CH AP 1 Bex: 
LAND GRANTS IN AID OF INTERNAL IMPROVE- 
MENTS. 
3y WILLIS DRUMMOND, JR. 
The land grant system in favor of internal improvements has become 
a well settled policy of this Government, and has attained not only a social 
but a political importance. 
Like other American institutions its growth has been rapid, and dona- 
tions of that character now cover millions of acres of the public domain. 
Of grants for railroads, wagon roads, and canals alone, however, will this 
chapter treat, and no reference other than necessary to a proper examina- 
tion of the question will be made to con cessions whose terms place the lands 
under specific disposal by the States, such as those for the establishment of 
schools, reclamation of swamp lands, ete. 
The majority of grants, therefore, coming within our notice will be 
those in aid of railroads, though many have been made in favor of wagon 
roads and canals. The latter have, however, almost become things of 
the past, and are rapidly being superseded by the railway. More than 
‘one canal has given way to the more popular and general means of trans- 
portation, and it is safe to say that no further donations for canal purposes 
will be made, unless the circumstances should be such as to absolutely 
demand that means of conveyance. At any rate, they will not be made 
for purposes of general improvement. 
The object of this chapter is to point out the origin, growth, character, 
and extent of these concessions. It is therefore necessary to inquire into 
the early donations for various purposes. 
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