The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-13
DEPARTMENT NOTES.

UET TAN IuLUI uUiLOs
From Thursday e Daily.l
Business of public interest was
dull in all of the departments yes
terday.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
The following Is from the report
of the university board of regents
to the governor:
There will be in the treasury on
the first OF January, 1888, belonging
to the university, cash funds
amounting to $37, 025.11. Bonds in
the treasury covering funds former
ly set apart for the university and
borrowed by the Legislature for
other purposes, which borrowing
was, perhaps, proper in the peculiar
circumstances of the times, amount
ing as principal to $134, 472.26.
These funds belong of right TO the
university. No interest has ever
been set apart on this principal sum.
The board submit that the legisla-
ture be respectfully requested to
provide by appropriate legislation
for the transfer to the university
available funds of this sum, to-
gether with the interest which
should of right have accrued
thereon.
1t further appears from the comp
troller's report that there has been
an important misconceptiOn as to
the amount of available university
funds actually on hand. The late
comptroller, in his report for the
year ending August 81, 1880, on the
university fund.-" arrived at the
conclusion, and so states, that in
| Justice there should be subject to
appropriation "by the legislature as
available fund $185, 385.27." But it
appears from the report of the late
comptroller that instead of there
being in the treasury at this time,
available funds of the university
| 1885,, 3S5.27, there are only $37, OPS IL
available and subject to the order OF
the board of regents, and this
| includes interest OH the same up to
January 1, 1888.
The legislature in the act of March
80, Establishing the university, appro-
priated subject to the order OF the
board of regents $150,0OO for build
ing, and $4,000 for the purchase OF
library, necessary apparatus, furnI-
ture, ETC., for said university.
The foregoing statement exhibits
the financial condition of the uni
versity at the present time. 1t is
clear that further legislative action
is necessary to carry into effect the
objects of the legislature in passing
the university act of March 80, 1881.
The board of regents, therefore,
respectfully request your excellency,
if in your opinion advisable, to pre-
sent this subject of the financial con-
dition and prospective requirements
of the university before the legisla-
ture, in the event that it shall be
convened in extra session.
1t appears from information de-
rived from the general land office
that there remains on hand of uni
versity lands unsold>and at the pres
ent time subject to sale $4,000, acres.
The million acres appropriated to
the university of Texas have been
located, but they are not subject to
sale at this time. In view of the ex-
traordinary increase and spread OF
population in Texas, and the con-
sequent increase IN the demand for
land for settlement, and also in view
of the rapid appreciation in
value of lands on our frontier,
this million acres must ere long be
saleable at high prices, as compared
with present prices. The board OF
regents are informed that this mill
ion of acres of university lands in
question can now be leased for a
term of years for pastoral purposes,
at rates producing large annual
income, available for the university,
and at the same time reserving TO
the university the great prospective
| certain increase IN their selling
value. To protect these lands-this
million acres of University land
from being used for pastoral pur-
poses, as at present, without any
compensation being made for this
use of the same, will require appro-
pirate legislation by the legislature.
Ii so projected by appropriate lcgis-
lation, and leased, as they may be,
on such terms as are paid for rent of
lands similarly conditioned, these
lands in question will afford reve-
nue. largely contributing to the sup
port of the university at no distant
day." The board says, "after care
tul review of the entire SUBJ
ject, that substantial grounds exist
for the belief that the design of q
university entertained and cherish
ed by the fathers of the republic
and state of Texas will be carried
out to successful termination, and
that the state of Texas at no distant
day will possess a university resting
on foundations broad and deep,
growing with the growth, and keep
ing step with the population, the
wealth and intelligence of the state
of Texas"
The university accounts had to
their credit September, 1881, as fol-
lows: University fund account /:
Five per cent. state bonds, 1884,
472 &c. University land sales &C
count: Five per cent. state bonds,
$77, 10000; six per cent. state bonds,
$l75 100000; seven per cent. state
bonds, $114,0OO.O0; comptroller's
certificate of Indebtedness, $l0,-
GOAL cash, $206.69.
LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The following is from the report
of the board of directors OF the
lunatic asylum, sent to the governor
yesterday. The report after giving
a detailed statement of the letting
of the contract for the new asylum,
now in progress OF erection, the par
ticulsrs of which have already
appeared in the columns of the
STATESMAN, SAYS, in abiding to the
old buildings /: "The present ar
rangement and facilities for cooking
are deployable" and recommends
"that a new kitchen and laundry be
built Immediately" the estimate
cost of which is as follows "Kitch-
en- and laundry building, $4,000 !;
kitchen range, $3.50; vegetable
steamers, $500; steam ovens, $400 /;
total $3.50. Laundry machinery,
shafting and engines, $3.50; two
machines. 5000; dry room, $500 I;
total 1880; total cost of kitchen
and laundry, $780," The report says
"the old buildings are foul and OBJ
jeotionable for want of paint, white
wash and repairs. A liberal use of
lime and paint would greatly assist
to make them habitable, aud we es-
innate it will require an appropria-
ton of $4,000 to pant and white
wash the premises and repair fenc-
ing" 1t is also recommended shat