The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1877-07-21
TIE Free Schools
To Tho naLtor Of The neraIa.


IL seems that the aIl-absorhing ques-
ton with The American people 70 day
Is that of education. Every class, from
the highest to the lowest, seems to be
aroused 20 full appreciation of the
vast Importance OF educatiou--of the
vast Importance OF leading the mind
OF the rising generation from the be-
nighted Pfis0DhOuse of ignorance to
the bread and ever expansive fields OF
light and knowledge. 1t is dou btfui
whether in the history of civilization
such an unanimity of sentiment upon
any one subject has ever before eX-
listed, as now exists III regard 10 the
duty and binding obligations testing
upon the present generation to edu-
cate, aud prepare the mind and heart
OF the rising generation for the re-
possibilities and eDjoyments Of life.
The mechanic at his workshop, the
farmer at his pillow, the merchant be-
hind his counter, together with the
various professionals and politicians
STe all, all united upon this vital ques-
ton.
Ii shall not, therefore, be ny prov
ince in this communication TO occupy
your valuable space in discussing the
uect ssity, the benefits or the pleasures
TO he derived from u subject on which
all are agreed. For after people have
become couy inced of the Importance,
and thoroughly aroused 10 the accom-
piishmeut OF any object or duty, II
then becomes question not of per
suasion, bat Of accomplishment.
As To how the people of Texas can
best raise the means by which and
with which to secure this much to-be-
desired object, is u gu stion for her
statesmen 20 solve. While make no
claim to statesmanship, and only write
at the request of the Dallas county
council Of patrons of husbandry, I'd; d.
rect attention to the subject under
consideration. ] shall presume To give
my individual ideas, without assum. .
ing that they will be endorsed 10y
single member of the order.
Assuming that public free schools
are Indispensable, ami that it is the
duty Of the state to foster and encour-
age them, by furnishing smple means
for their support and maintenance.
and in view OF the fact that it has
been determined 10y the people of
Texas, in ratifying and adopting the
present constitution, that no direct
tax shall be imposed for this purpose,
| shall proceed directly to give nv
views for what they may be worth !
as 10 the best, quickest, cheapest and
most substantial mode of making
available the vast and almost mex
haustible school fund OF Texas. Be it
remembered that Texas has two kinds
of public free school funds--auaisaljle
aud unavailable. The available school
funds are:
First, Interest derived from what is
known rs railroad bonds, $50, 900; sec
ond, interest on state and Un tied State 3
bonds, S9s, 500; third, poll tax, 500, 600;
fourth, one fourth of the general reve-
Due. 800 600, making total OF about
ST2s, $40 Ms the annual available school
und-a sum too Insignificant to run
the public free schools Of Texas for
more than two months In the year.
The unavailable school fund consists
in prineeIy domain OF public lands
of more than twenty millions OF acres.
Twelve millions of acres are already
located and surveyed, aud the field
notes returned to the general land Of
fice, which up to this time has re-
NAMED dead capital to the state, be-
ing neither available as a school fund
nor as source of general .revenue.
This vast amount of land at the low
rate Of fifty cents per acre, would Weld
the enormous sum of ten millions OF
dollars, which at ten per cent. would
yield revenue of one milton anuu-
ally, or at one dollar per acre would be
twenty million dollars, which at eight
per cent per aunum would yield an an
nual revenue of one million six hun
dred thousand dollars TO the available
school fund. 1t seems to me that
there could have been plan c. policy
adopted, which would have made
large amount OF this unavailable fund
available MS q schoo, fund In CON.
pound ratio. by this time, as well as
source of vast amount of general
revenue. The plan that I shall sug-
gest is that this land shall
be put on the market AZ
early rs possible, vt q minimum
valuation, not less than one dollar Der
acre, free from the uDwise restrictions
imposed by the present law. That Ia.
II shall be sold IN. quantities 10 suit
purchasers, in traeis OF eighty, Of one
hundred aud sixty, of thrs HUNDRED
and twenty, or Of six hundred and
forty acres on more, rs may he desired.
and that the purchaser shall not he
required to live on the game; but that
he shall he required to pay ons-tenth
OF the purchase money annually, An
ten per cent. interest annually on the
unpaid balance, together with state
and county taxes on. tbe same, from
date Of purchase; the full amount
OF purchase money and interest to he
fully paid nj the end Of the ten years.
or sooner, II desired by the parchaaes
the patent fronI the state to issue "a
the full payment Of the principal and
accrued interest, together with All the
state and county taxes due thereon.
BY not limiting the purchaser In the
number Of acre., and by NOT requiring
him 70 live upon the land, and Gy not
restricting the purchaser to be q non
real estate owner, many persons, bot i
IN Texas and In other states, will be
induced 70 invest their money 81 4
become citizens, who will not, under
the present limited amount or lan1
and restrictions Of the present law
Many would now plFchass. II fbe
AInount ole land wAs greater. eve a
under the present law. Many othsr s
would purchase homes, even with IN !
n they we're MT
required 20 live on the sAin
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