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Show 84 IMMIGRANTS' AND SETTLERS' GUIDE tion. Many of them come from the Western States, where the 1~nd had not previous to their migration, become poor ; and as rotatton of crops' had never been a necessity within their experience, they have never adopted it." Such a condition of affairs suggests its own remedy. Large landed estates, with their inseparable ba~e~ul system of cultivati~n, ~ave proved anot?er ~ru1tful source of evil in California. Small estates 1ntelhgent~y cultivated, as we have seen in the Eastern States, have often been the means of restoring the soil where restoration was practicable ; and where it could .not be, as is the case in the vicinity of our National Capital, it remains as a warnin~ _and an example for all times and places. In California, where the climate- favors a much greater annual yield, these estates will admit of a still greater subdivision. But unfortunately the large grants of land made by the Mexican Government were recognised by our own government in its treaty stipulations, entered into when the agricultural value of California could not have been foreseen. EXTENT OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS. Of these grants, says Mr. Hittel, there are eight hundred and thirteen, covering a total area of nearly ten millions of acres. Of these claims one hundred and fifty, covering about three million acres, have been finally rejected, and a number are as yet undecided. The grants were for large tracts called 1·anchos, intended to be used chiefly or exclusively for pasturage, and the average size was about 12,000 acres, or three square miles. If these large landed estates had been surveyed by the owners and sold in small tracts at reasonable prices, the evils here pointed out might have been lessened ; but a contrary policy has been pursued, for as these grants cover the best agricultui·alland in the State, their future value, because of their limited extent, is regarded as very great, and present asking prices are governed to a TO THE NEW STATES AND TERRITORIES. 85 b this speculative value. Indeed the great ~xtent l~nd titles has been the greatest obstacle uncertamty of d healthy settlement of the State. to the pe~man;nt ::very justly refuses to settle on land The Amertcan arm. . b n as the owner of an untratn-in any othe~ capacttyd tt:e result is felt in the migratory melled fee-stmple,b~n f •ts people and the unstable and unsettled ha ~ts 0 1 ' character of it~ busl~efs. d titles here referred to, arises The uncertain~~ 0 ;~h Mexican grants in our treaty from the r.ecogntt.Ion o e. t is confirmed, the lands with Mextc? .. 'Yhe~ a ·f~~~awn fronl market, hopeless embraced wlthm It at~] WI ept at prices which the preto the tiller of th~ s~I ' exc ·n not justify. sent profits of agricu ture Wl THE LAND SYSTEM. . db reco<Ynised Mexican grants The lands not covet e h. l clai~ has been made under are: First, those to . '~ ~~ave been determined invalid. these grants, but .w~ICre claimed under these grants, but Second, those whtc. a h m or tule lands owned undetermined. Th~~d: ~ eu~~:r ¥he legislation of Conby the State of Cah ot nta t d to the State for School gress. Fourth, those gr::a e now sold by the State for purp..o . ses by Con~~e~s, mining lands reserved from sa~e $1.2o per acre. FI t 'h. h have been exhausted of tbelr as mining lands, but ~ lC • • ( lands reserved from sale, mineral wealth. Sixt ' mtntng . unexhausted. . . mportant to the interests In order that a que~tl~ntso ;he welfare of those who of the State, and s~ Vlta ~ o mes as title, may be duly may adopt it as their fut.ut ~ ho f e'ach of these several b · f descr1pt1on o considered, a rie be without value. . clasRes of lands may nod f~ invalid Mexican claims First then, the Ian s rom t rrhe homestead ' h ·al O'Overnmen · belong to .t e .gene~.f . o. • s well as in other State.s, olicy obtainS In C!ll Ol nia a rvin l adher ed to lU ~nd should be appheld add ui:wJves rh~ lands to actual the disposal of these an s. |