The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-16

pasture companies. At the Organization
OF the board some members declared in
iaVor OF limiting sales to actual settlers
ana the amount to one section, and the re-
suit OF the above sale was urged as am
argument to sustain their theory.
The after history of the board on the
question OF sales, and what was condemn
ed as vacillation, was simply a persistent
enort on the part of the minority to get
the limit reduced. This was finally 40
complished by resolution, which re-,
mains unchanged.
Had the limit specified In the law been
retained, the state would not to-day have
mad one acre, except of refuse land to
offer to homesteadels. For this preser-
Vation OF the domain from the rapacity
OF the few, even by a strained construc.
ton of law, the board is entitled to the
gratitude of all who are seeking homes.
and all those interested in the develop
ment of the state. No legally con-
stituted body of men in this state, ever
received such censure, and none ever de-
served 1t less for their official acts.
In my report in 1873 to Governor Hub
bard, recommended the
LEASE OF THE SCHOOL LANDS
until wanted by the actual settler. This
suggestion was repeated in each fol owing
report until in 1888 the legislature gave us
the present law, and placed its execution
In the hands of the land board. L. con-
templates unlimited leases of both dry and
watered land, and makes all land subject
to sale as soon as leased. No provision is
made for evidence of good faith on the
part of purchasers for settlement, and was
apparent that any instructions OF the
board lookil 6 to the lease of the watered
lands would be but a roundabout scheme
for the sale of all the water to a few cor
porations. For this reason, the watered
lands were withheld from either sale or
lease until the Legislature could provide
some mode looking to their absorption by
bona tide settlers. The wisdom of this
policy has already been partially demon
strated by the fact that capitalists and
corporations have been forced to bore
wells and construct tanks.
The first leasing of these lands occurred
in January, 1884, and it was apparent that
competition, as contemplated by the law,
was farce. The best lands belonging to
the school fund were being leased at the
minimum price of four cents, and for the
maximum period of ten years. In Febru.
airy, 1884, the board increased the mini
mum to eight cents per acre. This step
was taken because the best land WAS worth
that amount, and only the best was being
taken, and invariably at the minimum
price. Subsequent developments ex-
planned this startling uniformity. Each
cattleman or corporation had "a range"
defined by natural or agreed boundaries,
and it was trespass for an outsider to bid
for any land included in such ranges.
Following the publication of this action
of the board, many who had re-
fused to lease at any price, declaring
their intention to resist the law, came in,
and refusing to pay the advanced price,
demanded lease at four cents per acre. In
one instance the attornies of syndicates
applied for the lease of over five thousand
sections (3,200,000 acres) at four cents. This
was unanimously refused by theboard, and
then began the systematic fight of corpor-
ations, cattle companies and their advo-
Gates and attorneys, upon the lease sys-
tenn. Imaginary cases were cited of set
tiers having been driven out and robbed
of their homes and Improvements by
lessees, and every misfortune from fall
in the price of cattle to protracted
drouth, was laid at the door of the lease
law. 1t was proclaimed to the world
through certain papers of the state, that
no poor man could get a home in Texas;
that the entire public domain had been sur
rendered to corporations, who had fenced
it up and would allow no one to enter.
These statements were magnitied, and
some of them kept as standing matter IN
papers interested in the colonization OF
the northwestern states and territories
One leading paper went SO far as to create
the impression through an edi'
torial that the land board was
robbing the school fund of millions OF
acres of land. Whatever the motives OF
these articles, their effect was potent, and
a check was placed upon immigration anc
settlement, as shown by the register fol
nearly two years. If the land and cattle
companies had devised plan and spent
their money to prevent the influx OF set
tiers upon their ranges, they could have
found none better than that pursued by
the papers as above mentioned. After the
rejection of the proposition to lease the
entire Panhandle at four cents, many OF
the smaller ranehmen came In and LEASED
at eight cents, but several of the larger
and more powerful determined to pay
nothing and still hold their ranges. In
this they we're and are to-day successful
In the summer of 1885, after the failure
of any provision by the Nineteenth legis
lature to protect these lands, the boar'
eu,ployed and sent to the frontier severa
agents. selected for their known integrit!
and firmness, to inquire into and repor
all ascertainable facts as to the amount o
school lands illegally enclosed, with name
of offenders and witnesses. AS the boar'
had no power to enforce the laws, incl
efforts were simply to secure evidence
The agents reported weekly, showing tn
abuses even greater and the Vlolator
more defiant than had been anticipated
In November the agents we're recalled
and interrogated by the board in opeI
session. and every fact fully developed
Their recall, without public explanation
following the close investigation they haf
made. rendered the usurpers uneasy, ant
several, in person or through CORES
nondents. while the board was examining
the agents, placed money in the cit.
banks TO Iiquidate their leases at the rate
fixed by the board. Among the fact
ol;oi+ed :. single instance will suffice: IL
one of the Panhandle counties a CRANE
jury, composed largely of stockmen own
inp illegal enclosures, and their employees