Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-10
THE SCHOOL LAND. QUESTION.
A Letter on the Subject with q propo sition
for Consideration by stockmsn.


have In vain perused the column
I of the live STOCK JOURNAL Of late
In the hope Of finding the views o
some stockinen expressed on thu
school land question. Notwithstand
ing the fact That YOU have frequently
called the attention Of your readers e
this matter. and pointed out 10 us how
all adverse legislation might vitality
affect the stock interests of the state,
Notwithstanding that discussion OF
the question was invited by your pa.
per rs wen as by the issue Of Mr..
Walsh's circular letter, of September,
1882, nothing has rs yet been done by
! the cattlemen of Texas, toward a
/ united and harmonious representation
! of their wants before the eighteenth
I legislature.
I The only attempt of rally that
, has come under the notice of the wri-
I ter, is the call issued by some lead
( ing stockmen of Colorado and vicin-
ity, to the stockmen of Northwestern
Texas, to meet in Colorado on the LIST
of February, 1888, to set afoot some
plan, whereby our wants may be
properly represented and urged be-
fore the state legislature, which will
then be in session.
The only drawback about the call Is
the time, which ought to have been u
month earlier, instead of thirty days
after the converting of the legislature.
II reminds one somewhat of the man
who jumped into the water after the
child was drowned.
However, enough of what has not
been done
The object Of this communication is
to present my views and those OF
several, to stockmen of Texas, as to
the disposal of the school lands with Il
friendly invitation TO all, whose ideas
are similar, TO use their best endeavors
with their respective representatives
toward obtaining the object In view
|. All the school lands in those coun-
ties where they have not as yet come
into the market under the law of 1881,
shall be appraised by the Legislature at
a minimum price, SO much for watered
land, go much for dry land, so much
for timber land and so much for min
erll.
>. The would-be purchaser of the
land shall give notice to the county
surveyor of his intention to purchase,
stating the number aud description of
sections lie wants. The county surveyor
shall advertise those lands for sale for
thirty days, aud the sheriff after the
lapse of that time shall knock them of
TO the highest bidder, If his bid Is not
below the minimum price fixed by the
legislature.
3. One-twentieth of the purchase
money aud one years interest at the
rate of five per cent per annum shall
bp raftttrnH tn Ia ,,ai1 ,l,,t.x, - t.,s...
of purchase or within ten DAYS thereof,
the half OF the remaining balance TO
be due ten years hence and the other
half twenty years from time of pur-
chase. Meanwhile the principal Il to
bear interest Mt the rate of five per
cent per annum, which is to be paid
In advance.
!. The sections of those that have
made improvements on school lands
under the promise, contained In the
old law, that they shall have the six
months preference TO file on such land
above anybody" shall be withdrawn
from the sale by auction for twelve
months and disposed of in the follow
ing manner;
3. The Oldest sqnntter Is to have the
| first right 10 the land unless he aban-
I hNliN'A iiiN Ut fltHtettttl
to keep them up. This will ut once
| s"'tlo MI litigation in eases where two
have settled or made improvements on
| one section
q. A commission of three, consist
Ing of the county surveyor or his depu-
~, a second party, appointed by the
squattor and n third party appointed
by the two, shall appraise the land SO
improved, the appiaisement of course
| not To be below the minimum price.
! After the appraiscment is completed
OF within thirty days thereof, the SQUAT
ter shall buy the land on terms as con.
tanned in No. 3, or forever forfeit his
! right TO it.
Z. If the appralsement of the land is
not applied for within six months
from the passage of the act the lands
come into the market as proposed in
No. : and No. 3.
By celebrating the above, l think q
bill could be drafted which would suit
all Interests and be beneficial TO the
state and school fund, at the same
time preventing rings from getting
hold of the public domain. reducing
the discretionary power that Is placed
under the old law into the hands of
the county Surveyor, making mere
| instrument of the raw out of that illus.
| trious parsonage, and yielding n good
| revenue to the counties as the land be-
comes taxable after being sold.