McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-01-15
Number of acres of all lands decided by
the state during the years 1883 and 1884

the state. December LIST, 1884: @
Common school. TAG. 5s2 81
Agricultural college. 81, $50 W
University. ....... .................. A .306 05
Normal school,. II ,562 81
Saline lands. l3,36S 81
Penitentiary. .......................... 676 II
Total. .......................e,9O 7, ia 20
The total number of acres of indemnity
school lands received by the state is II,
629. S3 acres, and of this amount &c.
1874. 20 acres have confirmed during the
term of the present commissioner.
An application of the Nebraska Stock
Yards company, of Lincoln, to lease GER
tain described saline lands in Lancaster
county, has been reported to me from the
board of public lands and buildings, and
is referred to you for such action as you
may deem for the best interests of the
state.
The property belonging to the per-
manent school fund, and known as the
Gillespie property, is in bad condition,
and is returning but small revenue to the
fund considering its value.
Your attention is called to the 30S lots
in the city of Lincoln owned by the state
now occupied by private parties and from
which the state derives no rental what
ever.
The total amount of temporary school
funds disbursed since the organization of
the state is So, 309 ,423.79, and of this
amount 81 PAT ,040.57, or over one-half
of the entire amount, has been dlsbursed
during the past five years.
The following statement will show the
revenue of the temporary school fund
from educational lands:
Dec. l, 1884, there were under lease
953 ,63S.19 acres educational lands, ap-
praised at So, 375, IA 20, and bearing an
annual rental of $160, 1882, at an aver
age valuation of $2.49 per acre. There
were under sale 461 ,407 Ia acres of edu-
cational lands. the unpaid principal of
which is bearing per cent on So, 112,-
542 SO, and amounting to $1S6. 1872 SO.
There were 81 ,1G0, 1867 .35 of the perma
nent funds invested in securities, the an
nual interest on which is $S4, 5S5 .3S,
making in all temporary fund from
land receipts alone of $432 ,257 .45 per
annum. There are still vacant and un-
appraised l AIS ,0S6.1 acres of common
school lands, or about one-half of the
original grant.
Results arrived at under the present
law have been placed before you. 1t now
remains for you to decide what shall be
the future policy of the state regarding
this great trust; and as to what that
policy should be you will find wide diver
sity of opinion. Here is room for your
best thought. The entire subject of
school land legislation is one to be con-
sidered with reference only to the best in
terests of the school fund. The consti-
tuition provides that our educational lands
shall not be sold for less than 500 an
acre nor for less than their appraised
value. The legislature has the power to
increase the minimum price of these
lands. This question, as well as that of
striking out the sale clause, or if sales
are to be continued of striking out the
private sale clause, and the further ques-
ton of some method of appraisement in
matter of sales whereby the school fund
may obtain more just valuation upon
its lands, will come before you for deci-
sion.
Continuing the lease system, with
proper restrictions, my own judgment
would favor retaining the title OF all edu-
cational lands in the state for at least
period of twenty-five years, that the
great advance in value of realty incident
to the rapid development of the state
may be added to the school fund.
that were calculated to reflect on those
guarding the interests of our common
school fund. My judgment, and my be-
lief is, that the law has been faithfully
executed, and that no state can show her
school lands and school funds in better
shape than those of Nebraska to-day.
If, however, there remains reasonable
ground for belief as to the NAL admin
istration of this trust, then it becomes
your bounden duty to examine into the
matter, to the end that doubt may be set
at rest.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
The power is yours under the consti-
tuition to establish reasonable maximum
rates of charges for the transportation of
passengers and freight on the different
railroads in this state. Our largely in
creased, and still rapidly increasing pop
ulation, would seem to indicate that the
time had come when the passenger traffic
of Nebraska had reached such proper
tons as, that without injustice to the
railroads, the people might ask for re-
duced passenger rate. l would, there
fore, recommend the enactment of a law
providing for maximum passenger rate
OF three Genus p + mile, anu that sucn
law be made applicable to the several
lines of railroad in the state, with refer
ence to their ability to earn money.
While the legislation above referred to
will afford a measure Of relief, the ques-
ton of chief interest to the people of an
agricultural state like our own is that
of rates for the transportation of their
produce and live stock. The demand for
legislation of some kind looking to the
regulation of freights is general, and this
demand should not be unheeded by you.
The power placed in your hands by the
people is to be used wisely and consider
ately. You will not be led away by
ciamor, but you will do as your best
judgment may dictate, considering all
interests involved. The question OF the
proper adjustment of freight rates is one
most difficult. 1t presents features SO