The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-10-06
ALIAS, TEXAS.
WEDNESDAY MORNING ::::: OCT Q
LANDS FOR RAILROADS.
The ola Cherished Policy Of the State
should be retained.

We desire 10 Express our earnest OPP
position 10 Tie contemplated clause in
The new Consultation prohibiting the
Legislature from granting public lands
for the ENCOURAGEMENT Of works OF
Internal Improvements. II we were
opposed to The policy 81 giving lands
to railroads on principle, We ihink the
aaapti0n OF sach q clause now would
bean sg,t ofllre gfossesi injustice 70 all
Tho western portion Of the state. The
ulunifccnte oi The Stale has provided
the nltAns Of ereGiug in the eastern
balf Of oar territory, splendid system
of internal improvements, The doua-
iion OF the public domain has contribu-
iei largely to the introduction OF
foreign capital in the construction OF
roads connecting Northern and North
east Texas with the seaboard and with
The great lines which have extended
down from the lakes and from the
Northwest. Millions of acres have
been thus used TO enrich one half OF
the State and TO give to that half the
advantages of quick and cheap transit
and Accommodation, and il 1t just
that those who are reaping these I'D
vantages and who are in the daily en-
joyment of the many and varied bene-
fetal results arising from this system
of ronds 1t right, is II proper, is 1t
liberal on their part to deny to their
felow-citizens living in other sections
of the State, the same privilege-the
same benefits and advantages which,
by a liberal legislation, have been ac-
corded to themselves in the past?
The public domain of Texas does not
belong exclusively to the eastern half
of the State. IT belongs in common
TO all the people of all the sections
alike 1t would seem that those por-
lions of the State which have carved
ont for themselves so many millions
of acres, and appropriated the same for
their own exclusive benefit, would, by
the niggardly policy which they now
propose, indicate to the world that
they are the sole owners Of this great
heritage, which has been handed down
to MS by the fathers of the republic.
They would say to their neighbors Of
the West, we have got all we want out
of these lands, we have built all the
railroads we need, and now we pro-
pose to shut down the gates and cut
you off from the enjoyment of any of
this common inheritance. From Tex
arkana to Galveston, and from Red
river in Grayson county, to the Gulf,
we have magnificent lines of railway,
and from Dallas to Shreveport, and
from Austin to Houston, other great
lines penetrate our rich valleys and
plains. Our cotton and wheat and cat
tie can go to market without any
trouble, and We in the miGdle of the
State can get as much lumber as our
needs require; and so long as we are
thus benefited, what matters it to the
West and South whether they shall
ever he hlest in this way or not? It's
true that, ut one time, we We're with
out these facilities and were in rs bad
u fix as our present poor and less for
tuIate brethren who have been fool
ish enough to settle down in the West
but, you see, that was some time ago,
and we forget all about that now.
What are the interests of hundred
thousand square miles of territory, 10
rich ~ ours, with its great multitudes
OF inhabitants now, compared to or
interests? When railroads were first
commenced in Texas, many of us were
frontiersmen, like you at the present
time; but that Is all passed by we are
no longer so, and we don't need any
more railroads ; and If we of the Mid
die and East do not require any more,
why should you, who have none at all,
have the brass to ask for any? We
are the owner of the public domain
not you-and having built our rail
roads with portion of it, we want
the rest of it now to educate our
children. As to your children, as you
are living so far away from civiliza.
ton, II makes but little difference
whether they ever see a railroad
or receive any education or not
We have suddenly discovered that II
Is very bad policy to give away our
public lands or any 'thing of Ualuo" to
corporations. We have consumed
about twenty-five years of time and
have given away great deal IN
"value" In finding II out, but It has
been found out at last and the new
Constitution which is about to be
framed shall contain at least one sec.
ton embodying our convictions on
this point and no more lands, not the
one-twentieth part Of one poor acre,
shall 90 to enrich these soulless corpo-
rotions.
The discovery has at length been
made, after all this experience, that
corporations will not do--that they
have no souls-that II is their daily
business to Cypress, and to crush down
ana Keep crushed down, the great
mass OF The people (from whom, 1t IL
true, they draw their own life blood,
ana there shall go into the constitu-
Ton one clause, ut least, saving the