LARGE AMERICAN LANDED PROPERTIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 18, 2 November 1880, Page 3

LARGE AMERICAN LANDED PROPERTIES.

It is safe to say that over a lmndved . million acres of Uuited States territory ure alienated to corporations and individuals who neither plougb, nor sow, nor improve, but hofd their millions for speculative purposes. The Pacific railroad company alone own twenty million acres, and so with other corporations. Here in this State, a private firm owns 700,000 acres, anJ it is only a week ago since the announce ment was. made in the Press that the Standard Oil Company had sent out agents to buy up a million acres of the best wheat, land in the north-wesc .with the view of controlling the wheat market of America. Ihe purchases already mado amounb to 40,000 acros. half of which will be put in wheat this year. It is said to be the most gigantic land speculation ever known in any country, and the chances are that the million acres will be bought up and every acre paid for within six months. Npw there is land enough in America for all comers for several generations to come, and it is not from 'scarcity Of land that dangor is apprehended', but from the power for oppression and corrnp- ion that such enormous. territorial possessions confer on the proprietors, who, not satisfied with wealth, covet titles and honours, and not contend with titles and honours when acquired, depress the people arid then oppress them, for where is the glory and distinction of superfluous wealth but in contrast with povert£/&nd helpless dependence ? All new countries?, therefore, where land is abundaot and cheap, and where, consequently, opportunities for acquiring great landed estates aie tempting and great, should bewaie of encouraging extensive Imd purchases. We need go no further than England, Ireland,, and Scotland to find how ruinous to the masses are great landed possessions. — San Francisco Correspondent Tablet.