Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-14
THE SCHOOL LANDS.

1t seems strange that the precise status Of
what are known as school lands in this ter.
ritory, should not have been we'll under.
stood before this. The 10th and 36th Sec
lions in every township we're by the act Of
+ congress organizing the territory Of Dakota
specially reserved for the purpose of being
applied to schools" They are not yet
granted to the territory, but by reason Of
this law are popularity known as school
sections. The law reserving them is very
brief. 1t has been we'll known that they
could not be taken as homesteads or pre-.
empticns and they were generally and
properly let alone. But Of late years set.
tiers have begun to use them in various
ways. some only cultivating q part and
others erecting their houses upon and i'm
proving them as farms. The idea of
these people has been that the settler
would have 8 prior right to purchase them
when sold and would be secure in their
homes whenever the new state acquired title
to them. Meanwhile they would hold them
- their farms for FIVE or ten years and cul.
tivate them.
Now comes the decisions of the interior
department and the attorney general that
theae lands are public lands of the United
States and that they are to be protected
from all trespass of the kind by the United
States courts and officers. This was brought
about in part at least by the experience of
certain states that had not realized much
from the sale Of their lands, which had gont
Wholesale to spectators and retail to set
tiers without adequate. if any, price. Gen.
Beadle, the territorial superintendent Of
public instruction, inside inquiries and rep
resentations concerning this subject and
last summer received the reply Of secretary
Schurz to the same effect Is above stated.
This decision was extensively circulated,
and printed by newspapers throughout the
territory; and was followed By circulars
from the superintendent.
This has brought about so large . CORES
pondence that Gen. Beadie has caused to
be printed, at private cost, there being no
public funds for such purposes. a long letter
Addressed by him to County Superintendent
Fate, Of Union county, discussing the lead
ing features of the subject. In this letter
General Beadle says he speaks solely from
the STAND point Of public duty and in view
Of the ommon interest Of all Dakota now
and hereafter. He takes strong ground in
favor of preserving intact these lands until
the state is ready to sell them for the best
price without respect TO private interests.
He makes . strong plea for the idea of pub.
lie education as the chief institution and
highest interest Of the whole body polite
Of the state, ss sgainst the idea of any local
present advantage. He declares that the in.
terest 10 too vast and the period of intended
usefulness. for the fund resulting from these
Isnds, too long. for rash or hasiy adminis-
trstioD of any part of it; that the territory
IL not fitted, or The school system 10 proper
condition. to assume this trust now. He
discusses the nature OF the trust now held
by the Uoited States for the future state
and says thst It not only 10 hound in duty,
bnt s!so - . wise policy, to preserve and
defend this trust, and turn il over unim-
paired and unaffected by private interests or
adverse claims to the future state. for the
benees Of soBs children's children Ia eveSv
part OF Dakota forever. The pamphlst en-.
bsscss 6ttesa pages and treats st length OF
III the psscticsl phases Of the question. II
viii hardly b claimed that hereafter tho
stsiua ri thsss lssds y not known. Gen.
Dssdjs e eessfsi - repeat that he hes no