The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-30
Total cash re-
ceipts ......S135, 4S5 90

Total cash re-
ceipts $500. S135, 1856 90
PUBLIC DEBT AND SCHOOL RESERVE.
The act of July IA, 1879, and amends
tory act OF March IL, 1881, reserving
certain lands from location by certificates,
and authorizing their sale for payment of
the public debt, and for the benefIt of the
public schools, should, L think, IL not
repealed, be amended by placing the
price at not less than OIL per acre.
Sales under these acts for the past
eighteen months amount to 276, 1888 acres,
nearly the whole of which is situated in
organized counties, or in the Panhandle,
and all of which would probably have
brough 81 per acre as readily as fifty
cents. The fact that lands can be ac-
CURED under this act in large, solid
bodies, at q nominal expense for survey
ing, in addition to the purchase money,
operates to the prejudice OF the alternate
sections OF school lands, and retards their
utilization.
From the most careful estimates possi-
BILE with the returns to this office, the
vacant land In these reservations beyond
what may be embraced in fragments of
less than $40 acres, in organized counties,
sums up as follows:
In the Texas Pacific so mile
reserve west of 100 me-
ridIan. ................... $500, 900 acres
In the Panhandle counties, 100000 acres
Total ....................S, $500, 900 acres
Two items have contributed largely,
since my last report, to reduce the va
eancy In the reserves to the above figures.
One, the setting apart OF 300 leagues,
Il 80, 400 acres) for the unorganized
counties, and the other, the return OF
five hundred certificates, issued by Com
missioner Groos to John II. Gibson, and
which Gov. X. b. Hubbard proclaimed
illegal, covering. with their alternates,
$4,000 acres. These certificates were
fled on land within the reserve before
the act of July IA, 1879, took effect, and
were subsequently surveyed and re-
turned to this office. Patents having
been demanded and refused, a suit for
mandamus against the commissioner was
instituted In the Travis county district
court, but has not yet been determined.
Should the certificates be declared void
by the courts, the vacant land In the e.
serve would be 500 900 acres.
VACANT PUBLIC DOMAIN.
On the thirty-frst of August, 1880,
there appeared balance, exclusive of
Greer county, of 1881 $40 acres OF va
cant land outside the reservations and
subject to location by certificates. From
this apparent balance two items should
heretofore been taken, and the amount
OF which cannot be definitely estimated.
First, Is the amount covered by nayigable
streams, Ms defined by statute, and which
has always been embraced In the esti-
mated area OF the state as land. From
estimates made from the maps Of several
counties, the amount so TO be deducted
cannot fall far short OF one million acres.
Second, IL possible, a more indefinite
amount Is the quantity embraced In sur
Veys In excess or the acreage called for
by the field notes as returned to this
Office. This excess was much greater In
the surveys made under authority Of
Coahuila and Texas. and the Republic Of
Texas, then under the state, but the Gus
tom has prevailed more or less under all
governments until the past few years.
The amount of this surplusage can only
be absolutely determined by actual sur
Vey, but from such data as L have been
able TO secure, / think IL safe TO place IL
at one million acres.
II these estimates are approximately
correct, our account with the vacant and
unlmproyed public domain would stand
ms follows:
BY estimated actual balance August 81,
1880, II, 39l $40 acres.
Acres.
To 155 veteran certificates, $40
acres each. ..::'.....': -. oo'-W
acres each. .................. 7O6,5eO
To l, Tl0 Confederate certificates,
$50 acres each. ............... 3,leO,320
Equal amount to public schools ., 49,, $40
$40 acres each. ................ 1851 $50
Equal amount for public schools 1891 $50
To "a ditch certificates, $40 acres
each. 1896
Eaual amount for public schools 1890