RAILROAD LAND GRANTS. 105 



"On an average, bow many immigrants does your system 

 bring to this country ? " 



" I can't tell you that. The number is very large. I have 

 under my immediate control 10,000 miles of roads, and immi- 

 gration goes along 6,000 or 7,000 of them. I was out there last 

 year and saw that towns have sprung up all over the territory." 



" How much of the land has been settled ? " 



" I can't tell. The government's plan was to grant the rail- 

 roads alternate sections, and as they are offered cheaper they 

 are usually occupied first. The government's price is $2 50 an 

 acre. We sell for from $3 to $6. I have known immigrants 

 to take the virgin soil and make enough profit on their first 

 year's crop to pay for their farm. We have never lost any 

 money by these sales. There have been instances when lands 

 have been thrown back on our hands, but we have always sold 

 them again." 



" Do you know what prices the western producers receive for 

 their wheat in the local markets ? " 



" It varies according to the prices at Chicago and St. Louis." 



" What is the average received ? " 



" There is a pretty wide fluctuation. They want a dollar for 

 their wheat and are not satisfied with less. I think they get 

 about 70 cents now." 



" Through what sections of the country do your roads run, 

 Mr. Gould? " 



"Through Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, 

 Nebraska, Arkansas, and Texas." 



Here is the most conclusive evidence of the way and 

 manner in which the general government is used by 

 a horde of speculators to aid their speculations. Here 

 it is shown for whose benefit the State of New York 

 is taxed to support her Emigrant Commissioners, 

 Castle Garden, Ward's Island, and other immigrant 

 expenditures. So with the thousand and one impo- 

 sitions upon the people, throughout the country, from 



