The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-18
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
It's Enormous Increase Through Acauisi-
ttons nv Treaty.


tons by Treaty.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: My OBJ
ject In contributing this article Ia to call to the
attention Of the public the treaties made by
our Government which have resulted In our
obtaining more than one half OF what lie known
as the public domain. I think the casual
reader will see that in every instance we have
had decidedly the better OF the bargain.
The frst and greatest treaty that was made
by the Government OF the United States
greatest from the amount OF territory OBJ
tained-was that with France on April 30.
1903. technically known as the Louisiana
purchase" whereby we became possessed OF
the then known district OF Louisiana.
The boundaries OF this enormous tract OF
land as finally settled were a. follows. viz:
those portions OF tho now existing States OF
Alabama. and Mississippi south OF the thirty
first parallel OF latitude the entire surface oithe
States OF Louisiana. Arkansas. Missouri. Iowa.
Nebraska. and Oregon. oil Of Minnesota west OF
the Mississippi River. all OF Kansas except n
small portion west OF the one hundredth merid-
ian and south OF the Arkansas River. oil OF Da-
kota. Montana. Idaho. Washington and Indian
Territory.with "a part OF Wyoming and Colorado.
The cost OF this enormous tract OF land accord
Ing to the original stipulations in the treaty
was O0.OOO.OO0 francs. or 5000. 900 in money
and stocks. the interest on the stocks up to the
timo OF redemption. $3.50. 1853: claims OF citl-
zens OF the United States due from France paid
by the United States 3.72S. 208eS. making
a total OF s27.2e7. e21 .Os. a seeminsly large
price at the time but which afterward proved
very small estimate OF tho value OF the dis
triot involved.
This COMPACT added TO the United States. or
the public domain. more exactly. an area con-
tanning 1885,. 1852 square miles, or 1886 =
$50 acres
Our next treaty Of any Importance was that
with Spain on Feb 30. 1919 This treaty ae-
cured to the public domain OF the United States
the districts OF East and West Florida now
known as the present State OF Florida The
amount paid was S5.000.O0O in bonds similar
to those In which tho payment for Louisiana
had been made. the interest upon which up to
the time OF redemption amounted to 81. 49,
785. making the total cost Of tho territory
S8,4S'.Hi8. The public domain by this treaty
and purchase was increased 5a26S square
miles or 1881 $50 acres. including certain
grants.
The next treaty OF any importance TO the
United States was the first treaty with Mexico,
known as the Guadalupe IIidago Treaty. on
Feb 2. 1913. The public domain received by
this treaty the States OF California Nevada and
part Of Colorado, also the lands in the Terri
tories OF Utah. Arizona and New Mexico. ak
cepting in tho last two the Mesilla Valley.
approximately 500, 500 square miles. or 334.-
1880 acres. This district cost S15.UoO.OOo
By the stDulations In the treaty.
Tho fourth purchase OF any particular sIzs
was that from Texas. An act OF Congress OF
Sept. q. 1850. provided for the purchase from
the State OF Texas OF her claim TO certain pub
lie lands north OF parallel 36' 30" and between
that parallel and 32' and lying west OF the
lO3d meridian. now included in Kan
sas. Colorado. New Mexico and also tho
Public Land Strip" This cost the United
States Sl6.0000O0 In hve per cent. bonds and
cash. II was estimated that D0.7O7 square
miles or 81 81. $50 acres were added by this
purchase
The next extensive purchase was through
the second treaty with Mexico and obtained
for the public domain OF tn. United States the
rich district known as the Mesilla Valley Tho
trenty was consummated on the 10th day OF
December. 1888. and in II. in consideration OF
certain concessions by Mexico. which related
to the abrosation OF sundry treaty s,ipulations
In the Treaty OF Guadalupe IIiialGo OF lS+S
and the payment on the rart OF tho United
states OF the sum OF $40. 900. 900 to Mexico, n
strip OF land known as the Mcsilla Valley and
lying In the present Territories OF New Mexico
and Arizona on their southern border. was
added 10 the United states The area of this
tract was about 1850 square miles or 9ol4o..
400 acres. This territory now lies in Now
Mexico and Arizona: 1900 square miles in
New Mexico and 81. 535 square miles in Arl-
IONA
Under treaty OF March 30. 1907. We OBJ
tanned from Russia by the payment OF
sI2OOOOO. territory the value OF which after
Developments have shown Ia absolutely In.
estimable BY this said treaty Russia Yielded
to the United States all her possess ions on tho
Continent OF America and adjacent islands,
which Included. OF course. Aa-kr and the
Aleutlan Islands. This was an enormous
tract OF land. It comprised no less than
oU.AO square miles. or 3'fD.520.GOJ acres
These treaties that we have considered were
in bringing into the possession
N tho United States OF America the districts
which are now known rs follows. viz: Ala
bama and Mississippi south OF the 3lst raral- ,
el Louisiana. Arkansas. Missouri Iowa. |
Nebraska. Oregon. all ot Minnesota west az tho |
River. Kansas Dakota, Montana.
Idaho. Washington and Indian Territory.
part OF Wyoming. Colorado. East and West |
Florida. California. Nevada. the Territories o,
Utah. Arizona and New Mexico. tho Public |
Land Strip. and finally Alaska The purchase |
'overed a district OF 2,4S4 200 square miles !
Ind contained 1.56o.O0O. 800 acres at a total |
'ost Of sSS. 1877 3sa9S LOUIS A. BrppLr.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec Is