Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-15
R. W. HUDSON.
A Southwest Texas Delegates Views OF
the Lease Sy stem.
A Barrier to Progress and the Settlement
of the Country.

Conspicuous among the delegates in
attendance upon the late state conven-
ton was Mr. II. w. Hudson of Pear
sail, Frlo county. Mr.. Hudson is an
out and out, ardent fire, grass man, and
is not slow to express the faith that Is
in him whenever called upon. Living
in country whose prosperity has been
almost destroyed and hopes blighted
by the deleterious pasture system, he
is able to bear emphatic testimony as
to It's practical workings:
"My section" said he, ''has
been incidentally damaged by the
great pastures into which it
has been converted. Immigration has
been stopped and population actually
reduced under baneful influences
"You are not prepared then to in
| dorse the lease system of disposing of
the public lauds?"
mo, sir. 1t is radically wrong, and
| will prove the greatest curse ever in-
fiicted upon the West. There is in
my own county very good illustra-
ton of its results. We have 1900
acres of school land belonging TO the
county. About five years ago it was
leased out TO cattle company at three
and oue-half cents an acre
for ten years. We could
sell it now at five dollars an acre, with
eight per cent. interest, whioh would
yield us forty cents an acre Instead OF
three and half, while upon every sec
ton would be II settler paying taxes.
The land would be growing crops in
stead of grass, occupied by people in
I 81. 4 - -,
the lease, however, for five years long
err and must thus suffer greatly from
such short-sighted policy. With the
lands of the general school fund it
would be practically the same. They
would be Jled UP, perpstually in the
lease, by force of circumstances instead
OF by form of contract"
"What would you have done with
these lands?n
ITO effect their settlement, and pro
mote the material prosperity of the
country i'll which they are situated
, there can be but one policy, and that /.
!, the Adjustment of the lease law. /
they are fenced up Immigration will
stop; that is a very clear and undeni
able proposition, and the lease Law
/, simply provides for fencing in To,
/, entire body of the school lands"
: at is tie common understanding
: that there is n heavy sentiment in you
a section in favor of herd law; is it cor
rect?"
, 1.-The pasture men of large lande,
!, estates, which are all under wire, al
!, want herd law, as it would give then
- complete control Of the country. Th
# great mass OF the people, however, VIII
" are largely dependent upon the con
fo,, ia, tf,. faxt l,aaI 4.
cattle they could not otherwise OWL
are opposed, and bitterly opposed
to herd law. They well kno'
SO that it would work sa
o. havoc with their own interests
% and you can depend upon it they wi
he found fighting against it ever
time. Southern Texas is not in fave
of herd law. Its wealth very prol
ably is, but its people are not"
IT. 'Can you work out any other sol,
no ton for the lease BY stem than a hel
I'd law%
~ lone succeeds the other as natural
as cause succeeds effect. If you lea
out the school lands even If the settl
should go in ON the lease, whit
as he will not do, the
W is no commons left of which he mig
~ take advantage. If he owns cattle
- Is compelled To Hollow tne example
M his richer neighbor aud provide "a lsa
l.a ture for them, which nine times out
Ell ten he Is unable to do. This Is Il
" practical effect of herd law, and
IL. augurates state of circumstances
Oh better or no worse than would
IN brought about by the enactment o.
herd law"
Mr.. Hudson is candidate for t
ue- legislature in his district and is ms
MI ing the race on the lease issue.
abundently refutes the idea that
80. people of Southwest Texas, not
Ger small body of pasture owners, are
favor of the lease. He Is contident
inc success in his canvass, and in h
N, that section will find an able, act
nts and influential legislator.
Baby ,arriages