Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-17
A KNIGHT IN THE LISTS.
WITH A PEN FOR A LANCE HE
PIERCES A LAND BOARD.

His VixOr Closed TIL Popular Plaudits
Compel Its Raising-HOn. Temple
Houston the Daughty Champion of
HOnesty-Greer County Claimed by
the United States
GALVESTON, Sept. 16.-Ever since the
publication, about a month ago, Of an edl-
torial in the Galveston NeloS charging
the State land board with gross abuse
and neglect of duty In managing the
landed interests Of Texas, the press of
the entire State has been engaged in gen.
eral discussion of the land laws and their
execution. Gov. Ireland and other mem
bers OF the land board have not been
acknowledgements. Among several anony-
nous contributors on the practical appli-
cation of the land laws was "Disinher-
tied Knight" whose scathlng srraign-
ment of the land board, supported by
numerous legal references, attracted
widespread attention.
A FEARLESS LANCE.
HDlsinherited, knight not only sus-
tanned the NelgS In all its charges against
the government and land board in the
alleged matter of diverting several mil
lion acres OF school lands from their con-
tackled the present State administration
and land board for their action in
patenting and leasing several hundred
thousand acres in Greer county while the
title to this county is in dispute between
the Federal government and Texas.
Greer county is situated between the
north and south forks OF the Red river, on
the eastern border of the Panhandle, and
comprises $3.50 square miles Of fertile
grazing lands.
CLAIMED BY THE UNITED STATES,
1t has been claimed by the United States
as part of the Indian Territory The joint
commission, which originally fixed the
Texas boundary, agreed upon the Red
river as the boundary line, but it trans
pired several years ago that the commits
sioner on the part OF the United States
was ignorant of the fact that the Red
river, near the Goth meridian, diverged in
two great forks; hence the present
boundary problem is simply question Of
which fork is the Red river proper.
THE vIzoR LIFTED.
In lengthy and able review Of the Greer
county land question published to-day,
'Disinherited Knigbt'' lifts his viZor and
reveals Hon. Temple Houston, Senator
from the Panhandle district, son Of Gen.
Sam Houston, first President Of the re-
public of Texas. Senator Houston de-
clares that If Greer county belongs TO
Texas it's lands are by law dedicated one
half to the school fund and the other half
to the payment of the public debt; hence
he maintains that the natent 'ng of 800, 000
acres located with veteran certificates Ia
clearly illegal; that, on the other hand. il
Greer county is school fund land, as the
land board holds it to be, they having
leased large sections, it cannot be open to
location with veteran certificates, and
other leases or patents are worthless.
IMBECILTTY AND VACILLATION.
s'Imbecllity and vacillation" says the
Senator, "baVe characterized everything
the land board have done. In their frantic
efforts to win popularity they have formu-
lated policy which is such pinnacle oil
stupidity that it at the same time prevents
leasing and retards settlement"
Regarding the injustice to the present
occupants by patenting and leasing these
lands, Senator Houston invites Federal
Intervention by declaring that ''trampling
on prior occupants of these lands will
possibly result in President Cleveland ap.
plying his boot to the base Of the spinal
column Of these fresh gentlemen. No one
will he sorry for these speculators," adds
the Senator, .but few reflective people
will regret TO see Texas lose the magnif-
cent province. which address and decent
patience could have obtained"