436 MODE OF SELLING LAND UNSOLD PUBLIC LAND. 



and selling high-priced land on credit is one of the most effec 

 tual means that could be adopted. 



There were 28,237,850 acres of unsold public land in Illi 

 nois in 1832, and upwards of 3,000,000 acres recently sold by 

 the Pottowatomy Indians have since come into the market. 

 By far the greater portion of this extensive surface is prairie, 

 on which cattle and sheep might be pastured without chal 

 lenge, and the whole is open to the selection of settlers. 



The following estimate of unoccupied land, belonging to 

 the United States Government, is taken from Mellish s View, 

 published in 1822. 



ACRES. 



Ohio, 9,000,000 



Indiana, .... 10,000,000 



Illinois, .... 30,000,000 



Missouri, .... 15,000,000 



Alabama, .... 12,000,000 



Mississippi, .... 6,000,000 



Louisiana, .... 10,000,000 



Michigan territory, . . . 4,000,000 



North-west territory, . . . 2,000,000 



Arkansas territory, . 15,000,000 



Total, . . 113,000,000 



In addition to the public lands above stated, the United 

 States hold the preemption right, or exclusive right of pur 

 chasing from the Indians tracts lying in several of the States 

 and territories mentioned, and in the immense territory of 

 Missouri, the aggregate extent of which may be stated at not 

 less than 1,000,000,000 acres. 



The number of Indians in the valley of the Mississippi, 

 which includes nearly all that reside on the United States ter 

 ritory, is not accurately known. The following estimate is 

 taken from a Philadelphia publication of 1832, entitled, 

 46 View of the valley of the Mississippi.&quot; 



Creeks, . . 22,500 



Choctaws, . . 18,000 



Cherokees, . . 14,500 



Seminoles, . . 4,000 



-Chickasaws, . . 3,500 



Sioux, . . . 25,000 



Chippevvays, . . 6,000 



Blackfet t, . . 5,000 



Assinaboins, . . 8,000 



Potto watomies, . 6,500 



