The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-14
NATION HAS LOST
MILLIONS IN LAND
Land Office Figures Show Cause
for Regret Big syndicates
Have Profited.
BY w. w. Jermane.


Washington, Oct. 1.-THE report Of
the general land office that the money
coverted into the reclamation fund for
the fisal year ending June 80, 1905, was
So, 100000, emphasizes the fact that the
sales of public lands, from which this
fund is recruited, have for several years
been on the decline. For the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1903, for instance, the
sales Of public land brought into the
reclamation fund $S,713,996, while for
was $6,826,253. The amount for the
year last past shows marked decline.
Estimates made by general land office
experts are that the fund will be en-
riched to the extent of 100000 dur
ing the present fiscal year, and Of 3d.
100000 for each two years following.
Departmental officials say that the
large sales OF public land in 1903 were
due largely to the agitation for land
law amendment, the realization by spec
to be had almost for the asking, and
that the supply was limited. Enormous
areas of fine timber land, it is noted,
were disposed Of for $3.50 an acre un-
der the timber and stone act. AS soon
as the government discovered what was
afoot, it began the creation of extensive
forest reserves, and the remaining gov
eminent timber lands of value have
been coverted into these reserves, thus
preserving them for the people. The
| most valuable bodies of land outside OF
the forest reserves have been obtained
by big lumber companies, and are be-
inb held for future use, so that, to
large extent, the timber lands Of the
country have now passed into relative
| " few hands. On this question, q
high government official has this tc
say:
| Comparing the proceeds Of the dis
posal Of public lands for the years from
|. 1901 to 1905 with those received in pre-.
vious years, it is noted that there has
been wonderful increase, owing to the
agitation for reform of the land laws
IF these reforms could have beer
brought about several years ago, the
reclamation fund would probably have
| been much smaller; but, on the othel
hand, the government would still be th'
owner Of tracts Of forest which arr
worth at least 500 an acre, as compared
with $3.50, the amount received. IL
other words, while the government ha
gained in the reclamation fund severa
million dollars, it has, on the other hand
disposed of property worth eight time
as much. This sacrifice Of public LAND
would not have been as Edeplorable L
the lands had passed into the hands O.
actual settlers and citizens who woult
have utilized them; but unfortunatel.
thew have passed into the control O
large syndicates or corporations whicl
are holding them for future advance
and for general speculative purposes
1 Thus it happens that the man wit
4 small capital, or with nothing beyon
his strength and intelligence, canno
row gain foothold upon the soil, an
the commonwealth loses the advantag
4 Of competition and Of steady increase o
population and of home builders. - =.
Has Helped Canada.
1 The situation above outlined is be
lieved to explain in large part the fac
t that the Canadian northwest for severs
years has been attracting large number
Of American farmers. These men, ur
table to buy cheap farming land in thei
own country, have been compelled t
turn to a country where the land law
are more properly administered, an
where settlers are encouraged in ever
legitimate way to help in the work Q
national development. The differenc
between public land administration he1
and in Canada has been most marked
Here the result Of the government g I'll
UuSlueSSIihe pOiiCy udS Ueou W SdtlSl
! the greed of great corporations at tn
expense Of the individual settler. /
, Canada the corporations have been r.
strained and every power Of the GO
eminent arm has been strained to pr,
tect and encourage The individual.
is barely possible that congress, poss
bly, at the next session, may conclude I
, work out a general revision of the pul
! lie land laws, but it is believed by off
l Gals of the general land office that
, is now too late for such revision to a
,, complish much. So little, comparativ
ly, Of the government Is immense publ
, domain now remains in governme1
hands, that land law revision no
!, would be almost like lockig the do,
after the horse has been stolen. Viii
E the grabbing was going on, the lar
companies maintained lobbies in Was
ington to oppose revision and in ge
eral way befog the issue.
i A few Of the chief maipulators
these big deals are being brought
\ book, as in Oregon, and elsewhere. b,
even this work, while salutary and hig
ly important, has come too late to pr
tect the land areas.