The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
THEgSTATESMAN.s


AUSTIN. 1EA<Ao.
after the lands for the new state capitol
had been selected and surveyed, and APP
pIyIng the proceeds of such sale, one-half
| 10 the public free schools and one-halt 10
| the payment OF the public debt.
There was generally but little known
Of these lands In the unOrganIzed coun-
ties, aud but little demand tor them, un-
I'll some time after the survey OF the cap
itol lands. The price set upon them by
the laws was much above the value set
upon the lands Of individuals that had
been previously located In said morgan
lied counties.
When the board, composed OF the gov
ernOr, attorney general and secretary OF
state, In 1880, valued the capitol lands at
the minimum price Of hity cents per acre,
they had evidence OF respectable persons
engaged In the land business in that sec
ton, that lands could be bought there
from individuals at much less price.
The capitol board, upon the second effort
to sell $1,000 acres OF the most valuable
lands In the capitol reservation, got Tor
them but little over fiftv cents per acre.
The public notoriety given to these
lands by the contract made for the build
ing OF the new capitol, and their cheap
ness, compared to the price OF silni ar
lands In other states, began to attract the
attention of capitalists, speculstors and
| stOckmen some time before the call Tor the
meeting OF the legislature, Issued on the
6rst of March, 1882. in which legislation
in reg I'd to these reserved lands was
| specified, and by which call the legtsla-
ture did meet on the sixth OF April foi-
| lowing.
Ii was then recommended that the min
! Imum price of these reserved lands should
! be raised TO one dollar. and that two mil
| lions OF acres OF them should be set apart
| to the university, not so much as gratu-
| itOus donation as in compensation, and as
| a substitute for lands taken away from
| the university by the constitution of 1876,
| which was then fully explained. Bills to
protect these lands and to set apart por.
| ton of them passed the senate, but failed
to be passed In the house of represents
tiSes. 1t may be asked by 1t was oper
| that these lands should have been valued
| and offered at fifty cents per acre, and In
| three short years an effort was made TO
raise the price to one dollar per acre.
These lands may be worth from i've to
hfty dollars per acre, when the time ar
rives, NJ which they can be put fully into
practical use as agricultural and pastoral
| lands. Most Of them then were not and
| practically could not be used for any pur-
pose, and the value of fifty cents was then
properly placed upon them, upon an esti-
mate based upon the experience OF the
past, and upon the prospects under the
tnen existing circumstances, as to the
length OF time that might elapse before
/ the lands could be thus utilized and bring
their full intrinsic value.
1.-THE pui chaser had bought them then,
he would have paid the full value (mOre
than they brought ut private sale), and he
would have taken the risk Of carrying
them with the necessary expense. In
/ three years the whole prospect, rs
to the length OF time for their utili-
cation. had changed by the
| extensive information of their quail
| ity and uses. that had, during that time,
been acquired, and unprecedented de-
mand for such lands, which could hardly
have been anticipated. Hence, upon
this mode of calculating the value OF wild
| lands, which must always be Tes0rted 10
| In order TO Tx any value upon them at all,
these lands were better worth one dollar
| per acre, as n purely business transaction,
In April, 1882, than hfty cents per acre Ia
July, 1879, when they were first offered
for sale. 1t was therefore proper that
/ the state should then have raised the
price TO at least that amount.
Had the recommendation been needed,
and favorably acted on, Texas would have
| now either many millions of acres OF md
that have been sold, or the purchase OF
them secured under the law, or double
the amount OF money for which they have
been and will be sold.
| For, Us l learn from the commissioner
of the general land Office, there was filed
] In his office up TO March 1, 1852, applIca-
lions for 27S 1888 acres of these lands, but
payment had been made upon 1913 ,446
acres of them, and over 100000 acres of
them were SCRAPS" that is, small tracts
of less than $40 acres In organized coun-
ties, where the great bodies of these
| lands are situated.
Since the adjournment OF the special
| session, on the 9th of May, 1882, there
have been, up to the LIST OF January, 1888,
filed in his office applications for $780,
$50 acres. and he has unofficial, though
| reasonably accurate information, of ap-
| plications TO be shortly made. in the time
allowed by law, for about 3 200, 900 acres,
making the applications filed and to be
| iled since the close of the special session
Tor 1850, $50 OF these lands sold aud to be
sold at fifty centA per acre by the stale.
1t would be useless now to recount the
conflicting views in the legislature, and
the objects of interest and of speculation
outside OF 1t which may have tended TO
prevent the enactment of the measures
recommended. Their failure has per-
mitted this sacrifice of the property of the
| state, by its sale at price far below its
value, as Is evidenced by the brokerage
speeulations made in the sales of Ii to
capitalists.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
All the branches of the state university
have now been located, he main branch
ut Austin, the medical department at Gal
weston, the agricultural and mechanical
college Mt Bry IN, and ut the late general
election the branch university for colored
youths at Austin. The agricultural AMI
mechanical college Is the only branch
now In operation. 1t needs additional
aid to complete its arrangements for
teaching the science and practice OF agri-
culture and the mechanical arts. The
| 81 70 Iafa rttffinor ho
main branch at Austin In operation DUR
ing the fall of the present year, when the
west wing OF the magnificent bu lding on
College Hill shall have been completed.
They will lack the means necessary to do
IL properly, which, however, can be read
ny and justly provided by the ae-
| tiOn of this legislature. The med
zeal branch and the branch for colored
| youths have no provision for them what
| ever. Now that these four branches are
awaiting ample provision to make them
constitute "a university OF the first GLASS;"
as required OF the legislature. las soon as
Practicable" by the constitution of the
4 state. the propriety and necessity of the
urge:.t efforts previously made by the
friends OF education to have such ample
provision made, aud all OF the branches
| placed under one board of regents for
/ their management, are now obvious.
This subject was brought TO the attention
4
session In April OF last year, With \ full
explanation OF the lnadequacy Of the
means previously provided, aud of the
praeticability then OF making such ample
provision without any material detri-
ment to any other interests OF the state.
A bill for that purpose passed the senate.
but Jailed to be passed in the house of
| representatives.
] Ii was recommended that the bonds re-
ported formerly as OF doubtful validity,
/ amounting TO one hundred and thirty
4 four thousand dollars, issued In 1861, be
/ recognized as valid, aud the interest
accrued thereon up to the 18th OF April,
1870, when the present constitution went
| into effect, amounting to over sixty thou
| sand dollars, be invested In similar per
cent bonds, and the interest accrued
since that time, amounting to about
eighteen thousand dollars, be appropri-
ased in money to become part of the
| available fund for present use; that the
one million OF acres that had been set
apart and surveyed be sold or leased, tn
interest upon the sale of which, IL sold on
time, could be made available annually
by an amendment of the constitu-
ton; that two millions of acres of
lands be set apart out of the lands
reserved TO pay the public debt,
In such manner as would not interfere
| with the interest In them OF the public
free schools. Nearly all OF those lands set
apart to pay the public debt have either
been sold or surveyed for purchasers. by
which right to purchase them has been
legslly secured. and the money, amount
ing 10 several millions of dollars. has been
paid and will very soon be paid into the