The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-04-21
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..


tho Vacant Landslide Public Free
Schools-A Literally Endowed Institution
=. 1000. 900 Acres OF school Lands
Normal Scholastic Number Required
: and How 10 DO Arranged-The State Uni
versity--A Series of Gradations-com-
petItive Examinations, Etc, Etc.
Correspondence Of the Herald
AUSTIN, April ls.-Yesterday in the
upper house the university ques'
lion was again up under ami.
mated debate. Tue bill offered provides
for the setting apart of ., 600, 900 acres, while
the substitute, which was lately discussed
provides for an appropriation of 100000
acres for the university and the common
schools, or 500, 900 acres each, in the reser.
walton, all as detailed to you in II previous
communication. Senators favoring this
substitute contend that donation made
while actual Indebtedness is pending and
unprovided for, has all the characteristics
OF a fraudulent conveyance, not only the
giving of a preference to creditors but an
assignment to escape honest and matured
obligations. But it is urged on the other
hand that the certificates issued to the rail-
road companies under the law are only
conditional obligations, 50 that those who
accepted them did so under the chances of
subsequent legislation rendering them val
Geless. 1t occurs to me that this
latter is q strange way OF
putting ii, since if the law
permits railroad company among other
rights to mortgage its rights, franchises,
c<c,'' innocent third parties who loaned
money or bought stocks of said companies,
based upon the good faith Of that proviS.
ion, would be to such extent deirauded of
the sections of land agreed to be allowed
and would have u monied claim against the
state.
But meant in this not so much to dis
cuss that subject as to set out the condition
of our landed domain. An examination at
THE LAND COMMISSIONERS OFFICE
will disclose the material facts. Mr.. Walsh
has brought down his balances only
60 the first of last month, but
according to these We find that
at that date there was surplus of unsatis-
fled certificates amounting to 100000
acres. Since then, and down to this date,
there have been issued certificates calling
for about 3, 100000 more acres, which would |
leave q shortage over and above the vacant |
domain, and subject to location, of :, 100000
acres But Mr. Walsh says that from this |
should be deducted some $4,000 acres rep |
resented by certificates issued but now
barred, for not having been returned within |
the five years, rs prescribed, from the adop- |
ton OF the constitution. He furthermore |
saws that there are some 100000 acres
vt Indicated lands in the Texas
Pacific and Pan Handle reserve,
which, should the legislature repeal |
the act reserving them, would leave in the
ueighborhood of 100000 acres for future
disposition Besides this, there are scatter
ed throughout the state several INDICATED
sections here and there in organized coun-
ties. If these figures be correct and no
more railroad certificates be henceforth
granted then Texas is not SO bankrupt, as
to her lands, after all, but wise, consider.
ate disposition OF them should be hereafter
made.
On the LIST of September, 1880. there was
shown TO be u balance on hand of some
10, 400 600 acres, and of this, down to the list
of March last, there had been issued II ,SG2
certificates to railroads, of Go acres each,
or 1851 $50 acres, and u like amount to
public schools, 1901 $50 acres. There
were also issued l,7l9 Confederate cer,ih.
Gates OF | $50 acres each, or 2,l9O,3 20 acres
with like amount to the public schools,
2,l90.320 acres 70 the veterans there were
issued some 100000 acres. These, with n
few Others foot up u total of 20, 100 600 acres;
and now deducting the above balance, 49,
10000, and we have the 100000 acres as
stated above.
PUBLIC SCHOOL LANDS.
No state in the country is so muniicently
endowed in the matter of public free
schools MS Texas. We have now nearly
10000 sections of BiO acres each, or some
g, GOO, 900 acres of these school lands. The .
work in the land Office to keep these ac-
counts is immense. During the last twelve |
months the property has been in heavy de- !
mand. When it is recollcCted that from |
July, 1874, to November, 1870 applications
IA Las ..r
this amount fully ~ per cent, was forfeited, |
and that from November, 1870, to Septcm- |
Der 1850 there We're applications for only
10000 acres, while from September, 1850,
20 March 1857 applications were received
for 100000 acres, we may understand the
university of the inquiry and demand for
Texas real estate.
In conversation day with Colonel llol-
hngsvorth secretary OF the state board of
education, he said he would make efforts to
have the legislature enact law for
NORMAL SCHOOLS,
enc for each congressional district,
that isto say II in number, for the beucit
q the white population, and . additional
ones for the colored people. lie would
have these permanently located and not
peripatetic like our present supreme court
aud court of appeals. He thinks the teach
crs should be cntitled to receive certificates
I'll competency rs 10 tnelr respective CapNC-
tiles, these to b. valid in any city or COUNTY
in the state and that their holders should
not have to undergo any examination. He
wouldalso require candidates for appoint
ments to regular normal schools to apply to
the schools of their respective districts, for
examination. Along with these he would
have what might be denominatcd
a state normal institute to be com.
posed by say delegates from each
OF the congressional schools. The business
OF this assemblage would be To submit
plans for the better regulation and manage.
ment of the congressional schools; to sub.
INIT to the state board OF education amend.
ineats to our common school educational
course; elect delegates To the National
Teachers association. lie Furthermore ob.
served that there should be small sum OF
money allowed for the purchase OF libraries,
reference books, cabinet specimens, etc,
Also, that each teacher should be permit.
ted TO select snch books as he or she may
wish to read, by depositing with the libra.
rian the value of the book. Concerning
THE UNIVERSITY,
he said that to make 1t u success, moro
means than now appeared were in.
dispensablc to sustain IL properly,
He Thought that at least 4, 900, 600 acres out
Of the appropriated public domain should
he granted by this session of the cgisln.
tur,A Tuition In this university hn insiate