Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-01
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
HOW IT MAY BE USED, IN PART, TO
AID PUBLIC EDUCATION.
An Open Letter on the Subject from Gen.
eraI Thomas L. Rcsser to Senator
John W. Daniel.

An Open Letter on the supect f'o" "e"-
eraI Thomas l.. Rcsser to senator
John W. Daniel
CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va, April "a. 1874
Hon. John W. Daniel, United States Ssn1'e, |
Washington, D. c.:
Dear Sir.-Apropos TO the introduction |
in the Senate on the 18th instant by you OF
a bill TO apply the proceeds from the sale OF
300 900 acres of public lands TO the restora-
ton of the buildings. library, and scien- |
tifc apparatus of the Virginia Military In |
stitute which were. in an act OF mistaken
official zeal. DESTROYED By Federal officer |
in 1864. wish TO call your attention 70 |
general proposition of justice and rehei. |
not only TO Virginia but 10 many OF the
| other states, which have had in view Tor
some time, but not being in position 10 |
acquire legislation have been unaoie 70 !
make practical use Of it, and now submit |
1t TO you with the hope that you may Sc
cure the passage OF an act through Ooh-
gress giving IL effect.
ouR COUNTRY.
At the close of our Revolutionary war
our thirteen Independent States We're
! bounded on the north By the great lakes.
| on the west by the Mississippi river, on
tho south by the thlrty-frst parsilei OF
north latitude, aud on the cast b. the Al;
lantIc Ocean. All OF territory embraced
within these boundaries was owned OF
| claimed by the individual States. and none |
Of this territory was held inter 81: oh |
Nav 20. 1888, Virginia voluntarily ceded 10 |
the United States the northwest terri |
| tory. from which the great States OF Ohio' |
Indiana, Illinois. Michigan. Wisconsin.
and that portion of Minnesota east OF inc
| Mississippi river, have been formed |
| These lands were freely given by Virginia
to the General Government, but in trust
| for her own benefit and that Of the other |
| States In this connection, however, IL
may be well TO state that Copnectlcut. VINO |
| had few settlements on Lake Erie,
| claimed a portion of this territory when
| IS now embraced in tine state or ONO, anu
| refusing 70 surrender her claims without
| COMMUNICATION. was paid something like
30 600. 900 by the General Government,
which sum became the basis OF her school
| fund.
THE TERRITORY We CFDED.
Two wears after this cession had been
made by Virginia the Continental Con
! cress directed that these lands should be
| surveyed into townships OF 30 square
miles each and that these townships DO
subdvided into sections Of l mile square,
and designated Section IL in every town
| shin as one which should be reserved tor
the maintenance of the public schools IN
that State or Territory wherein they were
| located. and III addition 10 this two entire
townships $50 acres IN each STATE ana
Territory thereafter organized should De
reserved tor the support OF university ID
such State or Territory.
FORMATION OF TERRITORIES.
In 1903 Louisiana was purchased, and in
| 1919 Florida was added to the pubic do
main. These accusations were unques-
tionably paid for out of the common trea-
sury. In 1919 by Span. and IN 1916 by
| England. our ownership 70 oregon was
conceded. In ls48 we acquired large ter
ritory from Mexico, and IN 1867 we pur-
chased Alaska. All Of these territories
were either acquired by purchase out of
the general fund. TO which all the states
| contributed. or by conquest, IN which all
| of the States participated. therefore all
of these lands were and are held III trust
by the United States Government for the
benefit of all Of the States.
In 1si9 Congress organized the Terrific
ries of Oregon and Minnesota and added
section 30 to the school reservation pre-
| yIously provided for, and thus making two
sections in each township general reser-
walton for school purposes. and the law
was made SO as to apply TO all States ana
! Territories thereafter admitted, ana All
| have received tbem-West Virginia being
the only exception.
WHAT CONGRESS HAS GIVEN TO THE NEW
STATES.
From the reports OF the Commissioner
of the General Land Office II - shown that
Congress has thus given to the new States
for school purposes mot including uni
versitlss). in round numbers, 10,0OO,OUO
acres of the public lands. and IN addition
| 10 this has given 10 private corporations 10
construct railroads and canals in the new
States 200 ,000. 900 acres OF the pubic lanus.
Take the State of Minnesota alone,
whose land-grant to public schools mot
including unlversitles) amounts 70 3,UVV,-
600 acres. and at the rate she IS selling
them she will realize over S2O,OOOOOJ from
The interests of all of the States in the
nublic lands are undoubtedly proportion
aiIv the same; therefore the benefits
should be proportionally equal,
If Minnesota IS given by the General
Government grant of public land, equal TO
one eighteenth of her area for school pur-
noses. then every other State should be
similarly favored; certainly virginia
should, as she has given so much To the
common store and has received nothing IN
return.
ANEW DECISION.
The following statement will show the
amounts of land required by each OF the
unfayored, or partially favored States,
necessary 10 an equal distribution OF lands
for school purposes ,..
Virginia is entitled to lis OF her o,o
area. or.... ....''... - 49, - A'"'
r9 nnr ynahe ~ 1885, 800
Ma arr or % en'',' 496.32O
Do o,e Sai or % o1'''. 1896
NG ber area sn,9'' 17o0,666
SCUM %ar o oreo % sss,sss
'S oP Is oa'.''VI " 2o62,5e2
h sreS, or . e 144O,OOO
M sr . eA''.'V. ~ 1l74,755
New Hampshire is entitled TO lis OF ana, o,o
| her area. Or........................ ooV,ooO
'g area or % 339,s4O
Massachusetts is entitled TO LIS OF 90 an
| her area, Or........-...-. ......:.... ~oO'ooV
''1 area 54l6O
f' or.a. Is ''''' 1,O27777
area Observation-Disclosures. s2,292
M sTas y on'''o1 ". 75zo55
l1 srsa ...... 500 222
Ai area 96s.sss
"1ssou'i V'''''. 1,137,777
ares or % s10G6d
Ohio a entitled 10 l-36 Of her area, or 1ll,1ll
in area or r. io 100000
ii or' = 'n'..1 ssssss
"i area Observation-Disclosures. 675,555
Area or's.'.''.'................... 100000
Town Is entitled 20 1876 OF her area, or 995,s4O
, New York Is entitled lis OF her area,
or 1,74s.4sC
| Connecticut IA entitled 10 Ills OF her