But In The States The
Railways Have Created The Value Of The Land.
The States have been
able to begin at the right end, and to arrange that the districts
which are benefited shall themselves pay for the benefit they
receive.
The government price of land is 125 cents, or about five shillings
an acre; and even this need not be paid at once if the settler
purchase directly from the government. He must begin by making
certain improvements on the selected land - clearing and cultivating
some small portion, building a hut, and probably sinking a well.
When this has been done - when he has thus given a pledge of his
intentions by depositing on the land the value of a certain amount
of labor, he cannot be removed. He cannot be removed for a term of
years, and then if he pays the price of the land it becomes his own
with an indefeasible title. Many such settlements are made on the
purchase of warrants for land. Soldiers returning from the Mexican
wars were donated with warrants for land - the amount being 160
acres, or the quarter of a section. The localities of such lands
were not specified, but the privilege granted was that of occupying
any quarter-section not hitherto tenanted. It will, of course, be
understood that lands favorably situated would be tenanted. Those
contiguous to railways were of course so occupied, seeing that the
lines were not made till the lands were in the hands of the
companies.
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