The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-21
COMMISSIONED WALSH'S RE.
PORT.
GENERAL LAND OFFICE. }
ATSTTN TENAS Sanfarnhar 1850


SIR have the honor to submit
herewith. my report of the operations
of this office. for the past two years.
l attach hereto exhibits showing in
detail the monies received and dis
bursed. number of certificates and pat
entS issued, and the condition of our
public domain, as nearly as can be de-
termined from the data on hand.
Exhibit \ shows the issuance of
1854 patents, covering $685., 045 acres.
Exhibit b shows the issuance of
ll,1lo certificates covering, with their
alternate school sections, 2j,206,505
acres.
Exhibit C shows 26,3SO returns of
new surveys, embracing 20,107,6lS
acres.
Exhibit d shows liabilities in en-
cess of public domain, as estimated, of
about 100000 acres.
Exhibit Z shows the collection and
payment into the treasury of the sum
of $lS3,902.08; the office thus yielding
a revenue above expenses of over
three thousand dollars Ie. month.
The increased wo.k .. this d part
ment arising from sales of educational
lands and sales under the act of July
IA, 1879, has been of such proportions,
particularly during the past six
months, as to entirely exceed the abil-
tiles of my present force. Ii import
ant changes are not made in the laws
relating TO these lands, a considerable
increase in the force of this office must
be provided. In this connection, l
would respectfully urge the necessity
of legislation providing for
UNIFORMITY OF SALARIES
in the various government depart
mentS, for like classes of employees.
Whether salaries be raised or low
cred, they should be uniform, and thus
relieve one department from the loss
OF well drilled clerks, by transfer to
desks in other departments, where no
more labor, intelligence or response
bility is required, but where the salary
is larger. During the past two years
many of my most Skillful emp.oyes
have resigned to accept positions
in other departments or with private
corporations and land firms. These
last named changes are attributable
largely to the effect of the
ACT OF JULY II, 1879,
better known as the Fifty Cents
Law" This act, wise perhaps in its
fundamental idea of paying our
bonded debt with our surplus domain,
has proven, through want OF proper
safeguards, a misfortune rather than
benefit. The introduction in our state
OF what is known as the Gould and
the Palmer-SulliVan systems of rail
road construction, brought with it en-
terprlSe and capital from all parts of
NUnrlI. l.,Nrr La,
the gradual alienation of our domain
was used as the means of acquiring
vast solid bodies of from 100000 to
l,OOOOOO acres. Whether this will re-
suit ultimately in a benefit or injury
to our state, the future must deter
mine; but its immediate and patent
effect Is to paralyZe all transac-
lions in private lands, to beget fever
lSh and unhealthy mania Tor specula-
ton, and an utter contempt for nego-
tiatiOns where thousands OF acres do
not figure. 1t has flooded this office
with work beyond anything in its
history; and under its stimulus specu-
latOrs have filed upon vast bodies OF
land surveyed and returned to this
office years ago, by virtue of alternate
certificates, alleging that technical
errors have forfeited the surveys.
In the effort to check this flood, l
have ruled, and so instructed sur
veyOrS, that the even numbered, or
school sections, surveyed by Vir-
tue of these certificates. are seq
regated from the public domain,
and Are not liable to appropriation,
except us school lands. Ii you should
deem any legislation necessary or adj
vantageouS under these circumstances,
Iwould respectfully suggest that it be
recommended for early action.
THE GIBSON CERTIFICATES,
which were issued 10y my predecessor,
and which were proclaimed illegal
and void by Gov. Hubbard and the
attorney general, were located and re-
turned chiefly from Terry and Yoakum
counties. Patents were demanded;
and by the advice of the Hon. j. Ii,
McLeary, attorney general, they were
refused upon the grounds that the
state having received no equivalent,
the pretended certificates constituted
no valid claim against the public
domain. Suit was instituted against
the commissioner for mandamuS and
damages. Recently parties holding
the legal title to these claims proposed
to surrender them to the state for cam
collation., withdraw the suit, and pur-
chase the lands under the act of July
IA, 1879. Ills, they were officially in
formed, they had the right to do, as
they were only thus admitting what
the state had maintained since July,
1877, viz: that the certificates were
void, and the land was vacant. Since
the survey of these lands under said
last named act, parties claiming to be
equitable owners of these claims have
protested against their surrender, and,
us consequence. their validity is still
pending question in the courts.
FRAUDULENT CLAIMS.
Under the laws of the Republic of
Texas, county and donation warrants
for land were granted to the heirs OF
those who died or were killed in the
army of Texas, in her struggle for
liberty against Mexico. The benefits
could accrue only to the heirs of such
parties, who were protected from sale
by execution against the original SOL
der or by administration. As these
warrants were issued to the heirs of
those shown on the muster rolls to
have died or been killed in the service,
many of them have never been claim
ed. These warrants, amounting to
hundreds in number, were located, at
an early day, upon some Of the best
lands in the state, and have always
been an inviting field to forgers and
land thieves. The greater part of the
fOrgerieS for which Ham and others
were sent to the penitentiary were of
this class of claims; and it is well
known that some of the most valuable
lands in the state are now held and
occupied under such forged titles. In
the interest of those who NAV be in
nocent purchasers of these lands, and
whose titles are liable Impeachment
at any time, would suggest that you
recommend some legislation looking
to the escheat of these lands, and such
action on the part of the state as will
secure quiet title to present innocent
claimants.
PUBLIC SCHOOL LANDS.
BY referring to exhibit C, it will be
seen that applications for purchase of
school lands, from date of last regular
report to August 81, 1882. reach 1904
406 acres. If to this we add applica-
lions previously reported, viz. 40O,36
acres, we have total, to date of this
report, of 1885,, 166 acres. Previous to
the 31st of August, 1880, we had, sur
veyed and returned to this office, Al 1872
sections of school lands. Since then,
there have been returned 1878 sec
tionS; making a total of 51,675 sec
lions, or 33,U72,000 acres. If from this
we deduct the amount sold, viz, g.
954,766 acres, we have, on August 81,
1882. 29.1l7.234 acres. This amount