The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-15
Senator Garrison, chairman; Perry,
Johnson, Getzendaner, Farrar.

Senator Garrison, chairman; Perry,
Johnson, Getzendaner, Farrar.
Judicial Districts-Se nator Fowler,
chairman; Bell, Kleberg, Camp, Farrar.
Engrossed Bills-SenatoI Bell, chair
man; Camp, Stinson, Calhoun, Harri-
son.
Enrolled Bills-Senator Fowler, chair
man; kleberg, Terrell, Douglas, Tray
lor.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
a message from the governor was
then received, and reads as follows:
Executive Office, Austin, Texas, January l3,
1885. To the Honorable Senate and House
OF Representatives OF the Nineteenth Leg
tsature:
GENTLRMEN:-I welcome You to the
capital of the commonwealth, as the ac-
credited agents of the people of Texas,
with that confidence which insures per-
feet trust in your wisdom, patriotism
aud devotion to the best interests of all
tho people.
| congratulate you and the country on
the universal quiet, peace and freedom
OF society from those local distur Dances
that are so disastrous to civilization in
other states. The people of Texas are
blessed in their entire freedom from ex-
| ternal and illegal interference of our
| federal agency in the choice of her pub
| lie servants and the administration of
her affairs, and have great cause to be
thank ful to an overruling Providence
| for the blessings they are now enjoying.
! There are Pharisees in other lands who
do not fail to curl the lip of derision
when Texas is 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
seasons experienced for twenty-seven
years have just past, and yet our growth
and general prosperity have been un-
precedented. For these years we show
an increase in our aggregate wealth of
SOS 100000 and an in increase in popula.
ton nearly 100000. While our staple
product has been cut short, our grain
crops have been abundant.
AT this, the eginning of your labors, l
wish to direct your attention to
the great inconvenience, and often di-
sastrous consequences, Of postponing
important measures until near the close
OF the session. In the general desire to
| return to their respective homes, men,
bers are often induced to accept or sub
! NIT to measures that their better judg-
hi ent condemn; and sometimes impOr-
| tant and needed legislation fails entirely
for the, want of time. The executive
always iSesitates TO disapprove of meas
ures, even ;vhen his judgment tells him
they are ill advised and improper, II
his disapproyai would likely defeat
them entirely, or force proIongation
of the session. Every consideration
cal s for action ON weighty and impor
tant matters at the very earliest oat'
possible.
SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY AND ASYLUM
LANDS.
According to the latest estimate of the
commissioner of the general land Office
there remains unsolG:
Acres.
School lands s...................
University ands.....................
Deaf and Dunb Asylum lands....
BIND Asylum lands. .................
Iunatic Asy um ,nds. ..............
Orphan Asylum lands .............
The land board created by the eigh.
teenth Legislature has disposed of free
school lands by sale, 1,965,2Ol acres
university lands, l4,400 acres; dea
, and dumb asylum lands, $500 acres
blind asylum lands, 22,903 acres; lunati,
asylum lands, 1868 acres; orphan asy
lum lands, 5O,033 acres.
1t has leased:
Free school lands s.....,,............, 1853 y37t
University lands .......,-.,........ l2OS
Deafand dumb asylum lands ........ "a
| Blind asylum lands S................... az
The law under which this bclrd ha
been acting was so thorough a compro
, mise that embraced no well deEne,
1 system, and the board has had great dill
ticulty in administering it. The chic
aim OF the board has been to make thes
A lands suhserve tho purposes for whicl
they were dedicated by the people O
| Texas, and so rs not to iniure any sec
T. ton OF the state, or to retain them.
4. In some instances these lands are nc
worth the price placed on them by tn
eighteenth legislature and in som
cases they are worth more. While
: system of classification was necessary
the board saw thatto undertake it,unde
: the act in question, would cost the II
spactive funds heavily.
Al the time of the passage of tho la'
: known as the Gland enclosure act,
passed by the special session of tn
: eighteenth legislature, the board was nj
selling or leasing any watered sections
r The board WAS of opinion, and this opiI
l., ion was concurred in by tho executiv,
p. that the true policy for the state I
!, adopt WAS to dedicate the waters au
strips of land around them to perpetut
: public use.
, II is well known that in those dry L,
:, giOns the waters give value to the land
Tor W@ny miles around them. To allo
N the waters to fall into the hands ofa fe
5, private parties would render the adj
|. cent lands almost worthless. After II
D. passage of tue enclosure act referred
i; II was demonstrated to the board
> some instances that watered section
), we're enclosed, and so far from an
lands, except that which belonged TO Il
d, owner of the enclosure, that they wouI
|. be of no use TO any one else, unless so
F. or leased, and in such cases only u
l. board leased.
\, now recommend the permaneI
dedication of these waters and a Strip
Q, land at least 200 yards In width alor
= and around them to the public use, al
!ltshall require a constitutional amen
9, uent to effect the same, l recommer
}, tho passage OF u Joint resolution propo
ing SuCh amendment.
= do not believe those lands capable
/, supporting an agricultural populate
: should bo leased for q long term
years; nor should lands of any desert
D, tiOn be leased 80 as TO allow their O.
Z, closure in large bodies, without leavin
3. At convenient distances, amp,e pas
! ways. AT least one-half OF all tho agl
;, cultural lands in each county should
:. reserved from lease and left omen
:, scIual settlers. Except lands unfit 4
: agriculture, leases should not exoes
si1 years. II is well known that an
'ystem of leasing is opposed In SOL,
:, sections of the state ; but / doubt that Nd
lands not needed by the actual SETTLE
r should remain open and free for tn
b, strongest to mouopolize, to the exclr
sion OF Hll the balance of the people.
!, these lands were public lands, as fol-
: morly, aud were stationary in growth
AS We were in the not very distant pas
. Nonid 90 impoiittc to lease them. Blu
!, they ato not public lands. They hay
been dedicated to sacred and holy pun
: poses, aud should, in some way, help !
F, support the respective institutions /
!. which they have been set apart.
20 | herewith submit statement fror
!, tho chint clerk Of the land board, show
Ing In detail ils operations, To whicl
= your attention is invited.
}. the general land office In the natiira