The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-26
Texas.

square miles 1t had population in
round numbers of 100000, In 1870, l.
goo, 900 in 1880, and has 2, 900. 900 to-day.
Had 1t the population TO the square mile
Gas it will have during the coming GEN.
tury) New York has it would have over
10000, 600 people within its borders. 1t
had % miles of railway in 1864, and has
$500 IN 1888. To quote some figures
given me by Governor Ireland:
The following shows the extraor-
binary increase in the assessment of the
State Of late years, an increase wholly
unexampled in this country:
1879 1904 10s. 167 1881 $751;, 900, 900
1880 81, 40, 1876 1885,. ... 4l9,9a5, 476
And again says the Governor:
The assessment now being taken
promises to make even better showing
than last year, when the increase was
S36, 100000 All the returns are not
yet received, but as much as have come
IN average 70 per cent, higher than
1882. An increase of at least $50, 000,-
900 was calculated on few months
ago, and the estimates of the depart
ments are based on this; but it is prob
able that it will be even more, and will
run up the assessment of the State to
S450, 900, 900 or higher An increase of
Sl00,0O0,000 to S120, 100000 in one
year, affording an increase of $500, 900
or $500, 900 in revenue, unless the Legis-
iature should cut down tho tax rata L.
certainlya fine showing
As to educational facilities, the
foundation has been laid deep and wide
for the grandest system on earth
When the Republic became State it
did not convey its public lands to the
United States, but reserved them for its
own use. | will again quote from the
Governor, who thus Classics our educa-
tional domain:
i. The reserve lands. These are
on the Texas Pacific eighty-mile reserve,
west of hundredth meridian, 100000
acres; and in the Panhandle counties
100000. Those lands are not subject
to location by certificates, but are sold
for the benefit of schools and the public
debt.
SO The school lands. They are
located in all the counties of the State
except fifteen. The minimum price for
them is two dollars per acre, but for
those which have water on them or
which front on streams, the minimum
price is three dollars per acre. They
can be purchased in tracts not less than
l60 acres, nor more than $40 when they
are clasSed as farming lands, but when
they are classed as grazing lands one
person may purchase three sections, or
1920 acres. These lands can be pur-
chased on ten years time, one tenth of
the purchase money, with interest, be-
ing paid each year.
-. Asylum lands. There are 400
900 acres of these lands belonging to
the lunatic. blind, and deaf and dumb
asylums
q. University lands They embrace
1920, 900 acres The minimum price of
asylum lands is two dollars. Not less
than eighty acres can be purchased nor
more than 100 by the same purchaser.
They can be paid for in ten annual pay
ments, with interest, like the school
lands.
IS. County school lands. Each county
in the State is entitled to II, TIA acres of
land for school purposes. About 1876
counties have received patents for these
lands, which are now under their abso-
lutte control. Much of this land has
been sold by the counties, and the funds
received therefrom placed to the credit
Of their. schools
In addition to these figures of Gov
ernor Ireland. two million acres have
been set aside for the exclusive benefit
of the University of Texas of
a minimum value OF two dol
lars per acre, and a possible value
of $40 per acre. And again, our con-
Stitution positively sets aside one-fourth
of all tho revenue collected for State
purposes from every source whatever,
for the sole use and benefit of common
schools. The State University has
now a cash credit in the Treasury OF
1868, 1872. The permanent school fund
owns 81, $500, 600 invested in the bonds of
the State and the United States SAYS
Governor Ireland:
The improvement in the condition of
the Educational Department is well dis
played by the following figures. showing
the increased appropriation every year
and the increase pro rata to the edu-
cable youth.
Total at-
Pro rata portiOnmt