Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

those very thin-skinned individuals who think no foreigner should presume to speak of their country except in terms of unqualified praise. If I have extenuated nothing, I have most certainly not set down aught in malice, and so far from depreciating America, have no hesitation in saying that were I not an Englishman I should be proud to be an American citizen.

APPENDIX.

EXTRACT FROM A PAMPHLET BY THE BURLINGTON AND MISSOURI RIVER RAILROAD COMPANY LAND DEPARTMENT.

MILLIONS of acres comprising many of the best prairie lands in Iowa and Nebraska, are for sale by the Burlington and Missouri River R. R. Co., on ten years' credit, at six per cent. interest.

No part of principal due for two years from purchase, and afterwards only one-ninth yearly.

Products will pay for Land and Improvements. The prices of these lands are low, ranging generally in Iowa, from $5 to $16 per acre, and in Nebraska, from $4 to $12 per acre, with some less and

some more.

They vary according to soil, location, water supply, timber and other advantages, in precisely the same manner as do other lands.

These Iowa and Nebraska Lands are located principally in the south-westerly part of Iowa, and the southerly portion of Nebraska, along the Platte,

Big Blue and other valleys. They are not exceeded in fertility, beauty, and all the attractions and advantages of locality and soil, which are essential, in the estimation of farmers, by any region in the world; while trade, manufactures, arts, science, and all the attendants of refinement and luxury, which enterprise can introduce and thrift maintain, are following rapidly the march of settlement.

The Railroad lands already sold have been wonderfully improved, and the increase in their value is large-in many cases almost incredible.

Much equally good lands remain unsold, can be purchased at low rates, on the same easy terms of payment, and with equally good prospects of steady and large increase in value.

The soil of this region is of exuberant fertility, and easily cultivated; the climate is healthful, winters short and mild, with very little snow, the stock subsisting principally out of doors, and feeding upon the dried grasses of the prairies, in preference to hay. Crops are large, markets good, taxes low, and education is free to all.

The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad was completed to Lincoln, Neb., in July, 1870. Its lands in both States came into market in April of that year.

At the end of twenty-seven months from that time, June 30, 1872, the sales had been:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

Nearly all these sales are made to actual settlers, on a credit of ten years, at six per cent. interest.

How is a Buyer to Select Lands?

All the lands the Railroad Company offer for sale, have been thoroughly explored and examined, and in the offices of the Land Commissioner, at Burlington, Iowa, and at Lincoln, Nebraska, are elaborate and carefully prepared plans and descriptions of every lot, which are freely opened to the inspection of all inquirers, with explanations by experienced men in the offices, who are personally familiar with the lands.

The only sure and satisfactory course for purchasers is to come and see for themselves.

After obtaining, at one or the other of these offices, all needed information to direct him on his way, the person in pursuit of land generally finds it convenient to go directly to some one of our local agents, who are to be found at various points along the line.

These agents are reliable men, thoroughly familiar with all the lands in their vicinity, and will cheerfully afford all reasonable aid in selecting and examining the lands for sale.

They are also authorised to receive applications for the lands selected, and to prepare and execute the preliminary papers necessary to consummate the purchase and secure the lands selected.

Subsequent payments are to be made, for Iowa lands, at Burlington, and for Nebraska lands, at

Lincoln. Our system is extremely simple, and perfectly intelligible to all.

A list of our Local Agents along the line, is furnished to each explorer, so that they may know on whom to call, wherever they stop; and as a general rule, all others should be avoided, for there are Land Sharks as well as Land Agents.

In order to pre-empt Government or Homestead lands, it is needful to settle on the land immediately, or within six months; on Railroad lands. more time and accommodation can be had.

Terms of Sale.

The purchaser can pay cash, or divide the amount into three equal parts, paying one-third down, one-third in one year, and one-third in two years, with interest at ten per cent. annually, or he can have TEN YEARS' time in which to make up the sum by small annual payments at six per cent. interest.

Most buy on this latter plan of ten years' credit, in which case the purchaser pays at the outset one year's interest, at six per cent., on the value of his land at the end of a year he makes another similar payment of six per cent. only.

At the end of the second year, he makes payment of one-ninth of the principal of the purchase money and one year's interest, at six per cent., on the remainder, and the same at the end of each successive year thereafter, until all has been paid.

If he chooses to pay cash down, or one-third

« AnteriorContinuar »