The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-18
LAND CERTIFICATES.

Elsewhere We publish this morning let
terrecoived in this city by prominent
firm of real estate agents, and their answer
relative to Texas land certificates These
letters explain themselves, and although
no names are given, they are bona iidc let
ters. 1t is an outrage and shame that
people should be mislcd into the purchase Of
these land certificate. 1t may be that here
and there in III Llano Estacada strip ofarid
sandy desert may be found that is not
worth the time and tho expense it would
take to locate it, and in some counties in
the better portion of the state, little rocky
hi ly, patch may now and then be found
not covered by II land certificate but these
spots are exceptions, and are utterly
worthless when found. There are,
it is true, according to the last
report Of the commissioner of the
general land office, some 100000 acres OF
public domain, seemingly not
yet located, but this. land is set apart
for a specific purpose, is virtually located,
although it may not be surveyed and
scctionized. 1t was grossly wrong on the
part of the last legislature to make pro-
visions for the issuance of any more land
certificates. II it did not know that the
landed estate of the state was piastcrcd all
over with land certificates, it ought to have
known tit was its duty to know it, and,
although these certificates bear upon their
face the legcnc that the state is not rcspon
sible if the public domain be cx-
haustcd, thereby giving quasi
notice that it may ormNy not be exhausted,
we think it questionable if the state can
avoid responsibility by any such means :.
What does the state issue these certificates
for? Does it not receive compensation or
value received in some form for them? 1t
may be true that they are head-right GER
tilcatcs issued several years ago and never
yet located, still the state received consid-
Grafton in the citizenship of the grantee; it
may be true that they were issued to the
widows of the veterans of the ear
ly wars of Texas, and can it be
said the state did not receive
compensation in the military services of
these veterans If the state received COM
pcnsation, value received, then is it not
responsible to innocent purchasers-to all
holders of these certificates, unless she
gives actual, not. constructive but actual,
notice in the most public way possible, that
is, III the official report Of her land commits
sioner and by act of her legislature or
proclamation Of her governor that
her public domain is exhausted? If
this be the case, the state, having
failed to give actual notice that there was
no more public land within her limits for
location, is she not responsible for every
certificate issued by the land Office under
Of any legislature of the state
that has yet conferred that authority 1t is
a principle Of law, and it is common sense
and common justice that no person or cor
poration shall receive something for
nothing. The state stands by and
sees these certificates being hawkcd
here, there and everywhere, and
the prices quoted in all the papers and it
does not raise its voice to say that the pub
lie Domains exhausted and there is no land
anywhere to locate under these certificates.
II thereby makes itself party to their sale
and it makes itself responsible, We take it.
Northern cities are being flooded with them,
and northern people are being duped into
purchasing them, very greltly against the
good name and the standing of our state, if
Inc state is not responsible for them.