The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-01-30
Interesting Description Of a Visit to
the General Land Office at
Austin.
A Novel Specimen OF Architecture -
How the Business L. Conducted
The History OF the Land
Grants and Patents
The Way TO Get q
Homestead.
ispecIal Correspondence of the sentinel.l

among others the general land Office, and we
take pleasure In acknowledging our lndeot-
edness to him, as we'll as to Mr. Hutchins,
for much of the valuable information en-
bodied in this letter. With their generous
and courteous assistance we are enabled TO
give You description of mathematical ex-
actness The building known as the general
land office is stately edifice occupying an
elevated position $50 yards southeast OF the
capital, and its unique appearance attracts
ones attention even before they know
there's anything remarkable about it. IL
was erected in the years 1856 and 1857, and
Is built of the limestone so abundant in and
around this city. The architect who de
signed the building was German named
Stormme, and his model was
castle on the Rhine, beneath whose
shadow he gamboled when a boy.
Long years afteTward when in a new land he
was offered the opportunity to reproduce his
beau ideal of architectural beauty he went
to work con amore, and gave to Texas her
lofty and spacious land office. 1t is thor
oughly 6re-proof. wood only having been
used in the construction of the doors. win
dow frames and sash; and ii a look of mas,
siye solidity augurs durability, then the old
architect lately deceased, has left behind
him a monument that will preserve his
name for centuries to come.
lexis LAND AND ITS HISTORY.
In this connection it may be proper to say
something of the land area, and land titles OF
the state of Texas. The estimated area is 49,
594 $50 acres, or nearly 275, 900 square miles.
From this statement it is readily seen that
the Lone Star" might be splitup into
some five or six lesser lights, and
average one in the epluribus unum
galaxy. However, nothing is more distaste-
<ul to old Texans than the mere mention of
a possible ultimate division of the colossal
domain and TO forbid it they invoke the
shade of every hero who fell on the battle
field of San Jacinto, or within the blood
stained walls of the Alamo.
But to return to land matters. The first
grants of land in Texas were made in or
about 1870 in the name of the king of Spain,
of whose government Mexico including
Texas was a dependency. Then, and thus
it was, that the territory embracing San
Antonio, and that of several ancient Indian
missions. was set apart, and the grantees
invested with title. AT that time, and for a
long period thereafter, the investiture of
possession was performed in manner that
to modern eyes would appear grotesque and
unique.
Witnesses were called, and the officer
commissioned to make the investiture took
the grantee by the hand, led him about over
the land for some time, aud then taking off
his hat, bowed to the grantee in acknowl-
edgment of the fact that he was the owner
of the soil. Thereupou the owner pulled
weeds, drove stakes threw stones and hall
looed, in evidence of his proprietary rights,
and that underneath the jacal he might
afterwards erect on his newly acquired do
main none should dare modest or make
him afraid"
In 1921 Moses Austin, of st. Louis, made
with Iturbide, the emperor of Mexico. a
contract to colonies within the province of
Texas 800 families, the head of each to be
entitled to receive one league, or 4, 428 acres,
and each single man one third that quantity
Moses Austin dying soon after the grant
was transferred to his son Stephen. In the
meantime the republic Of Mexico
was divided into states IN imita-
ton of the republic OF the
north" 1.-THE United States) and in this di-
vision Coshiula and Texas were blended to-
gether and made to constitute one state.
All colonists obtained titles to their land
from the new government, and through
officials created for that purpose, the only
perquisites being that they professed the
Catholic religion, took the oath of allegiance
to the God and liberty" govern ment, and
were youched for as good, true men. In
this manner the country was settled and
land acquired prior to the revolution which
eliminated in the independence of Texas
by the successful battle of San Jacinto on
the 10Th of April, 1886.
THE ORIGINAL TITLES.
All of the original Spanish and Mexican
titles TO land In Texas are preserved in the
archives of the general land Office. They
were considered public documents, and as
such are to be kept in the custody OF the
government; grantees are given copies called
testimonies. First, the republic of Texas
after her the state, fell heir to these original
documents, and have ever watchfully guard
ed and preserved them. The present land
system was established in 1887, and has grown
from a small beginning into It's present
colossal dimensions. Its present staff of
officials number So, viz: one commissioner,
one chief clerk, one chief craftsman, one re-
ceiver, one Spanish translator, one calcula-
tor. ID assistant craftsmen and 26 clerks.
Under the laws of Texas claims to land sre
classified as first, second, third cass-boun-
ty, script, pre-emption. The first class In
cludes the claims of all parties who settled
in the country anterior to the declaration OF
independence, and these were entitled to
one league of land. The second class desig-
mates the claims of such settlers as arrived
in Texas subsequent to the declaration and
prior to 1885,. All second class claimants
who served in the army of the republic and
were honorably discharged received as
much land as first class claimants. while
others of that class who did not become
soldiers. if heads of families, received ], 2S0
acres, and IL single men 640 acres. The third
class claimants are those settlers
who came to the country and
domiciled themselves here after
the year 1889, and prior to the repeal of the
law. They il heads of families received $40
acres, il single men 800 acres. Bounty
claims are donations OF land made by the
republic for military services and to obtain
them required no permanent settlement in
the country. Scrip claims are donations to
railroads manufacturing enterprises, irriga-
ton and navigation companies, etc. Pre-
emption claims are those of settlers on the
public domain, who, under existing and
previous laws OF the state, have located upon
and improved the quantities of land to
which they were then entitled by the laws
in force at that time At present all such.
IL heads of families. can obtain 100 acres and