LAND MONOPOLY. 671 



fact that in some ca^es it was perhaps proper to aid enter- 

 prises of great proportions and which for years would not, 

 perhaps, pay an adequate return upon the capital invested, 

 but which were, in the meantime, a national necessity. 

 Such an enterprise was the great trans-continental railroad 

 the Union Pacific, to construct which both political 

 parties in 1860, promised government aid. But that this 

 power has been unduly exercised by the government, and 

 most outrageously abused by the recipients of its donations, 

 is a fact that no one will attempt to deny. In view of the 

 fact that this practice of wholesale land donations has been 

 so thoroughly discussed, and so universally condemned, 

 we shall occupy but a limited space in its discussion. 



The disposition of the public lands of the United 

 States is a question of vital importance, but it now seems 

 that the public attention is so thoroughly aroused to the 

 evils attendant upon large and gratuitous land grants to 

 corporations and individuals, that no political party could 

 stem the tide of public indignation which would result 

 from a repetition of the practice. It is to be regretted that 

 other evils of equal importance have not met with the same 

 universal disapproval. The history of land grants dates 

 back to the year 1850. It is not known who first conceived 

 the idea, but Stephen A. Douglas introduced the first bill 

 in Congress granting land to aid in the construction of 

 railroads. This bill was hotly opposed, but supported by 

 the persuasive eloquence of Mr. Douglas, it was passed and 

 approved September 2Oth, 1850. It granted to the State 

 of Illinois, for the use and benefit of the Illinois Central rail- 

 road company, 2,505,053 acres of land through the richest 

 portion of the State. A provision stipulating, that in lieu 

 of all other taxes, the company should pay into the State 

 treasury an amount equal to seven per cent, of the gross 

 earnings, was incorporated into the bill; but since the 

 books of the company show that they still have 36 per 



