Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1873-01-25
Railroad Subsidies.

We concur in most of the views of the
Houston Telegraph, on the subject of in
cooperating the constitutional amendment
into the Constitution, lately passed upon
by the people. We have for n number OF
years discussed the subject Of railroad
subsidies elaborately, and did not deem
it possible that our views could be misun-
derstood. While condemning toto ceio,
every act making donation money subsid-
les, we have uniformly held that Texas
was committed to the policy Of making
land grants, and it could not be re-consid-
cred or reversed. We have heretofore ar
gued that the public domain was OF COM
paratively no value to the State, with her
present sparse populations and second,
that they can be made valuable by the in
PRODUCTION of railways. No considerable
revenue has been de ived TO the State from
the private entries of these lands, and If
exclusively held for such purpose, it is a
matter of serious doubt whether sufhcien
sum would be realized, Cor many years to
come, to pay for the expense of surveying
them.
Under the new Constitution, the actus |
settler is granted a quarter section, on the
payment of the office fees, and if grants
are confined to this character Of persons,
the expenses of the Land Office for the
next generation, would exceed its income.
The question recurs as matiet Of sound
public policy, whether this immense do
main-nearly ninety millions Of acres
should not be made TO net revenue TO
the State, or made useful in the general
appreciation of real estate, including the
public lands. ''i
They cannot be brought into market
with any prospect of sale, for any purpose,
until furnished with railway communica-
tion. This is the only instrumentality
that can serve the purpose contemplated. 1.
Without railways, the public domain Of
Texas is of no more value than an equal
quantity Of land in Alaska territory; for
the most Of it is too far from market 10 be
Of any value. Nor is it indispensable to
the value of these public lands, that roads
should traverse their territorial limits, fer
an approximation will swell the tide OF
immigration and cause large apprecia-
tion in private lands, until finally the pub
lie domain would be sought after as an
outlet for settlement, and railways ex-
tended into the country. To demonstrate
the utility ot these roads in the apprecia-
tion of both public and private lands, as
we'll as the increase of population and
wealth, we need 60 no further for an ex-
ample than our own Houston Il Texas
Central ...t-. hs-. 4.. ... -
We argue that sound craftsmanship re-
ouires the observance Of such course OF
policy as will best promote the develop
ment Of labor in our State; for this is the
only source Of material wealth. For the
attainment Of this object, railroads must
first be coustrueted, as an iaducement to
immigration and settlement. And while
the country is thus to be benefited by
these great ciyilizers Of the age, they
should be aided by the commonwealth in a
manner the least burtheDsome to the peo-
pie. Applying public policy to that which
wonld govern au individual in Frvats
transactions, we ask where is there a land
holder in the State, who would not cheer
fully donate one half of his lands, il there
by he was assured that the other halt
would be made of tenfold more value
And il his lands were Of scarce value snf-
hcient 10 pay the annual taxes, would be
not cheerfully Appropriate the major body
could be BY this means render portion
Of any considerable Value1
For these reasons we conclude, that the
policy adopted BY Texans in 1854 and acted
upon by the sanction Of the people, rnssi
prevail
We have not spac. or time TO discuss th'
question Of the character Of the roads Il
which these grants should be made, oH
will reserve this for future time.-Ars
an Gosstfe.