The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-03-11
TUE STATE LAND BOARD AND run
CATTLE INTERESTS.

public or school lands for lease, fulfilled lie
mission as far IN II was possible. They
represented 10 the board the views and
sentiments OF the oattle-ralsets ct all
north Texas In that II 10 positive
with them that the proposed required
reu's OF eight cents, aud twenty oenA per
acre ~ not only excessive but 30 hurtiul 20
these cattle interests that they cannot pay
Il. aud 30 deprived OF the land, they are
correspondinely damaged. IL is further
c1ntended that the action OF The board II
not indeed clearly Illegal, 10 certainly OF
very doubtful validity. IL Is per contra
con tended by the board that these lands
ara worth so much to the state and that the
price asked is only fair interest on the
valuation. Now, It Is known that
the lands have all manner Of
real value, determined by several
circumstances. Some sections might
he veil handsomely leased at forr cents
per acre, others might DO fully worth ten
cents; aud these arc all questions OF fact
determined by the circumstances. II the
cattle men eau show that they cannot pay
over the four cents. then their interests
ought not to DO made to suiler. II has
heretofore been the policy OF the state to
build up lie waste places and yaluelsss pos
sessions by encouraging the only indHarY
that could do Il. IL has permitted FRYE
grass In the past aud IL thus 50 enco ragged
cattle raising In a neglected region that
y hos induced railroads 90 penetrate
all through itand thereby build up villages,
towns aud cities by immigrants pouring IN.
Thus has been brought about values which
otherwise the state .would never have
known. But the assembled legislative wiz
dom DEGREES that free grass must go, sud
that the cattlemen must hereafter pay for
the use of the land. These latter bow obe-
ssnce, and stand ready to conform to the
nav conditions, although so sud-
denly precipitated upon them. The law is
made, the figure is carefully fixed II coun-
Gil at the capitol by repre-
sentatives from all over the
state. And their conclusion was based up
on their full Information as to what would
be Just and equitable. And now when
the vexed question is settled, when pooce
and harmony seem assured, come the lard
board and urge an extortionate demand. The
board, We feel certain, does not mean 10 10
extortionste, TO be aught than fair, but the
cattle-raisers insist that their proposed
resolution wrong them deeply, and
they demonstrated wherein. One pisce
of injustice looms up conspicuously: They
are allowed 20 lease the lands, whether
for short or long terms makes no diff
ference, subject TO she condition tina; they
shall surrender them forthwith whenever
acsual settlers may choose TO buy any OF
the sections. Now, surely these latter viii
take only the best lands. and thus are the
catilemen narrowed down 20 the poorest
ones, while the rental price aiill attaches
unchanged. This works a hardship which
ought to have fair confederation with tine
board. Existing industries induced here
by the state ought not TO be sacrificed In
any manner. The United States tariff is
80 outrageously high as to be Ubiquitous,
and yet even southern men would not have
their lree.trade or even tariff for revenue
preferences suddenly forced upon the
country to ruin the interests built up
under the past enticements. We have
always felt that a great wrong was done
when the national government abolished
the legalized institution without any COM
pens alton. The cases are parallel In prin-
ciple.
Again, the injustice spoken Of looms up
still more csnspicuously when we reflect
on tho further fact that there are severe
penalties against grazing on lands not ones
own or under lease. The stockmen in the
face of this legislation are told they must
buy the land, or lease it. When they I'M
to buy they are advised that 1t Is
for sale TO only actual settlers; and to these
only one tillable and two grazing sections
can be sold. Therefore they are driven to
Leasing, and thus driven TO the wall tho
screws are applied.
IL would seem that the members Of the
land board would have desired to let this
question rest where the legislature left 1t,
and on il shoulder the responsibility, etc.
Then would hrve been insured leasing OF
all the school lands and splendid revenue
brought into the treasury. II they insist
on their position recently taken, 1t Is ques.
tionable Il the children obtain much. 1t
would further seem only inst, at least. that
the stockmen invited by the past action Of
the state should be equitably II not iber-
ally treated. 1t would also seem that
II prices are to be put so high
they ought to be made applicable
to the future and to inves-
tors who propose to begin under
the new conditions. We are satisfied that
the farmers OF Texas will likewise view the
affair In this light. 1t Is true the &c.,
900 in the state paying good figures for
land, bought or leased. feel that the graz
ing Of herds by the 1900 live stockmen
ought not to be free, yet they would not
wish to see oppression or any injustice. The
land board should be careful In their action,
and act under only the fullest advisenent
and after the broadcast view.
DOMINO parties are fashionable entertain
ments In New York. the ladies but not the
gentlemen wearing masks. At one enter
tainment young man was flirting desper-
ately with domino. when, to his astonish-