The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-01-22

At this, the eginning of your labors,l
wish to direct your attention 70
the great Inconvenience, and often d.
sastT0us consequences, OF postponlhg
important measures until near the close
OF tho session. In the general desire 10
return TO thsir respective homes, meln'
! beers are often induced 10 accept or sub
nit to measures that their better judg-
ment condemn; and sometimes inpor-
tant and needed legislation fails entirely
| for the want OF time. The executive
always hesitates to disapprovc of meas
ures, even when his judgment tells him
they are i'll advised and improper, II
| his disapproval would likely defeat
them entirely, or force prolongation
of the session. Every consideration
cal for action on weighty and impor-
[ mt matters at the very earliest date
possible.
SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY AND ASYLUM
LANDS.
According to the latest estimate of the
commissioner of the general land office,
there remains unsold:
Acres.
School lands ...........,....,.........
\ University lands, Observation-Disclosures.
| Deaf aud DuuIb Asylum lands.
| Blind Asylum lands ,....,......,..,
| Lunatic Asyl ,nds. ..............
orphan Asylum lands -..,..;...,.
The land board created by the eigh-
teenth legislature has disposed of free
school lands by sale, l,965,2Ol acres;
university lands, l4,lOO acres; deaf
and dumb asylum lands, $500 acres;
blind asylum lands, 22,9OS acres; lunatic
asylum lands, 1865 acres; orphan asy-
lum lands, 50,033 acres.
1t has leased:
Free school lands ................... l,75y,3
| University lands ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1850
Deaf and dumb asylum lands. ....... GU
Blind ASYLUM lands. .................. 76O
The law under which this board has
been acting was so thorough compro-
mise that embraced no well defined
system, and the board has had great diff.
iiculty in administering it. The chief
aim oil the board has been to make these
lands subserve the purposes for which
they were dedicated by the people OF
Texas, and so as not to injure any Sec
ton of the state, or to retain them.
In some instances these lands are not
worth the price placed on them by the
eighteenth legislature and in some
cases they are worth more. While a
system of classification was necessary,
the board saw that to undertake thunder
the act in question, would cost the re-
spective funds heavily.
At the time of the passage of the law
known as the Gland enclosure act"
passed by the special session of the
eighteenth legislature, the board was not
selling or leasing any watered sections.
ion was concurred in by the executive,
that the true policy for the state to
adopt was to dedicate the waters and
strips OF land around them to perpetual
public use.
1t is well known that in those dry re-
gions the waters give value to the lands
Tor many miles around them. To allow
a, En-, fol int tha hands nf a faw
private parties would render the ada
cent lands almost worthless. After the
passage of the enclosure act referred to
it was demonstrated to the board in
some instances that watered sections
were enclosed, and so far from any
lands, except that which belonged to the
owner of the enclosure, that they would
be of no use to any one else, unless sold
or leased, and in such cases only the
board leased.
| now recommend the permanent
dedication of these waters and strip OF
land at least 200 yards in width along
and around them to the public use; and
If it shall require constitutional amend.
ment to effect the same, / recommend
the passage of joint resolution propos'
ing such amendment.
/ do not believe those lands capable OF
supporting an agricultural population
should be leased for long term OF
wears; nor should lands of any descrip.
ton be leased so as to allow their en-
closure in large bodies, without leaving
at convenient distances, ample pass
ways. At least one-half of all the agri-
cultural lands in each county should be
reserved from lease and left open to
actual settlers. Except lands unfit for
agriculture, leases should not exceed
six years. 1t is well known that any
system Of leasing is opposed In some
sections of the state but doubt that the
lands not needed by the actual settler
strongest to mOuopolize, to the exclu.
sion OF all the balance of the people. II
these lands were public lands, as for
merly, and were stationary in growth,
as we were in the not very distant past,
it would be impolitic to lease them. But
they are not public lands. They have
been dedicated to sacred and holy pur-
poses, and should, in some way, help to
support the respective institutions to
which they have been set apart.
| / herewith submit statement tom
the chief clerk of the land board show
ing in detail it's OperatiQps TO which
your attention is inyttd.
The general landof1ice is the natural
and proper had of all land matter,
and, IN .Ines2sures to be adopted for the
disposition of the school, university and
4 dNlu1l ITO Va
That office should be the head, with au-
{ lhority to employ such force as may be
needed. The executive has great re-
spect for the wishes of the two houses,
but he must decline to serve on this
board. The labbrs of the executive
Office have grown until great endurance
is required TO perform them. The GOV
ernor is now the head OF eight Doa rat.
The constitution clearly contemplates
that he shall not be required to perform
any duty except those pertaining to his
office or named in the constitution.
By the constitution he is one of the
board OF education and public printing.
The legislature saw fit to leave him of
the printing board, but put him d15,s on al. all
quite enough for any man to perform,
and he desires to be relieved OF all duty
ON boards not contemplated by the con-
stitution.
The present depressed financial con-
dition of the people has had no parallel
for many years. The chief causes OF
this condition are three In NUMBER.
While the state has had no direct
agency in bringing aoout the sltuatioh,
and although she cannot, under the
constitution, do anything beyond pre-
cept and example to remedy 1t, still
brief recital of the causes will not be
amiss:
/. The entire amount of money in the
United States is about fourteen hum
bred and eight millions Of dollars.
When we consider the fact that nearly
one-thlrd of this sum has been taken
from the people by their agents, IN the
shape of taxes, absolutely locked up
and withdrawn from circulation, can
we wonder that money is scarce and
the country oppressed? -,
2. For the last fifteen years the build
ing of railways has progressed at a