The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-13
catered LANDS WANTED
BY ACTUAL SETTLERS IN TEXAS.
The Attentiorof the Legislature Directed
TO the Unairness of the Present
Condition of Things-Let the
DIR, Lands Wait, Etc.

DALLAS, IAN H. Editor Herald. +
Texas s&ool lands, and what to do
with then, is subject on which much
can be sid, and which is deserving of
the CLOSEST attention of our representa-
tives a Austin this winter, and of the
peopleat large.
All Sill agree with us that what Texas
mostneeds to-day is immigration, to
MAXI her the most populous and pow
srfpi, as she now is, the largest state In
the union-the Empire state, not only
Of the south, but of America.
To the wisdom of our legislature, that
meets at Austin tomorrow, we look,
and we hope not in vain, for a prac-
teal solution of this school land
question, which shall place the state on
the "high road to prosperity"
At present, the dry school lands only,
can be settled by the actual settler. The
ridges, or brakes, more properly, are for
sale to the immigrant who would make
Texas his home, while in any other
western or northwestern state, the policy
has always been to put all the lands on
the market to the actual settler at fixed
price, and say to him, select your home
whenever you choose. This policy will,
of course, settle the valleys and wa
tered sections first, which is right and
proper, as the Improvement of
The watered lands and val
leys, will make the dry lands
in the rear worth more money and
make them more desirable and suscepti-
BILE of settlement.
Whereas, the present policy of our
land board places the cart before the
horse, as it makes the settler lake the
high and dry and almost worthless land,
or bars him out altogether, and says to
him, these valley lands with water are
not for sale to you at any price, you
can't have them, they are reserved for
lease to the cattle men, or we are holding
them until the dry lands are settled,
when we expect to get more money for
them.
If the above are not true reasons why
these watered lands are not on the mar
ket to actual settlers, the Lord only
knows what the true reasons are.
The writer is now in the state with q
view of making Texas his future home
and has been at considerable pains to
visit the sections of the Pan Handle,
the Plains, and the Pecos valley coun-
try, with reference to actual settlement
not only for himself and family, but for
many others who will follow, and the
above are the conditions in which we
Y
are pleased with the climate, soil, pre-
auctions and people of the state, and
although born and reared north of Ma
son aud Dixon's line, having freely
mingled with the people of Texas
we are fully satisfied we car
live in the state as free
from social or political ostracism, anC
with as much personal security as we
could desire.
While all these conditions are favora
BILE to the settlement of the state, thu
present policy of the land board il
Withholding the watered lands from thu
market to actual settlers, more thar
oounterbalances them, and the growth
of population and wealth and develop
ment of Texas will be much slower il
the future than in the past few years
when the state fOstered immigration 10y
saying, "Choose We where ye WILL" anC
"First come, first served"
What is necessary is fixed pol
icy with regard to the sale o
all school lands. For instance
place the watered sections OIL
the market at once to actual settler
only at fixed price, and limit tn,
amount that each settler can buy to on
section. Also name fixed price on TIN
dry lands and limit the number of sec
tions-say, to three or five, and onl,
sell the dry lands to actual settlers.
Unless some such policy as we hav
indicated is adopted this winter, tn
prospects for immigration to the stat
are gloomy indeed, and many peopl
now living in the state will seek othe
more favorable locations outside of il
and unless some similar plal
Ia adopted soon, Texas, ives
OF the Colorado and mort
Of the Wichita rivers, will only be on
immense cattle pasture.
The stock interests of the state woul
have us believe that west and north G
the rivers mentioned, settlers can't sus
tain themselves by farming. We hav
investigated to our satisfaction and ar
ready for the issue If we can get the wa
tered lands.
1.-THE stockman's prediction is correc
that we can't live out there by farming
the sooner we try IL and starve out, tn
sooner he will be able to buy or icas
the lands at much less than presen
prices. This being the case, it
passing strange that he don
favor the scheme of actuS
settlement and consequent failure tina
he predicts. No, he is not honest q
heart in his predictions of settlers on
west starving out. lie well knows tina
among the most desirable farming land
in the state are those of the Pan Handl,
the plains and the Pecos valley country
and TO fully insure success" we won
carry all our eggs in our basket" W
will combine farming with stock raisin
until we get on our feet, as they are no'
doing at Marenneld in Martin count
and other places. Has ANYBODY starve
out vet at Marienfield" Yours respect
fully, ACTUAL SETTLER.