Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-03-03
TIE Happy Mean"

1.-THE GAZETTE and lis PAL W would oeme
to this question in the proper spirit OF com
promise, the Just mean would be reached
and land law enacted equitable toward ssl
irteres's.- tCicburne Chronicle.
THE GAZETTE and iis party hold TO
pronounced views on the question OF
leasing public lands ; but we do not
hope for the unattainable. A wrong.
full policy intrenched as is the leasing
system, and bolstered by influences
that are deaf to all appeals, potent at
present against su argument and blind
to aught OF sincerity In the opposition,
cannot be subverted In the very hey
day Of its triumph and strength. The
GAZETTE, rs well as Its party, realizes
this and while abating no jot or title OF
ita convictions on this paramount is ue,
good oail Texas and justice to the wet
ern portion of 1t demand of THE GA
LErTE and It's party the acceptance of
whatever of concession to settlement
may be yielded by the leese-law ma
jority, which has the power to site
up" every acre OF the West from set
Element and consecrate that section to
the raising of calves. THE GAZETTE
and its party recognize the settlement
OF the West as the primal copsiaers-
ton, and they will accept al they can
obtain now and work for more In the
future. But The GAZETTE does not
attribSte to all lease-law advocates
hostility to the settlement OF the West,
and 1t would be glad to have the aid OF
the Chronicle and oil Others who are
not advocates OF "big pastures" in the
attainment of THE happy mean.n
Tho house land bill now under dis
QUESTION is the substitute proposed by
the house committee for all the house
bills providing for the disposition OF
the school, university and asylum
lands, and In understood to he u com.
fsmise between the major portion OF
the lease and anti-lease members OF
the committee, those of the latter who
accepted 1t doing so because convinced
that 1t was the greatest concession n
was possible at this time to obtain from
the overwhelming lesse-law majority
The bill Ia assailed In discussion or
the floor OF the house by lease-law
men who wish to eliminate tho con
cessioKs made in committee to settle
ment, and by snti.lease law men who
wish to restrict the advantages offered
In the bill to cattle corporations. II
THE GAzETTE Is not mistaken, thi,
bill Ia in substance the same rs tha
offered by Mr. Peacock IN the senate
This substitute provides that moi
more than fifty sections In unorgan
lied aud not more than ten sections In
organized counties shall be leased tc
any one person or firm, for period
not exceeding ten years, at Ave cent.
an acre per acre per snnum;
That any person or firm holding
and using any Of ssid land for grazing
purposes ON the first day OF February,
1888, shall have prior right for pc,
riod OF ninety days from the time the
act goes into effect to lease Me entire
Gmosnt OF the range so used and
claimed on said date;
That all lands leased under Il shall
be subject to sale, at 81 per acre, in
quantities not greater than $40 acres
to actual settlers, on thirty years time,
at > per cent. annual interest;
That the purchaser shall actually
settle upon and improve his purchase
within SIX months from the date of
his application TO purchase aud shall
continue to occupy the same for a pc.
riod OF three consecutive wears from
the date ofsuch settlement;
Thatany head ola family purchas.
ing any land leased under the bin
shall have the right to lease additional
sections lying adjacent to his purchase
notwithstanding itmsy then be leased