264 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



their land in a kind of common stock, at low prices, and 

 take steps to encourage emigrants to go on and settle 

 these lands, and if required, give the poor emigrant a 

 credit, and let it be understood that he could have his 

 choice of all the lands in the stock by settling on them at 

 a price fixed. His improvements on the land bought 

 would certainly enchance the price of the unoccupied lots, 

 and would be the means of selling the whole. Unless 

 land owners will adopt some course to get settlers upon 

 their lands they may lay idle for many years, and prove 

 an unprofitable stock. The land owners certainly have 

 it in their power to enhance the value of their land, and 

 at the same time confer a lasting benefit upon their fel- 

 low creatures, if they will adopt measures to have the 

 land settled upon. While it remains in its natural state 

 it cannot rise in value ; it is settlement upon and around, 

 with all the et cetera of roads, mills, towns and schools, 

 that makes land in a new country rise in value. 



To the emigrant desirous of settling upon and improv- 

 ing Government land, especially under the inviting pro- 

 vision of the new land bill, you may see that there is yet 

 an immense quantity of such land yet to be found in 

 Indiana, and some of it cannot be exceeded in beauty or 

 fertility in the world. 



Having made this letter already much longer than I 

 intended, I will close with this assurance, that any in- 

 formation my residence and long acquaintance in the 

 West will enable me to give, or any service that I can 

 render to promote the settlement and improvement of 

 the country, or the happiness of my fellow creatures, will 

 be rendered as freely as this answer has been made to 

 your several inquiries. 



I only regret that the great haste in which I have done 

 it, has prevented me from making it more interesting to 

 you and your friends. 



I have the honor to be, 



Most respectfully, your friend, 



Solon Robinson. 



