The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-20
Public Lands and Spectators.

To the Editor of the Herald.
ABILENE, TEXAS, April Is, lSS2.-In view
of the expected review by the present legis-
lature of the laws governing the sale of
asylum and state school lands, short COM
munication from section where no small
amount of these lands are located and have
been manipulated by the willy speculator,
may not be amiss. The law of 1879 placed
these lands on the market in the organ
lied counties only, the minimum price was
llxed al 81 per acre, ON ten years time at 10
per centum interest on deferred payments.
The number that could be purchased by
any one person was limited TO four sections
of Gao acres each. An act was passed in
April, 1881, repeating the act Of 1879. This
act was the same as the preceding one ex-
cept that il increased the time for payments
to twenty years, instead of ten decreased the
rate of interest on notes TO per cent, in
stead of 10, as before, and allowed TO any
one person as many as seven sections Of
land, instead OF four, as under the previous
law. II also put the minimum price Of wa
tered lands ut 81 per acre, and unwatered
lands at 81 per acre. Under the workings
of this last law corporations and specula-
tors covered by file so completely the terri
tory east of he Tooth meridian OF longitude,
and even west of this limit, that prospectors
and actual settlers, many Of whom had
heard from aiar, California and the east, of
the great inducements offered to immi-
grants in these lands, arrived in Texas only
10 find that the lands were in second hands
and offered at n large premium on the
prices paid the .state-these prices in
many instances, in a majority Of instances,
much higher than the prices of the older
selections, some Of which H5To made tbir-
ty years ago and in the ownership Of pr,
yate individuals. The school surveys could
be sold on longer time than private sur
veys, and to men Of small means this was
n great inducement for them to pay the
bonus money 20 the Spectator and get the
lengthy credit from the state. Besides they
we're dOctOred into the belief by the vendor
III school and asylum lands that no title was
good unless IL was Of the particular varie-
" they represented. Under the abuses Of
the law Of 81, a man can have for sale an
Unlimited number Of these surveys Of the
character above referred to, as be could
file for seven in his own name and seven in
the name Of alI.his family, friends and even
has been paid on one section over and
above the amount that had after
wards 10 be paid the state
ard in one particular instance
a. much as $500 vas paid as premium
money 10 the vendor.
The actual settler might seek his long
credits in cheap lands in vain: these lands
had fallen into other hands than the state
q Texas, and the holders knew and still
know hoW % use their advantages
The present legislature, l understand
sill increase tie prices Of these lands. This
may Be the only way 10 prevent the abuses
though ] am 81 opinion that other rene
dies might Be auplied more beneficial % the
Interests q the state Alter selling Of al
the most valuable of these surveys IN the
interior cJuuties e 81 per &c e. and keep.
ing th0ss from the markets IN the unOrrnn-
fzed counties. g. Was done under the Law Of
1872. j. looks little hard that
the sexual settlers some q Hnom
ca1us 20 these frontier COUNTIES in
1875. 1s77 and 1s7s wh0 we-e then
denied the pririle-e 81 their more blessed
eruntrynen IN the interior and more fsvor-
81 sectir,rs Of ths state. a locks = littie 100
eEactinr in this ps-ficular instcnos % -