The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-11-18
rh,s j, a much needed

treasury. This II q much needed
Measure.
cLASsiFICAgie OF THE PpRLIC LAND.
To classify the lands is unneoes-
sary, txeent 70 ascertain the wstered
lands. 4. the lands ere classified, an
stfsrt would ba made 10 have the SAFE
sell her inferior lands ~ reduced
prices, and il this was done, speculs-
tors wo@ld no the chief bensticiaries.
The bsst lands viii first bs settled snd
purchased, aud ths inferior lands neG
them Will soon DO needed for pastures
and oat-lols, and Will then sell FOX IS
much as tire good lands do now.
Such complete system IS private
land owner would probably adopt for
tho disposition of these lands would
include the placing of a minimum
value upon every section of II, having
rs!erencs 70 iss proximity 10 market,
the railroads and settlement ss well as
TO the climatic characteristics OF the
district and the intrinsic value Of the
land with respect 10 soil and timber.
wAfARRD LANDS.
These lNnds are in great demand,
ana when they are placed on the mar
keh gress caro- should DO taken IN order
to prevent th0m from falling into tho
hspds OF corporations and speculRJors.
This cannot DO too we'll guarded, for
Gv0ry intrigue and device will DO used
10 gat hold OF them, Ii the land board
had not Withdrawn them from the
market they would ali now hs IN the
hands OF speculstore.
FREE GRASS.
VI The public lands were declared 10
the free range, it is my opinion that
wealthy companies aud corporations
W0ald purchase sufficient cattle to
consume all the grass, aud that they
would pool thelr issues ana harraSs
snd annoy tho small stockmea and
actual settlers until .hsy would sail
Nat and leave the country. phsra ero
many ways Of using up the small mau
without querreling with him. The
employees of the large stockmen can
separate thc calves from tho COWS,
scatter the cattle and ruin him.
Free grass should be no longer toll
ergtad, and tho people should diemiss
IL from their minds end onsos lease
end sale law that win give equal
rights and protection to all.
CORPORATIONS.
The school Lands are for the most
part gTaZed on by corporations. Moro
than half OF the these corporations are
owned by ncu-.esidonts OF this State.
Tho mon of small means have no
cnanGe with Chos0 powerful bOdios,
whose agents only are sson. Their
presence cverawes and inlmilates
tho unprotected immigrant who IT.
vade9 tha territory they occupy.
IL seems to mo that the pol
icy og tho Ststa which permits
live stock corporations IL Injurious 90
ths development of tho c,qyntry, Tho
question IL simply thiH' Which 10 the
better for tho Gtayo TO haYe, nor school
lands aetklsd aud medc more valuable
DT tho small stock farmer and agrioulL
turtst, or TO permit them, 10 the GXglu-
sion of settlsrs aud their cattle, enrich
ing tho stockholders, who never see
tho State and have no other interest in
Is, These corporations bsy0 stretched
wirS fences around millions al acres OF
tbs sehool land, without authority OF
law snd In the face Of tho statute pro.
hibitiog 1t. They clamor for 'fcss
grass, but aro not willing to loave it
| irea to others.
REVENUES FROM SCHOOL LAND.
III proper Laws arc enacted for tho
management of the sokooi lands, with
sales and leases on easy terms, the
| revenue FROM saies, leases and intarest
On school land obligations would
| amount 10 $4,000, eco annually, aud If
| the lands arc made taxable IN the
| hands of tho lesgee, under tho plan |
propose, about SlS0,000 would be paid
into the Etste treasury annually for
tho support OF the State government.
.tl9 school land department, under the
management of . con- missioner, with
@ law prescribing fees to be charged,
wo1ld not cost the school fund moro
| than 600 annually and would receive
and pay into the State TREASURY moro
money than any other department.
THE ENCLOSURE ACT.
This Law is being boldly and defiant
| ~ violated by large cattle companies
and corporations. Many million scges
OF school lands are now illegally en-
closed. In some instances tao alter
nate sections have been lehsed st
0entp p9r acre, but these yiolators Of
the low will not lease tho schOOl see.
tons st q less price. Why is this? Be-
osui9 they holieve they can diliy daily
with tho state and use her property
without paying for 1t. They do no
seem TO fear tho authority and
| power Va tllO obuttb -lN d5 lOlE Us
this state OF affairs exists they will
not reapoct tho laws. My opinion 81
that the tlnle has come when ectiop
nhould he taken. II the enclosure got
cannot be enforced because ths seati.
neni OF oil that section
is 20 inimical In thGi
class OF prosecutions, then some plan
should DO devised that will protSsl the
States property from foIcibla use and
occupation. Two millions OF people In
TgSaa have common latorestin the
school lands, end 70 permit D few very
few) wealthy firms and foreign cor.
porstion8 20 take without authority
these lauds aud use them free, TO the
exclusion Of others. should not be
longer permitted. II obstructions VI
post and wire were Illegally placed on
the property of an individual by a p0r-
ron without authority or any right Ia
the line, such individual would cor.
tainly have the right 10 romoye the
obstruction without applying TO tbs
c0urts, aud it seems 10 ms that the
State has equally as mueh right and
authority 10 protect her properly ~ al
individual, and such force as may be
necessary for tho protection of oil pub.
lie lands should be used. Respectfully
submitted, j. ID. STEPHENS.
| -.
Pure and uncolored, and guaranteed