recompense for the labors and struggle of the
recovery.
Our dear experience ought sufficiently to urge
the speedy enactment of measures of legislation
Which will confine the future disposition Of cur
nany 5 g lends h6 the n6 Uses 6h aG oar
vast tracts of socalled desert lands be yielded up
to the monopoly of corporations or grdSping il
dlVIduals, as appears to be much the tendency
under the existing statutes. These lands require
productive. 1t is q problem of great moment how
most wisely for the public good that factor shall
be furnished. can not but think it EeriiouS to
suffer either those lands or the sources of their
irrigation to fall into the hands of monopOlieS,
which, by such means, may exercise lordShip over
areas dependent on their treatment for Iroduc-
tiveness. Already steps have been taken to secure
accurate and scientific information of the con j.
tons, which is the prime bssis of intelligent ac
ton until this shall be gained. The course f
wisdom appears clearly to lie in n sUSpenSioG Of
further disposal, which only promises to create
rights antagonstiC to the common iatereSt. No
harm can follow this cautouary c1nduct. The
land will remain, and the public good presents no
demand for the haSty disposition Of national
ownership and control.
commend also, the recommendations that
appropriate measures be taken to complete the
adjustment of the various grants made to the
states Tor internal improvements of swamp and
overnowed lends as well as TO adjudicate and final
" determine the validity and extent of the numer-
Gus private land claims. All these are elements of
great injustice and peril to the settlers upon the
localities affected. and now that their existence
IS more pressing, than to fix as soon as possible
their bounds and terminate the threats OF trouble
which arise from uncertainty.