Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-22

England's formal REIMBURSEMENT of
all proprietary and territorial rights
In this country, leaving the owner
ship Of the United States and the in
dividual states undisputed. ~.
The Continental Congress next
passed a resolution recommending
that the several states should sur
priated lands to the central govern
ment, as . measure toward paying
the debt incurred by the War of the
Revolution. Each of the states held
or claimed 8 acreages outside their
own geographical boundaries. Vir-
gtnia.; for example, had almost 200,-
100000 acres in the territory lying
the Mississippi; Massachusetts, had
millions of acres now included in
Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin;
Connecticut had a. territory. almost
as large in what is now northern
Ohio. Indiana and Illinois; South
Carolina held a strip Is miles wide
which now forms the northern part
North Carolina claimed what, is the
present state Of Tennessee and Geor-
gia had 5 6,0o0,0 900 acres in what are
now the states of Alabama and Mis-
sissippi.
One by one these holdings were
coded to the federal government in
some instances subject to certain
financial obligations. until eventually
the United States had acquired in this
manner some 500. 900 square miles or
320,0o0,o00 acres, at a cost of $22,-
Co.,
Then came a series of treaties
through which we took over f|)ldings
Of foreign governments as a result Of
purchase or war. or a combination
Of the two. First Of these was the
transaction with France in 1903
possession of 757.961, 920 acres, now
known as the Louisiana Purchase,
Alabama, Texas. Colorado. wyoming,
Montana and the states lying between
them M the Mississippi river. The
purchase price vas SIS, 000, 900 but by
the time the deal was consummated
interest charges, claims, : etc., had
brought this amount up to. ST.
267,621. ~
From Spain we purchased what is
now the state of Florida in 1919 and
in l84S Mexico coded US 334;443,5 $40
acres, comprising the present states
of California, Nevada, Utah and parts
of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado
gave US title to some 60-odd million
acres. now constituting q part Of New
Mexico, oklahoma and Colorado. and
then came the Gadsden purchase
from Mexico of 50.000,0 900 acres now
included in New Mexico and Arizona.
One Of our biggest real estate deals
was the purchase of Alaska from
Russia in 1867. when we paid ST.
100000 for 1885, 100 acres. Ha-
waii was not sc large a transaction,
but a very important one, following
which came our troubles with Spain
as a result of which we acquired
Porto Rico. Guam and the Philip
pines in 1898. The year following,
by: treaty with Germany and Great
Britain. we took over Tutuila and
other small Samoan islands by an
nexation. The Oregon country en-
bracing more than 10000, 900 acres
was claimed by this government
through discovery and exploration,
and this claim was recognized by
treaty with England and Spain. More
recently we purchased the Virgin
islands from Denmark. 81
In all, the area which the United
States has acquired from foreign gov
ernments In one way and another
amounts to about 400 900 square
miles, or 1900. 900, 900 acres. The
total cost was slightly less than
$~66.O00.0Oo, or q little: more than 4
cents per acre, which any real estate
agent will tell the world was q good
Investment.