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The Public Lands

The Public Lands image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
January
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In the report to Congress, the Commissioner recommends that the mineral region be opened to public sale and private entry: and that the pre-emption principles be so extended as to embrace the diggings, discoveries and improvements of resident miners and settlers in that region. The commissioner recommends four modifications to the present pre-emption law, as follows: lst. The extension of the pre-emption principie to all settlers on unsurveyed public land, after the extinguishment of the Indian title. 2d. The extension of the right of pre-emption to settlers on surveyed land, whose settlement commenced prior to the first of June, 1840. 3d. So extend to owners and residents of land the right of pre-emption to so much adjoining on neighboring land as may be necessary for fuel, fencing, and other similar purposes. 4th. To modify the law so as to enable a settler to enter, if he desires it a forty-acre tract, or a quarter-quarter section. The commissioner farther recommends an alteration in the law for the sale of lands, so as to provide for their classificaion, and that all lands brought into market -hereafter should graduate through these classes in such a manner as to continue subject to sale five years at $1,25, five years more at $1, five more at 75 cents, five more at 50 cents, five more at 25 cents; and all the residue remaining unsold, after passing through this series of gradations, should vest forver in the states. In order to guard against speculation, the benefits of reduction may be confined to persons purchasing for the purpose of settlement or cultivation. Receipts will be published next week.