The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-03-20
From the State Gazette, March II, 1870
THE INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT.

Now that this veXed question Of
state policy has received its final prac-
teal solution, and disappears fer all
time from Texas politics, it is not i'm
proper to examine critically the terms
and effects of the settlement made, and
to lay the true figures before the people
of the state. The friends of the bill
thus passed into law, need assume no
apologize tone in discussing its wis
dom or fear the popular verdict upon
their work. 1t is we'll known to all
men that the very settlement effected,
was voted down at the outset peremp-
torily at the instance of the company,
who refused to accept it as a settle
ment, and that 1t never consented to
accept it, until it was driven to it by
the veto of the governor. Coming to
gether i'm January, 1874, the fourteenth
legislature found claim in existence
against the state, on the part of the
International Railway COMPANY, the
Dayment of which would have cost
the tax payers of Texas, in n,Oney taken
from their pockets, the round sum of
twenty-three millions, two hundred
and ninety-siX thousand dollars. A
settlement was attempted during its
first session, but owing to the action of
the supreme court, was not perfected.
Upon the assembling of the second
session of the fourteenthiegislature the
company came forward and offered
settlement with the state, upon a basis
which would involve a direct outlay of
money by the taxpayers to the amount
of eleven millions, one hundred thous-
and dollars, andan additional bonus of
four thousand sections of land of the
estimated value oftwo hundred dollars
per section, amounting i'm ell to about
Twelve millions of dollars. The settle
ment lust effected bv the legislature
does not involve the paymeut of a cent
i'm taxes by any taxpayer in this broad
state. nor the paymeut of n dollar by |
the state. The public debt is Lot i'll
creased. nor are the public burthens, !
and vet the company is satisfied and
will nroceed TO construct its road at
once from Jefferson TO the Rio Grandc.
Certainly, this contamination must toe
a most favorable one for the neon,e of
the state unless. as is charged bv some,
the state has given the COMPANY much
more favorable terms than those
granted by the vetoed bill. Let us eX- !
anime this phase ofthe questions:
The state grants sixteen sections per
mile to any railway company that
comes and asks fOrit. This is perm
ane4t, fixed and settled policy, the
benefit of which the International Is
entitled to along with all Others, and
really should not be included in the es-
timation, as 1t is bound to go to some
work or other OF internal improve
ment. The extra donation consists,
then, of four sections per mile Further,
the lands donated, now pay no taxes,
md If retained by the state, or their
development lett 10 lnGiVidual enter
prise, IL Is hot reasoiiaole 10 calculate
that they would yleld any revenue 10
the state III tLe way OF taxes lor une
time eAenipieunlw elty-liVeSeaIs' Inc
state mas heiu the iaius lor thir'Sniiie
49, So, tI,oa, ,nd 1n',,a,, ,I'n, oro
',nt ,,,ara ,,aIuahIa In, H., ,,,,,yo ~,
nIarni, ,eSe Tha nhnioa ionds Of ,Ln !
stoto hove boon io,o .in.o aLsorbnL
and nothing remains but the arid
wastes OF the "Staked Plain,n which
is incapable of settlement by individ- |
80 No sSioP.u' nus w ~ :" 49, 20,
tlons Vi c"pllaii wen tiesr, WIN All
their appliances, will find the task 10
Iigbt ono
The capital necessarily used in ex-
tandin1 tho road conaS from abroad
- - t.,,. :. =;
anu j. not now taAaOle, DeCiiuSe IL Is