Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-01-15

The States Growth and Prosperity
Unprecedented, Notwithstanding
the Poor Crops.
The Watered Lands Should be- Dedicated
to the Public Use-A Revision in the
Lease Law Necessary,
The States Rapid Progress in Wealth
and Population Urgently Demand
New Census.
The Financial Depression Reviewed The
Special Treasury Funds Should be
Used in Emergency.
The Condition of Our Railways,
Schools, Penitentiarios and Asy-
lums Other Topics.
SPECIAL 10 tho Ga1etie.
~ curIyn ORpIcE,

ENr CurINR ORplCE,
AUSTIN, TEAAs, January a. ISIS,
To the Honorable the senate and House OF
Representatives OF the Nineteenth Logis-
lnture;
GENpLENrEN-I welcome you TO the
capital Of the commonwealth, as the
accredited agents OF the people OF
Texas, with that confidence which in
surVs perfect trust In your wisdom,
patriotism and devotion TO the best
Interests of all the people.
/ congratulate you aud the country
on the unlyerARl quiet, peace ana free
dom Of society from those local dis
turDanCes that are so disastrous 10 civ
ilization In other states. The people
of Texas are blessed In their entire
freedom from external ana illegal In
reference OF our federal agency in the
choice OF her public servants and the
administration Of her affairs, and have
great cause 10 be thankful To- Rn over
ruling Providence for the blessings
they are now enjoying.
There are PhArisees in other lands
who do not fail TO curl the lip of de.
rision when Texas IL mentioned, but
people who know our condition can
but pity the Ignorance OF the bigoted
sect, who decry our fair land.
Two OF the severest and most trying
seeOns experienced for twenty-five
years have just past, and yet our
growth and general prosperity have
been unprecedented. For these years
we show an increase IN our aggregate
wealth OF S225 900 600, and an Increase
in population of nearly 100000. While
our staple product has been cut short
our grain crops have been abundant.
At this the beginning Of your labors,
/ wish to direct your attention to inc
great Inconvenience, and often dls6s.
| trOua consequences, Of postDoning im-
portant measures rntil near the closo
OF the session. Ia the general d. sire
10 return 10 their respective homes,
members are often induced 10 accept
or submit 10 the measures That their
better Judgments condemn; aud some
timesimportant and needed legislation
fails entirely for the want Of time.
The executive Rlwaye hates To diaap-
prove of measures, even when his
Judgment tells blm they are iltadylsed
and improper, If IBIS disnpprovnl would
likely defeat them entirely, or force
prolongation OF the session Every
consideration calls for action on
weighty aud important matters at the
very earliest date possible.
SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY AND ASYLUM
LANDS.
The land board created by the Eight
zenith legislature has disposed of free
school lands by sale, 1866 POI acres,
university lands, II 400 acres, deaf and
dumb asylum lands, 80 500 acres, blind
asylum lands. 22 sos acres, lunatlc asy-
lum lands, 1868 acres, orphan asy-
lam lands, so OBJ acres.
IL has leased:
Acres.
Free school lands ..,..,..... .i,16953
Deaf aud dumb asy lam innds..a.., $50
Bind asylum lnnds..,.... .........a .-, 49,
The law under which this board has
been acting was 80 thorough compro-
mise that II embraced no well defined
system, and the board has had great
difficulty In administering 10. The
chief aim Of the board has been 90
make these lands eubHerve the pur-
poses for which they were dedicated
by the people of Texas, and so as not
to iDjure any section Of the state, or to
retain them.
In some instances these landa are
not worth tho price placed on them by
the Eighteenth legislature, and In
some cases they are worth more.
"
was necessary the board saw that to
undertake IL under the act ia ques-
ton would cost the respective funds
heavily.
At the time of the passage of the law
known as the Land Enclosure Act.n
passed by the special session of the
Eighteenth legislature, the board was
not selling or leasing any watered sec.
lions The board was Of opinion,
and this opinion was CONQUERED In by
| the executive, that the true policy for
the state 10 adopt was 70 dedicate the
waters and strips OF land around them
to perpetual public use.
| II Is well known thai Ia those dry
regions the waters give value 70 the
| lands for many milee around them. To
allow the waters 10 fall into the hands
! OF few private parties would re1der
the adjacent lands almost worthless.
! A fter the passage Of the Enclosure net
referred 10, IL was demonstrated
TO the board ia some instances
| that wgtered sections were in
closed, and 80 far from any lands,
except that which belonged to the
owner Of the inolnsure, that they
would be 81 no use to any one else, un-
less sold or leaeed. and Ia such case
only the board leaaCd
/ now recommend the permanent
dedication Of these waters and strip
OF land at least two hundred yards ia
width along and around them TO the
public use; and II It shell require a CON
stitutionnl amendment 70 tieck the
came, recommend tie passage OF 4
Joint resolution propoaingsuch arnend-
ment.
do not believe that those lands ca.