Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-12-18
WESTERN SETTLEMENT WITHOUT
PARALLEL IN HISTORY.


St. Louis Globe Democrat: The
report of the secretary OF the in
terror shows that since the passage
of the homestead law there hav e
been nearly 1853 600, 600 acres Of
public land entered by settlers, and
over 1886, 100000 have been &C.
quired under other laws. That is
to s'v, the area Of settlement and
cultivation has been enlarged with
in the lifetime Of the present popu'
lation of the country to the extent
of 49S, 900, 900 acres These figures
tell story that is without parallel
in the history of civilization: and
one that can hardly be compre'
hended without the aid of the i'm.
agination. They are equivalent to
an increase of 3,111,250 farms OF
100 acres each, or twice that mum.
Der of the average size of such
estates in the localities where most
of the entries and purchases have
been made. The record includes,
of course, not merely great
widening of the domain of agri'
culture, but the forming Of new
states, the construction OF rail-
roads, the building Of churches
and school houses, and the gen era]
advancement OF the interests OF
humanity.
There are yet about 600, 000, 900
acres Of public lands, not including
Indian and military reservations,
estimated at 100000 acres, and
the district of Alaska, but the
most of this residue is considered
worthless for civilization. 1t may
be said, therefore, that the end of
this process of development has
practically been reached. There
is still a West, but it is now only
a geographical expression and does
not signify what it formerly did
to people anxious to better their
condition through the toll and
privation Of pioneer life. In the
course Of events the remaining
Indian reservations will be opened
to settlement, undoubtedly, and
there is reason to ext ect that the
large stretches of arid lands will
ultimately be made tillable by some
system Of irrigation, but the gen.
eral fact at present is that COM
paratively little chance is left for
securing homes from the govern
ment.
We may we'll give serious
thought to the Importance of the
work of DEVELOPMENT that is thus
brought to stop by the exhaustion
of material, so to speak. It implies
great deal more than a wonderful
increase of individual welfare.
The effects which it has produced
are not confined to the classes or
localities Immediately concerned.
1T has brought radical changes to
pass for the whole country and for
all elements and interests. In a
sense, it has compelled re-adjust-
ment of business methods and ap.
pliances from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and even beyond the
oceans to some extent. Its abund-
ant products constitute potential
factor in the markets of the entire
world, the influence Of it's energy
and its enterprise is felt every
where in financial and commercial
operations. Moreover, it has in.
vaded the politics CT the country,
raising new issues and introducing
new sources of inspiration; and it
has not failed at the same time to
make a decided impression upon
the social affairs of the nation. It
stands for a great empire that has
evolved outof the grass and silence
of the public lands since the close
of the civil war. No other force
of equal strength and significance
has ever been added to our facilities
Of achievement. It is to be re.
garded with pride and exultation
by the people Of all sections and
all parties, and surely in the future
it will be worth still more to US
than it has been in the past.