The Evening Star MONDAY, JULY 24, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2631, 24 July 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, JULY 24, 1871.

There is a prevailing impression that the main reason why the current of emigration from Europe inclines to America rather than to Australia, is owing to the ease with which settlers can acquire land. That it is to be bought cheap—that is at a low price when a patch of unclaimed or unoccupied country is discovered, there is no doubt : but we very much question whether, even under the most stringent Colonial laws, in the end, it is safer or costs so little as to invest in any Australasian Colony, The opening up of communication with St. i rancisco put us in possession of the Trans-Conti-nental Railroad guide; in which some very minute and amusing suggestions are thrown out how “new-comers” should proceed in purchasing public land. These directions seem highly necessary; for the means of acquiring landed property in America are so various that a man must be very wide awake to avoid making a mistake, Firstitappears thatveryextended grants of land are made to railroad companies, who thus become very large territorial landlords. From this circumstance, those companies exert immense influence on State and monetary affairs ; nor do they always exert that influence beneficially. Next the “home- “ stead law" of the United States enables any man after five years residence in the State to purchase eighty acres within a railroad grant, or one hundred and sixty outside it, for thirty-two dollars; or if he can find a piece of unoccupied or unclaimable ground, he can settle upon it, and thus obtain the pre-emptive right to a similar quantity. This is, therefore, “Free selection” before survey—the great end at which so many people are now aiming in Otago, under the idea of promoting vapid settlement. Like most other blessings, assuming this free choice to be one, it has its attendant evils. One would imagine in the State of California, in which, according to official figures, there are 80,000,000 acres of Government land undisposed of, half of which is arable, selection would be easy; and that the only perplexity would be where to pitch a tent: but not so the “ difficulty ” intending buyers “ first encounter, is that of “ finding the Government land they “ are in search of,” We cannot do better than quote the passage that describes the causes of this difficulty”—

“ Under the laws of the United States, a settler can purchase or secure by pre-emp-tion or homestead entry only one hundred and sixty acres, except of such lauds as have been “ offered for sale without buyers for a long time after survey. These latter were open to “private entry” at Idol 25c per acre, and were neglect d as long as the bulk of our population directed their attention to rainin'* and stock-raising in preference to agriculture. Within the past few years large tracts of these lands were secured by speculators, who have either resold them at a profit to settlers or others, or still hold them for advanced prices, though usually willing to sell portions to actual settlers on easy terms and long credits. Lndcr the State'law, however, settlers were at liberty to take possession of as large tracts of the Government lands as they chose, and hold them until some one appeared with a better title, to dispossess them. Consequently very much land is fenced in and occupied which really belongs to the Government, and is subject to be purchased and taken by new comers if they are aware of the fact. This state of things is often very discouraging to the new comer, who finds no vacant lands where he has been told that much more than he needs exists. Besides this, many of the lands which have been purchased by speculators in the valley of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, as well as elsewhere, are still unincloscd, unimproved, and vacant, and therefore not to be distinguished from the Government lands amongst which they lie. The survey stakes are also often wantonly or accidently removed, or destroyed, or hard to find even where they still remain ; and the Government employs no officer to point them out to the newly arrived settler. It will be seen therefore, that to one not accustomed to the business, the search for Government land may prove more difficult and discouraging, as well as expensive, then he supposed ; and for this and other reasons, many prefer to purchase cheap private lands.”

Then follow a series of directions for going about the work to avoid being taken in. First, the intending settler is recommended to obtain reliable and precise information concerning “ popu- “ lation, climate, soil, water, tim- “ ber, productiveness, means of com- “ munication,” and any other particulars that strike him, to enable him to make up his mind as to the exact spot that will suit him best. Our population can go to the Survey Office, and obtain at once gs ery necessary information. If not treated with what is deemed sufficient respect, most certainly the Daily Times or the Evening Star would be requested to inform the public that some official in their pay had been guilty of rudeness. A man runs no risk of that sort in California, because no officer is paid to help him to a choice of land. Wo are told by the “ Railroad Guide " that “ This infor- “ mation is to be obtained in a variety “ of ways.” First, a man may read himself into possession of it by poring over one or the whole of five different

works, or “ The Reports of the State “ Surveyor-General and the State “ Comptroller of California.” But he is recommended to provide himself with letters of introduction to residents, or to enlist the good offices of the members of any church with which he is connected, or of a friendly society, should he happen to be a member of one. It appears from what follows that there are “ United States Land “ Offices ” in each district, and that he may see maps and have pointed out to him “ lands which are vacant, or “ being unsold and not entered , are “ supposed to be vacant ” j but then the risk is that after travelling an indeterminate number of miles in search of the section of his adoption, when he gets there ho may find it occupied under the pre-emption law, and that he has to sot out on his errand afresh. Supposing that in the neighbourhood there seems desirable land still unoccupied, we are told “ generally, some of the- “ nearest settlers” will be willing topoint out the “ remaining Government “ lands and those which are most de- “ sirable,” “ with or without compen- “ sation.” But supposing they are unwilling to do so, or unable, he will have to call in the aid “ of some one who “ is familiar with the survey or survey <[ marks, if any have been made, and “ for a reasonable compensation” the county surveyor or one of his officials will “ locate” the land for the “ new- “ comer.” The risk he runs is from getting hold of the wrong man, for there are those there who have an interest in putting intending settlers on a fase scent. The pastoral interest in California are more opposed to settlement than they are here ; men of that class are not, therefore, the best persons to apply to for information, as :

Their interest leads them to discourage settlement in their vicinity, in order that their cattle may have an open country to range over without expense to themselves, and they have often been known purpose ly to mislead new-comors as to the quality, value, and even the existence of Government land near them, on purpose to discourage others from settling there.

If, after all this trouble, a man is lucky enough to pitch upon a spot where

no Government survey has ever been made there, the settler who finds the land that suits him vacant has no further trouble. His course is to make his settlement at once, and under the law his settlement secures him in the possession until the Government surveyors come along and make their survey.

We very much doubt whether one hundred and sixty acres obtained at such a loss of time, labor, risk, and actual outlay would on the average prove so good an investment as a like quantity at a pound an acre here.