The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-29

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FREE SCHOOLS,
By the same laws Of 1889 and 184l, there
we're donated and set apart to each county
then or thereafter to be created HIP acres
of land, to be selected by the county ITSELF 10
be ultimately sold and converted into inter.
est'bearing Sc urities, tho principal to be a
perpetual fund and the Interest to be annu-
ally used in aid of free schools. Only since
the adoption of the constitution in 1876
could these lands be sold. There are 1863 Or
ganized counties holding this amount of land,
and it is being sold at the will ofeach county,
without state control, as an auxiliary to the
state ree-school fund. Much of this land is
very valuable That of the newer counties
is still on the frontier.
The constitution oflS45 set apart one. tenth
of the annual revenue in aid Of free schools.
In the year 1854 was inaugursted the grand
system ever since continued, which is destined
to rank Texas as the foremost state in the
world in the munifcence of its free school
fund. 1t was the plan Of granting to rail-
roads sixteen sections of land tor every mile
of railway constructed, the lands to be Sec
tionized and surveyed at the expense of the
roads, the state reserving every alternate sec.
ton as part OF the free.schOol endowment,
the roads taking the other section. The
schem was bitterly opposed by some, but
earnestly advocated by the majority on two
grounds: First, to provide the perpetual
means Of universal education without taxa
ton upon tho people; second, as means of
Milling the state with an agricultural popula-
ton, to be invited here from the United
States and Europe. 1t was cOntended that in
due time, after our railroads had reached
certain fruition, they would become the best
possible immigration bureaus, induced
thereto by the law of self-interest. in order to
sell their own lands, foster traffic on their
lines and in their own way augment their in
comes. They would combine, establish low
immigrant through rates, sell on time, and
thus induce flow never to be checked while
virgin lands remain accessible TO men of
small means. In doing this they would
necessarily bring the alternate school lands
into equal demand, and thus repay the state
for its bonus to them.
THIS WISE PLAN
met the approval of the early fathers of
Texas then surviving, Houston, Rusk, Bur-
net, Lamar, Jones, Henderson and their
compeers and was pressed into vital law by
a younger class then in our counsels, among
whom were Throckmorton, Ashbel Smith, |
Ochiltree, Potter Palmer, Tsrver. Chiffon, !
Willie Hubbard, Sayes and others equally !
worthy. For number of years had the |
honor to be an humble but jealous co-worker |
in cause so full of promise to Texas, and |
am on record in the debates, as contending I
that its ultimate results would be to populate
our state with millions of the salt of the earth
n law-abidng, agricultural and mechanical
population from Europe and America, and |
rect for all time tho most mun6cent free
chool system that ever blessed state, prnci-
,ality or kingdom Governor Roberts,
hough then on the bench and not in the
aw.making branch of tho government, in
common with his brethren Of the ermine,
iemphill, Lipscomb, Wheeler, Baylor, Jen-
lings, Duval and Others thoroughly under
TODD and heartily approved these measures
5 the soundest state policy, certain in the
nd to rebound to the glory of the state.
The progress Of this grand policy was en-
ire y checked during and for several years
fter the war, and when revived for q Short
lme still later, 1t was confronted with the
errible panic beginning in 1873, stopping all
ailway extensions in 1875, and only assum-
ng new life and unsurpassed vigor few
months ago. We now have under coustruc-
ion more railroads than ever before, for
he first time several of them are penetrating
nto the heart ofthese railroad and free school
ands, followed and preceded by an unwonted
population. The roads of the state,
Or the first time in condition to do so,
ave recently united in tho formation of an
immigration association, presided over by q
distinguished and enlightened citizen. II is
OF vanity to say that for & considerable
ime
WHOLLY REGARDLESS OF POLITICS,
have urged this course and rejoice at lis
doption. But even before this the demand
or free school lands had grown rapidly.
lenceforth, with the roads passing through
reat bodies of them, the demand must in
rease in an ever ealarging ratio, and our
ree-school fund augment correspondingly.
With all this our laws, as ever heretofore,
rant l60 acres Of the unsurveyed public lands
0 every actual settler, and eighty acres to
ach single man.
The amount of these free. school lands,
catered in nearly every section of the state,
mt chiefly In the western, northwestern and
portions-lands already sur
eyed and forever dedicated TO The children
Il lcAhSj OOLh oAu buupLu-ls luli W LullllOuS |
# acres, or something over territory larger
han the state of Ohio. Besides this the con-
titution of 1876, with like solemnity, set
part for free school purposes, one-half of
he entire remaining public domain. The
whole endowment will reach the enormous
mount Of go, 100000 facres exclusive Of the
asylum and county school lands.
Besides this we have an interest bearing
ash free school fund Of So, 500, 900, incress.
ng by every sale of land, and hereafter one
ourth ofthe annual revenue, with all annual
interest, to be annually used in support of
rec schools The lands are now on the mar
let at 81 per acre on ten years tme payable
n annual installments, with interest. Can
he philanthropist contemplate such an array
If facts, considering the terrible ordeal
through which we have passed in the last
wenty years, and our 800 miles of hostile
indian border all the time, without asking
Iod's blessing on the little understood and
constantly slandercd p ople of Texas?
Yet men constantly come into our state -
men, certainly, and little versed
n the march of states and empires-and ex-
,ress astonishment that we have rot school
louses like the old states of New England
Sew York and Ohio. We can afford to
reat them kindly, ap logic for their lack of
ordinary intelligence and bide our time for
he worlds verdict.
We are content, in view Of our misfortunes
md former shackles preventing selfgovern-
npnt for nine wars To know that within the |