AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



The revenue idea was gradually abandoned and 

 the settlement of the western country came to be 

 looked upon as the principal end in view in the 

 disposition of the public domain. 



The preemption system, which gave the prefer- 

 ence to actual settlers in the sales of land at the 

 minimum price, was embodied in sixteen special 

 Acts between 1801 and 1841. At the latter date 

 a general Act was passed which, with minor 

 changes, remained in force until 1891. The 

 actual settlers were permitted to enter upon tracts 

 of land not larger than 160 acres nor less than 

 40 acres before such lands had been offered at 

 public sale. The requirements were that the per- 

 son should reside in a dwelling upon the tract, im- 

 prove and cultivate a part of the land, and after 

 a limited period pay $1.25 per acre. 



"The preemption system," says Donaldson, 1 

 "arose from the necessities of settlers, and 

 through a series of more than 57 years of experi- 

 ence in attempts to sell or otherwise dispose of 

 the public lands. The early idea of sales for reve- 

 nue was abandoned and a plan of disposition for 

 homes was substituted. The preemption system 

 was the result of law, experience, executive orders, 

 departmental rulings, and judicial construction. 

 It has been many-phased, and was applied by 

 special acts to special localities, with peculiar or 

 additional features, but it has always and to this 



1 See The Public Domain, by Donaldson, p. 215. 

 202 



