The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-05-14

states in which the national government
never held any land and they are found
to comprise 48l lie, 400 acres or 24.25 per
cent Of the area of the United States.
There remain Is states. known as east.
ern public land states, having an area of
447 .072 900 acres, or 1852 per cent Of the
whole area Of the country. In four OF
these all the vacant land has been dis
posed of--IlIinois, Indiana, Iowa and
Ohio. In the remaining nine Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and
Wisconsin-there are, as already noted,
II, l66, $50 acres still vacant, or 5.25 per
cent of the total area OF these states. At
the present rate of disposal all the I'M
occupied public land of any value in
these states will be taken up in less than
10 years. Sixty per cent Of the whole
area still vacant in the eastern half of the
country lies in the states Of Arkansas and
Minnesota, much Of 1t being rugged and
timber clad, and with a soil believed to
be too poor for successful agriculture. The
western public land states number IL,
since the admission of Utah, and there
are four territories. Their total area is
992 ,6l7 600 acres, or 1922 per cent OF the
area Of the United States. The smallest
area of vacant public land in any Of these
Is in Kansas, where the amount still in
the hands Of the national government is
less than 2 per cent. Unfortunately,
there is good deal Of land in the west
ern part of this state which settlers have
been induced to occupy. but from which
they find 1t impossible to extract living.
OF the whole area OF these II states and
four territories, only ~ ,752, 442 acres were
improved at the date of the last census,
and of these $4,000 acres we're in the three
states of Kansas, Nebraska and Califor-
MIA. The remaining nine states and four
territories, with a area OF about S92 ,000, 900
acres--or more than four times that OF
the Is original states have less than 49,
000,O 900 acres OF improved land. How to
utilize most effectively what remains is
one OF the most momentous problems at
present before the government and peo-
pie of this republic.
Distrtbution of Coming Fruit Crops
With the promise Of liberal crop. SUBJ
ject to development Of frost damage on
the Pacific coast, says the American Agri-
culturist, there is every reason to look for
a wide distribution OF deciduous fruits
not only from California, but also from
Oregon, Washington and other states,
both west and southwest, which hereto-
fore have not cut much OF figure in the
markets. The California fruit growers
and shippers association favors the es-
tablishment in the big cities OF CONSOLE
dated auction rooms which are not under
the control of interested brokers, but
made free and open TO all buyers. The
probabilities are that southern peaches
will be handled in the north about as last
year.
Such favored sections as the Gulf states
and other parts OF the south, and also the
entire Pacific coast, at present practically
have monopoly OF the trade in fresh de-
ciduous fruits. Strawberries are moving
rapidly from the south, and the California
season for deciduous fruits is nearly at
hand, few cherries having already been
marketed in the eastern cities. The
question OF distribution is still the one
which offers the most difficulties, de-
mands OF middemen exacting such :
heavy tribute from both producer and
consumer. As in recent years, distribu-
ton of cherries, apricots. plums, peaches
and grapes will be conducted chiefly from
such cities as Chicago, Boston and New
York, and the large bulk OF the business
will be done through the auction houses.
President Weinstock is endeavor to start
the business in New York in good shape,
that jealousies and losses, so common to
last season, may be avoided. A good
many favor the sale OF all froit in one
auction room, although not necessarily
confined to one auctioneer, and this
method will perhaps be tried. In arrang-
ing for it, the trade must recognize the
requirements OF imported fruits, who also
sell at auction and TO the same class OF
buyers.