The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
withdraw public lands from sale.

ing to providing more room for luna
tics was referred to the committee OF
asylums.
Mr.. Scott had communications reaC
from various newspapers relative Il
cost OF furnishing papers to tn,
house.
The member from Parker intro
duced bill relative to tax on road
and bridges. Referred.
Mr.. Wilson introduced resolution
that a committee of three be appointed
by the speaker, to act with like com
mlttee of the senate, to count the Vott
and make arrangements for the in.
auguration of the governor. Adopted
Mr.. Swan introduced an act to pro
tect the wool growing interests of the
state. Referred
MrsRobert. on of Williamson, introduce,
| the following:
EDUCATIONAL LAND BILL
An act, to be entitled ian act, to Gre
ate and organize the educational land de,
partment of the state of Texas, and &c
provide for the classification, sale anC
lease of the university, public free schoo
and asylum lands of the state of Texas
and to provide for the protection and sale
oil the timber growing thereon and to re.
serve and protect the mines and minerals
thereon"
The bill, which WAS referred to the
committee on lands and land offices, pro.
yides in substance:
SECTION l. For an educational land de
| partment to which shall be transferre q
management of all the university lands
and those OF the public free schools and
OF the asy lums for the deaf ard dumb and
the blind.
Sec. 2. A chief officer to be known as
| commissioner of the educational land de.
partment, to be appointed by the COVER
| nor, with consent OF the senate, for two
years at 4 salary of $500 per anhum,
Sec. 3. The commissioner TO give bond
with security in the sum of $50, 200 with
oath of Office inscribed for on the bond
and filed in the Office OF The secretary OF
state.
Sec 4. The governor, attorney general
| commissioner general land office,
I comptroller and treasurer shall con.
stitu.e board to be known as
| educational land board, who shall exer.
else control over the action Of the educa-
tional land department; prescribe rules
for management of the business OF said
department, make contracts, decide ap-
| peals from the action OF the commits
siOner.
Sec. 5. Once Of the land department to
be in the general land office; provided
same to be established to the capitol
buildings ut Austin without removal of
origiua records, etc., from the general
land Office.
Sec 6. Provides for seal for commits
siOner OF The educational land department
and pTeseiiDes device for same.
Sec. Z. Provides for one chief and three
general clerks as business may demand
the chief clerk TO have power to act in
the absence of commissioner. The
commissioner to be responsible on
his bond for the acts OF the clerks. Salary
of chief clerk $1,000 and the others $l2OO
each.
Sec. 8. The commissioner of general
land office is to furnish county maps of
the lands, copies of records, etc., and
files Of The general land office relative 10
the land to which the bill refers.
See. 8. Comptroller and treasurer are
10 furnish commissioner copies of books,
etc.
Sec. 10. Commissioner Of educational
land department and clerks to be allowed
access to records, etc., of general land
office.
Sec. IL. Provides for scheduling the
lands IN question by counties. TIE re-
cords of the university lands, etc., each
TO be kept separate, and each fund TO
bear its proportion of expenses, the
accounts TO be kept distinct, and
all lands belonging to the
university, the schools and the Rsy-
lums shall be withdrawn from sale, and
shalt not be sold except in accordance
with this act.
Sec. II. The lands are to be classified
according to quality into agricultural,
pasture. timber and mineral lands. The
commissioner Is 10 classify the agricul-
tural into watered and unwatered agri-
cultural land, and the pasture lands into
watered and unwatered also. The books
of the commissioner to show location,
quality, value, facts of survey. action
thereon and disposal OF The lands.
Sec. Is For The purposes of CHASING
and valuing, the commissioner is to use
such information as may be had in the
general land office, and il necessary shall
personally visit the several counties In
which the lands In question are located
to ascertain their character, value, etc.
In this he may require the services OF the
county or district surveyor or bis deputy,
who shall be paid US agreed with The COM
missioner, not to exceed usual legal fees
for such services
rec. IA. Commissioner may adopt other
methods for information as to values. etc.
OF lands, his expenses and cost of travel.
ing to be paid pro rata out OF the respect.
i've funds.
Sec. 10. AS soon as the agricultural
lands in any county are classed and
valued, the commissioner Is to give pub
lie notice that said lands will be offered
for sale to ''actual settlers" only, at the
expiration of sixty day S from publication,
which publication shall lie made In a
paper published in Austin ut least once a
week during said period, in gu ntities
not less than quarter section of one
hundred and sixty acres, nor more than
4 section of six hundred and forty acres
to any one person; provided that no
watered agricultural lands shall be valued
at or sold for less than five dollars per
acre, and. no unwatered agricultural
land shall.be sold for. less than three dollars
per acre, and provided further, that all
ex enses for surveying the same snail De
borne by the purchaser.
Sec. 16. Further regulates all sales of
land by section and quarters, limiting
amount to any one person to 6i0 acres
maximum and 100; sections and quarters
TO be numbered sections subdiyided
and surveyed at right angles,
except where water facilities may
require different lines. Fractional sur.
veys may be made and sold should the
commissioner deem proper.
Sec. II. Provides for fling applications
by proposed purchasers with surveyors
of the counties where lands are located,
stating what he wants, what he will pay
and declaring intention to locate On and
actually occupy the same. Applications
to DE forwarded by surveyor to the COM
missioner, who shall fix the price accord
ing to the valuation on ali contracts Of
sale with purchaser, etc. Applicant
then to have the land sur
veyed by the surveyor, who shall
record the field notes and give certifi-
Gates, surve, or to have one dollar for
filing aud forwarding applications; one
dollar for recording and mailing certified
copy of field notes, and usual fee pro-
vided by law for surveys. Applicant TO
sign and acknowledge contract before
some Oig er authorized by law 10 anthem
ticate such instrument, aud shall enclose
same with certified copy OF field notes
ar d one years interest. per his contr ct
to the commissioner. The commissioner
to execute and forward receipt describ-
ing the land and terms of sale.
Sec. Is. Where more than one applicant
for same land the commissioner is to sell
to highest bidder after due notice to all
preference 10 those for cash and pur
chaser Offering same amount ofmOney on
the longest time shall be preferred.
Sec. 10 All sales are to be for cash or
on credit of five, ten, fifteen or twenty
years at election of purchaser and no land
shall be sold except to actual settlers, etc.
Sec. 20 Provides for the terms of con-
LIacts Ut purchases, anu use Vi Tue pro-
ceeds for the benefit OF the several funds.
Sec. 81. Defines "actual Settlers" etc
Sec. y. Relates to forfeiture OF rights
as ''actual Settlers" etc.
Sec %. Relates to forfeiture on account
OF non payment of interest, etc.
Sec "a. Provides how purchasers who
have complied with this acttwo years may
sell claims, etc.
Other sections from % to 49,, provide
numerous details of more or less import
ance touching the principal ones recited