The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-03-26
ssGHv Read Before the Cha,ttaotqua Circle.

Nzar Read Before the Chauta,tqua Circle.
II NIFTY years ago the Free Soil
G party advocated free land to
actual settlers. The leaders of
that party, as we'll as the lead
mig statesmen of the time, advocated
aha, 1.-The public lands of the United
States belong to the people and should
mot be sold to individuals or granted to
eSaperation, but should be held as a
sacred trust for actual settlers" This
Is as it should be, and we must take it
Sof granted that this sentiment has al
ways been the sentiment of the Ameri-
can people, as we'll as the sentiment of
GDDgEess, altho Congress- may have
za6as some mistakes in carrying out
ahs wishes of the people.
The principal laws under which the
national lands have reverted to the
people were the Homes estead Act, the
Pre-emHtion Act, the Desert Land Act
ana the Stone and Timber Act.
The Presumption Act provided that
a person fling on quarter section of
saDd might secure title after a few
months residence, upon payment of
A-Sper acre. So many persons made
ase Of the pre-emption right to sell
sbsir land to speculatoFs as soon as
sale was secured, thus defeating the
SASect of the act, that the law was re-
ssased some years ago.
The Homestead Act provides that q
sstaIer can secure title only after FIVE
ysass continuous residence on the land,
ssk without payment, thus carrying
ssa The original idea. Of the trainers,
ahst the land should be free gift to
asanal settlers. This act, however, did
1st suit the spectators, often termed
Land Grabbers," as it prevented them
1Bom acquiring vast tracts by purchase;
~ sfter man put in five years Of his
Ass IN tanning wild land he would
nst part with it for song. So these
RAnd Grabbers through their influence
n Congress caused q Communication
ehase to be added to the Homestead
Ae4 providing that the settler could
-Pseve up" on his land after six months
Ssidenee and secure title upon pay
ne1t Of $125 per acre, thus making
he Homestead Act little better than
ahS Presumption Act. The six months
sasnse was subsequently changed to
9s0pteen months, but this did not dis.
ssorage the Land Grsbbers. 1t simply
ed>their patience for eight months
bogen The Desert Land Act provides
sAst anyone reclaiming arid land by
M=gatien or drainage may secure title
This aets wassansyM intended for the
BsDeft OF settlers, for where will you
ind settlers with the capital necessary
sereeiaine desert landp The law was
zsanaed for the benefit Of the capitalist
md sneculator alone, and they have
ee.red large tracts for grazing and
speculative purposes by means of it.
The evil accomplished by loose land
Aws can scarcely be estimated. The
sssteef Nevada is owned by q few large
Ind companies, and the total popula-
sige Of the Stately 0,OOO-is crowded on
y lew acres which the Land Grsbber
Hnst have overlooked.
To look at map of Texas one would
suppose that it was divided into coun-
aiss like other states, but in reality the
xsester portion is divided into few
1aense estates, some of them COM
sRsing several counties in extent. One
Ut these private estates is said to con-
asD three million acres, inhabited
- only fifty or sixty employees of
tAs owner. Under the intent of the
Homestead Act, this tract should be
9aOpled by 10000 farmers and their
families who would support several
1DWns, and this is but one example of
H. many Texas grabs.
Well may people wonder at the
sparse population of portions of Texas
md Nevada compared with other
sa.test The explanation lies in the fact
snak the Land Grabber has been at
wOrh. As q contrast to Texas we have
0Iy to Cross the border to Oklahoma,