Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-07-26

fair, but not full remuneration to tn,
common schools for the loss occasionet
to them by the repeal of the lease sys
tent.
Patriotic citizens, not interested In
stock growing or benefited by oper
range. could well afford to pay ,
slightly higher rate of taxation 20
common schools, remembering thai
the policy which imposed sucf
higher taxes, also opened up III,
entire public domain to actual settlers
encouraged immigration and settle
ment, and tended to rapidly increas,
the population and accelerate tn,
progress of the state. Thus, for paw
ing such moderately higher taxes fol
common schools now, such citizenl
would ultimately be fully compen
stated by the enhanced values of theil
own property caused by settlement
of the state and would be furthe,
compensated by the lower rates o.
taxation for all purposes arising
from the increase in the aggregate o.
taxable values. On the contrary
the stockman should willingly and
cheerfully pay the just and fair rate Of
occupation taxes levied upon his bust.
ness. For the payment of this tax
he would be more than compensated
by the repeal of the lease system and
the use of the grass on the entire open
range. In order that he might enjoy
all this, he should not expect the state
to levy tribute on Others for his bene-
fit, as would he the case IL the lease
system was repealed and the uncom-
pensated loss to the school fund re-
paired entirely by higher rate OF
taxation on all property for common
school purposes.
With such policy as here outlined
adopted, it would be the duty and in
terest of the state to encourage stock
on the open range by afford
ing to the owners of stock running at
large, every possible and reasonable
facility for the successful prosecution
of their business, provided no advant-
age was given To the stock grower
which would be uniustly hurtful to
other important interests. 1t would
be question for the serious considera-
ton of the legislature, whether it was
not proper and advisable to give legis-
lative sanction to the construction and
of continuous drift fences
west of fixed line of longitude, such
fences to be not less than certain
of miles apart, to have gates
or other openings through them at
certain frequent and convenient inter-
walls one from another, and the fence
to be always placed and built on county
or sectional lines, or, if practicable, ON
both. East of such fixed line of longi-
tude,t the construction and maintenance
Of such drift fences could be authorized,
provided, ut an election held for
that purpose in each county
through which, or along the
line of which the fence was erected.
The consent of n majority of the voters
Of each of said counties could be OBJ
'ained to the erection and maintenance
)f such fence. That line-riding, herd
ng, or otherwise exclusively appro-
specific portions of the COM
mons, except the necessary herding of
'heep, should be prevented by suitable
md efficient penal legislation is clear to
very fair-minded man. @ut if these
Methods of holding N combining
'tock are taken away f. lif the stock.
nan, IL lessons the security of his
business andimpairs his ability To give
proper attention to his stock. These
to him should be obyi.
ited IN some way so as to render them
u the least Injury possible. Thew
would be obviated, we believe, by
ystem of drift fences, which would |
neck, to considerable extent. the
traying of stock.
Under the policy here discussed, not
MY should stock-growing on the open
anSe pe encouraged, but the right to
un STOCK ON the public commons
noula pc strictly limited to
esIuehts OF Iexas. Az to incorporated
ompanies and syndicates engaged i'm
they should be conceded
ne u use OF the open range to the extent
u tne STOCK In the same owned by citi.
ems Oh Texas and no further. This
estflction In the right to use the com.
mons would simply be lust discrim.
nation by the state in favor of her
'Wn citizens. Besides the lease sys-
EN- being repealed to encourage i'm |
migration, this restriction should he
u lorced as tending to the same end.
i non-residents of Texas wish to en-
ARK IN the stockraising business by |
their herds on our commons.
el them cast their fortunes and des,
ny WIN ours by becoming, in good /
allh, citi"ens OF our state, and then
iney may ENJOY equally with all other
itlhehs TINS valuable right which
eAas holds out AS an inducement TO
rem To- settle within her borders.
ul, ASIDE from encouraging immigra-
on as important as that is, we would
W want non-resldents running stock.
..,ng up our grass and making
'ohts from raising stock on our un-
closed lands, only to take these
'onts PACK to their homes and with
em build up other states or coun-
les and In the end closing out their
Vestments here aud extracting every
mar OF the proceeds from the wealth
the state. This grass we should
ant pastured and these profits made
cltiIens whose interests and incli.
ltlohs would cause them to keep their
oney at home where its Investment
ouid contribute to the upbuildiev of
r own state.
ASIDE from the tax which both
,u a have to pay, it occurs to me.
!: Editor, that the levy of an occu.
ton tax rs here Recommended
'uld come nearer than absolute free
ass would In doing equal Justice as
tween the large and small siock.
IN. With absolute free grass. the
ner of one thousand head of stock
ast necessarily derive ten fold the
'elt from the use OF the free range
:. Is derived by the owner of one
hdred head. With free grass, this
VI inequality which the law cannot
noVei IL Is an advantage given to the /
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