Mesa free press., 1900-01-12
MILITARY BOUNTY LANDS,
The Great Part They Played In tn,

The Great Part They Played In tho
Development of the Country.
Military bounty lands have played a
highly useful part in the history Of this
country, and, neSt to the acquisition of
territory, the homestead laws and the
extension Of railroads into the far
West, 1t is to the military bounty land
system that we owe the creation, settle
ment and peopling Of thirty-two great
States outside the original thirteen. 1t
was particularly to this system that the
settlement of Ohio, Kentucky, Michi-
gan, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas
was due. In all, 100000 acres of
land have been granted as military
bounties-as much as the combined area
of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey,
pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
Ten millions acres were awarded to
revolutionary heroes, their widows and
heirs, and the lands were located chiefly
at first in what was known as the Uni
ted States Military District in Ohio, and
the Virginia Military District, also in
Ohio.
Military bounty lands likewise were
given to our soldiers of the war of 1872.
Six million acres of public land then
open to settlement were set aside for
the regulars Of that day-3,5O0000
in the then Territory of Illinois,
100000 in the Territory of Louisiana,
between the st. Francis and Arkansas
Rivers, and 100000 in the Territory Of
Missouri, north of the Missouri River.
Similar land bounties were given for
service in the war with Mexico, and
up to this date about 100000 military
bounty land warrants have been issued
to survivors Of that war, their widows
and heirs, representing in all about g.
100000 acres of land, each warrant av-
eraging about 100 acres. By the act of
1855 every surviving soldier or his wild
oW or heirs, whether of regulars, volun-
teers, rangers or militia, who performed
military service for not less than four
teen days in the United States in any
regiment, company or detachment Of
the revolutionary war, the war Of 1912,
the Mexican war or any of the Indian
wars since 1870 and prior to 1852, or
participated in single battle, became
entitled to receive 100 acres Of public
land free of expense.
ALI bounties for service in the civil
war were paid in cash, and the only
advantage which honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors Of that war enjoy
in land transactions over the private
citizen Is that under the homestead
laws in making an entry they are ex-
cused from the personal performance
of certain preliminaries, and the time
of their service is deducted from the
time required to perfect their title.
At present the United States has 6OO,-
100000 acres of public lands unappro-
priated and unreserved, excluding Alas
ka. OF this enormous acreage over
316,O00,OO0 acres are surveyed and open
to presumption or purchase. The great
est areas Of unappropriated public
lands are in Montana, 10000 acres;
Nevada, over 61,OOO,OOO; New Mexico,
100000; Arizona, 54,OOO,OOO; Wyo-
ming, 49,O0O,OO0; Idaho and Utah, a.
100000 each; California, 100000;
Colorado, 100000, and Oregon, 49,
100000.
Minnesota has over 100000 acres
surveyed and at the disposal Of the pub
lie, and Michigan has 100000, all sur
veyed. Missouri and Wisconsin have
nearly as much as Michigan. Wash.
ington has 100000 and Oklahoma has
100000. In addition there are $780,
- Oh
vations in the far West, which the
Government is now disposing of in
small lots-the largest in Montana, the
Dakotas and Utah.