Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-10

ton policy of the state may mean
much or little, as It Is intended in alt
seriousness or merely TO assusge the
indignation of free-grass advocates on
the eve OF the state convention,
in contem plation OF a new and novel
policy offered ms a compromise. THE
GAZETTE chooses to believe that its
Houston contemporary offers the sug-
gestion in all sincerity, and offers 1t
as consistent with the advocacy OF the
leasing system. That the Post may
not he misrepresented or misunder-
stood its exact language is appended;
"If any stock-owner or stock-raiser
desires to possess his lands IN soido
by exchanging some OF his sections for
an equal number Of the states alter
nate sections situated between his
own, would not great deal of present
discomfort disappear"
The Post Is undoubtedly right in
conjecturing that the measures it sug-
gests would soothe the discomfort
of those large land-holders whose
troubles arise from the Involuntary
partnership into which they are
forced with the state. But has not the
Post mistaken the whole question Is
1t an issue Of ownership? Under the
present system the state very readily
accommodates the owner Of the alter
mating sections with lease of its own
interest. Certainly there Is DO har-
mony between the relief proposed and
the relief asked by the advo-
caters OF free grass. There is
rather an aggravation of their
grievances. What has the large and
comparatively landless class, upon
whose efforts hinge the development
of the country and who make up the
dissatisfied element, to do with the
concentration of land interests, save to
deprecate the further expansion of
monopolies, which it inevitably in
wolves? The Post coDjures up false
issue. The man who is injured by the
leasing system is the man who can
only purchase single section of land,
and the privilege which the Post
would offer is worse than barren of
benefit to him.
But what of the merits of the policy
itself as suggested by the Post? 1t
would draw dividing line between
the two great industries aud legislate
especially for the farmers on one side
and the stockmen on the other. The
theory would grow upon one faster
were ii not fact that there are more
cattle in the agricultural districts, in
proportion to size, than in the so-called
stock country. 1t is evident then that
while there may be drawn with some
degree of accuracy line which will
mark the present limit of sue
cessul farming, there can be
no division between the agricultural
and stock industries. They are co.
dependent and the healthy condition
of one marks an era of prosperity for
the other. Thus, while unwieldy
herds may demand the entire atten.
ton Of their owners, the small stock
man gravitates naturally enough to
the development of agricultural re-
sources for produce sufficient, at least
to sustain himself and family. The
sequel to the Posts little plan is to
permit the stockmen, and pre-
sumably all others who
choose, TO concentrate their
landed possessions by an exchange of
sections with the state. 1t Is not to
be presumed that the Post committed
itself to such radical revolution in
the land policy of the state without de-
liberate consideration OF all it in
volved. What that is may par
TALLY appear farther on. The
reasons for the system under
which all land grants, certif.
Gates, etc., were located in alternate
sections, the alternating section pass
ing to the school fund, are well under.
stood. 1t has been the well-defined
policy of the state from its incipiency
to prevent ia so far as possible
the growth of land monopolies
within its borders. Under this sys-
tenn, the outgrowth of the .experiepce
of ages, the formation of these was
made extremely difficult and those
which struggled into existence were
rendered well-nigh harmless. The
Post, however, would subvert these |
barriers created 10y the fathers of the
constitution and make the goodly in |
heritauce OF the people of Texas ca.
paciocs food for the ravenous appetites
d land monopolies, The plan would
not only operate to the benefit of
corporations which already exist in the
slate, but capital, eager to seize every
possible chance for concentration
would swoop down upon the broad
'rairies of the West and very soon ac.
luire one-half in one vast, unbroken
BODY. The remainder would fall an
'ttSy prey to its enrrOaph ,aot. L., "a; |