The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-29
TIE PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.

Commissioner Carter of the United States
Land Office has done that which his prede-
cessors neglected to do. He has published
an estimate OF the aggregate amount of I'M
sold lands in the Western States and Terri
tories. He makes it foot up about 400 o0O,-
900 acres. This is at best a conjecture; the
bulk Of the lands have not been surveyed.
and their area can only be given approx
mately. But the Commissioner figures
are probably not far from the truth. 1t has
been usual to estimate the area of unSold
land in this State at 100000 acres; the
Commissioner figures it at o., 299, 400. The
underlined limits of Spanish grants and rail-
road land grants may account for the dis
crepancy.
II all or even a substantial portion Of
these 405, Geo. 900 acres were suitable for cul-
ivation, it would be a long time before citi-
Zens Of the United States became a landless
people. Even at the rate of four persons to
tue acre, this uHsOld area might, if it were
all under the pillow, sustain the entire popu-
lation OF the globe. But after swamp.
mountain, lake, arid desert and barren
waste nave been deducted, the remainder
will not constitute an extensive tract 1t
has been reckoned that one-third the area
Of California cannot be cultivated without
a comprehensive system of irrigation. Of
tie 81, 900, coo uns0ld acres in Arizona. the
So 600, 900 unsOld acres in Nevada, the 80, 0o0,-
600 unSold acres in Utah, and the 100000
unsold acres in Wyoming, the proportion
that is ready for the settler is small. As to
the area yet unsOld in Idaho and Mon
tana, nearly 100000 acres, the bulk OF
that is irreclaimable by any process known
TO agriculture or science. 1t would be rash
TO estimate the proportion of the 405. 200, 900
acres which will probably be titled, say a
hundred years from now; but Unless a COM
prehensiye system of artificial fertilization
is adopted, the bulk of it will remain for an
indefnits period to como in the condition
which prevails to-day.
Still, settlement goes on vigorously. During
the year 189O-9l, patents for 30,08S $50 acres
we're issued to Immigrant railroads, and the
preliminary steps were taken TO traCsfer
some $4,000 acres from the Government to
private individuals. At this rate it may be
possible to foresee the day when all the
really desirable land will be occupied. This
is large country, and it takes great many
people to fill it; but the thing may he done.
Past history affords us no cleW to the prob
able extension Of settlement in the United
States. Before the era of railroads, settle
ment was confined to the borders of rivers
or oceans, on which food could be trans
ported from place to place, and exchanges
effected. Continents which were made
quately supplied with watercourses re-
manned unpeopled. or were only occupied
by nomad races. To this day one OF the
largest tracts of dry land on the globe, lying
north Of Hindostan, west of China and
east of the Caspian, contains fewer people
than some individual States in the Union.
Railroads prevented similar destiny from
Detailing the central portion of the United
States. Though railroads can never CON-
pete with waterways as instruments of
transpoI tation, they nevertheless render
settlement possible in regions which are
distant from rivers; through their assist
| anee, the territory west of the Missouri,
which is substantially riyerless, has been
peopled, aud rs the system is extended
new localities, CAPABLE of profitable cultiva-
top, will be added to the occupied portion
of the country.
But region of magnificent distan es, like
this western country, cannot, in the ordi-
nary course of events. hope to fill up as rap,
idly as the sanguiDe patriot hopes. A rush
of settlers only occurs when some tmperious
stimulus attracts them. Gold discoveries
swelled the population of California from q
mere handful TO 100000 in twenty years
the discovery of vast tracts of alluYial sol
did as much for Kansas, Nebraska aud Min.
nesota; but these were accidents. In the
ordinary course. migrations are gradual. and
the extension of cultivated territory is slow
| We marvel to learn that the population OF
England is go to the square mile, AID thai
of Belgium $50; We forget that the begin.
ming OF the regular pursuit of agriculture in
! those countries is hidden in prehistoric dark
ness and that Caesar found both countries
we'll advanced in civilization. In time Cali
fornia may be as densely peopled as they.