46 BULLETIX 1001, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Hence, in two ways the policy is still recognized, though with re- 

 stricted application. 



Really very little harm would be done if a policy of selling the 

 remaining public lands of the United States (not including Alaska) 

 were inaugurated, with proper restrictions, if we assume that indi- 

 vidual ownership of lands is the best adjustment of the whole 

 question. The reason for this lies in the character of the lands still 

 to be disposed of. If the equities of the present users of these lands 

 could receive proper consideration, and priority of right to purchase 

 be granted them on the basis of their equities, the great bulk of these 

 lands would soon pass into the hands of the present users, though it 

 is practically certain that many applicants would get less land than 

 they now claim as their own ranges. It must be kept in mind that 

 these men are already carrying on the business for which the land is 

 best fitted; that they have large investments in improvements in 

 the region; that they want to stay in the business; and that most of 

 them know how and desire to increase the productivity of this land. 



This adjustment would have the disadvantage of fixing the status 

 of the land approximately in its present state of subdivision, which 

 is recognizedly not the best possible adjustment. It would also 

 give special advantage to the man who has plenty of money, since he 

 is the man who can buy, and he could use that power to the disad- 

 vantage of others who would need the land for use. 



If legal control of the range lands by those who use it were all 

 that is wanted, this method would give it, and to that extent it 

 would be an improvement over present conditions. But a much 

 better type of control is possible. 



It is not likely that we will ever revert to the policy of unlimited 

 sale, since the disadvantages- mentioned have been recognized, and 

 public opinion is strongly opposed to the practice. 



Gradual enlargement of the homestead area. — Underlying the origi- 

 nal homestead law and all modifications of it since passed, is the 

 assumption that the entryman is to receive, as a gift from the Nation, 

 an area of land which, if properly worked, will furnish him and his 

 family a reasonable living. In the humid region 160 acres of farming 

 land was rightly judged to be amply sufficient. The law was made 

 when everybody considered the areas here referred to as semiarid 

 and arid grazing land, to be a part of the "Great American Desert," 

 and few expected that it would ever be used for any kind of agri- 

 cultural purpose. At that very time, however, there was growing up 

 the industry which led the way to the occupation and use of these 

 lands— the range grazing of stock. 



With a continuing demand for farming land, and after most of the 

 available land of the humid region had been taken, men began what 

 we now call "dry farming" on the best of the semiarid lands. A 



