Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-05-23
The Land Problem,

There Is suspicious flavor of THE
GAZETTE files for 1854 in the following
sensible discussion of the land problem
by the Galveston News but, at the
risk Of being accused of reprinting our
own editorials, we give 1t place, since
the disposition of the public lands is
always IAN issue" probably Is, OOO,-
600 acres of the 24,000,00O acres of
school lands unsold could. be leased at
four cents, and 1t is possible that u
000,0 900 to 10, 600, 900 acres may be leased
at six cents II the state land board is
able to stifien the backbone OF the ex-
ecutive sufficiently to induce effect
i've measures on his part to en-
force the land Enclosure act in
the unorganized and the extreme
Western counties. In either case the
annual income from leases would not
exceed 5000, 900, while the people are
paying $3.50, 600 yearly for the support
of the schools by direct taxation. But
the land board refuses either to tempt
free-grassers with four-cent leases
or to strengthen the executive spinal
column by friction or plasters. A
compromise with the free-grass barons
is offered, which, as 1t indicates re-
treat from the high position the board
occupied when Endorsed by the De-
mocracy last summer at Houston, will
probably be rejected In the expecta-
ton Of further concessions. 1t is be-
lieved that the executive and the ma
jority OF the land board, even at eight
cents, would not be tempted into ex-
tensive leases by which large
| section OF the state would be domi-
mated by one management. II is hardly
reasonable to expect that, to procure
such a state of affairs in one Of the
fairest and most fertile districts ON the
continent, q district capable of sup.
porting as many millions Of farmers,
merchants, artisans, mechanics and
professional men, as 1t would under
the free grass barons support cattle and
sheep, the governor would require a
plaster or the majority of the board
would desire to apply the plaster. But
the people are annually paying $3.50,
COO in taxes that would be saved tc
them II the lands were utilized. What
course Is best under the circumstance
may well puzzle the land board. IL .
liberal sales system is adopted
In lieu Of leases, the financial
question, 1t is generally be
lieyed, would be solved. Sale,
of only 10000, 600 acres at the minimum
price would yield u million year In
interest, equal TO the net revenue from
l2l cents ad vslorem tax, the schoo
poll.tax and the fourth OF the occupa
ton taxes. But the sales system, 1t Il
contended, would result invariably IL
the monopiliSation of lands by tn,
bullionaires and land syndicates
Sales promise ten cents an acre OF rev
enue per annum against six cents FOL
leases. Sales induce purchasers L
make valuable improvements. I'm
provements enhance the value OF tn,
lands. Both lands and improvements
are taxable. In ten years the land
sold would probably quadruple IL
value, and the improvements, thestoc
and the personal property which POI
ulous country would create may be estl
mated for purpose OF taxation as prom
ising revenues tsn-fold greater thar
the most ardent leAse-lsw advocat,
promises from leases. The leases, how
ever, IL win be said, hold the title tc
the land In the state, aud the tax-pay
ing people OF the future will have all
the advantage 10 accrue from the in'
cseased value OF the land, so that II
may ten years hence be SOLD for the
people At S per acre instead Of s. now,