patent at the end of the five years establishes
ownership. The soldier's homestead, offered to those who had served as
volunteers in the army of the nation, varied from this only in a reduced
term of residence. Third, homesteaders, as well as others, could secure
additional lands under a provision for tree culture on the treeless
prairies, the requirement being the planting of a few acres of trees and
the maintenance of culture on those acres for a period of eight years.
Even the establishment of trees in permanent growth was not a requisite.
Fourth, by certain outlay for irrigation purposes in arid lands a tract of
640 acres could be secured. In addition to these, certain land grants to
the several states led to the issue of scrip, entitling the possessor to
locate on government lands upon payment of only fees of registration.
Certain states, within whose borders public lands did not exist, being
unable to hold lands in other states or territories, sold scrip at less
than half the price asked by the government for lands.

All these methods operated not only as a stimulant to the settlement of
new territory, but as a check upon rising values of land in the older
communities. Nevertheless, this rapid development has given the best of
opportunities for watching the tendencies of land values.

_Propriety of land rent._--The right of property in land, like every other
property right, rests upon its advantage in the welfare of communities.
Among savage tribes individual control of plots of ground would interfere
with welfare, as hindering the only use to which the land is put in
hunting. Among people living by herding no nice dividing lines are needed,
though strife between herdsmen, since the days of Abraham and Lot, results
from the mingling of herds upon the same feeding grounds. With the actual
tillage of soil, control of the space tilled becomes absolutely necessary,
and more necessary with every improvement in agriculture which takes the
nature of permanent improvement upon the soil. No agriculture beyond the
merest skinning of the surface has ever existed without permanent
occupation. Even where the land is distinctly owned, but used under
temporary leases, few permanent improvements in agriculture are possible.

The necessary permanence of control over the products of toil makes an
essentially permanent control of land necessary to the common welfare. For
this reason the progress of civilization everywhere demands mo