Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-01-17
A PROPOSED LAND POLICY.
How Texas Might Gain Few Actual Sci
tiers, " She Chose.

Inefe mas DeCn 30 much hulu CpH-
corning free grass, the lease law and the
present management and proper disposi-
ton TO make OF the state school, uni
yersity and asylum lands Of Texas, and
this being now the most important sub
iect for discussion ameng the people
and press OF our county, as well as the
most serious and Important subject for
the consideration Of future legislation, |
will venture few thoughts or ideas con-
tanning my views as TO the best and most
feasible or beneficial way to dispose Of
these lands, and TO insure the most
speedy and sure plan to settle and imme-
diately develop this Western country,
and the greatest inducement TO the immi-
grant and actual settler.
IL Is estimated, ] believe, that there are
| from thirty TO thirty-nve millions OF acres
of public school lands in Texas, besides
| the university and asylum lands, the
most OF these lands lying in Western
Texas, and, Of course, being almost en-
tirely unoccupied by actual settlement
there being from 100000 TO 100000
OF these lands used and occupied by per-
sons, firms and corporations, and from
! 100000 to 100000 acres under wire
! fence.
Now the greatest object TO be obtained
| by the state Cor people, I take II Is, and
should be, the best and most feasible plan
to adopt in disposlng Of these lands in
order TO derive the greatest good to the
greatest number.
There can be no question but that the
actual settlement of these lands by the
farming class and small stock men would
obtain this result
How then or by what means and on
what plan should we settle this country
think by the enactment OF law that
will throw these lands open exclusively
TO actual settlement, taking them out of
the possession aud control Of capitalists,
corporations and foreign syndicates
and preventing them from being pur-
chased, owned or held In any way in large
bodies for any length OF time by these cap
italists and corporations, is the only safe
and sure plan.
The magnitude and importance Of our
free school system will justify the adopt
ion of the suggestion OF Grass Commits
sioner Hon j. ID, Stephens in opening up
4 new, separate and distinct land depart-
ment for the special benefit, management
aud control OF these lands, yet under the
present constitution and laws it would
have to be branch Of the present general
land office.
Let this department have land com
missioner elected by the people whose
only duties are 10 look after, manage and
control the sale Of these lands. Let him
/ be bonded officer OF state as any other,
/ with his duties and powers strictly de-
fined by law, with necessary clerical as
s'stanCc, and power to appoint agents
whenever IL may be by him considered
necessary fer the interest of the state, che
| duties OF these agents also 10 be strictly
/ defined either by law or by the commits
sioner, said agents required to execute u
/ sufficient bond 10 governor, etc, for the
faithful performance of their duties, and
among other things let these agents
I look after the interest of the state In the
i settlement aud disposition of these lands
/ in their county or district as the case
may be. Classify and price the same,
receive applications from actual settlers
only aud file and record the same In
records TO be furnished by the state for
that purpose. These agents term of
1 office to expire or terminate at the will OF
said commissioner, whenever he might
I deem IL necessary for the best interest OF
the state, the records of said
/ agent or his Office to be subject
to the inspection OF the public,
and on the termination OF said Office a
copy of said record to be deposited in the
Office OF the county clerk of the county,
and the original forwarded by the agent
TO the commissioner of said office. These
agents TO make and flle u monthly report
under oath with SAID commissioner, show
ing their actions and the number Of sec
tons OF land sold, TO whom sold, and the
price and quality OF the same.
That any and all persons desiring to
settle on any of these school, university
or asylum lands as an actual settler be
allowed to do so on any quantity, not to
exceed in any event $40 acres; that he be
required first actually 10 90 onto the
same, remaining, say, from one TO three
months, and to do certain specified
amount OF labor or Improvement; that nc
then make his die before the state agent
on making AN affidavit that he has actual
ly settled on the same In good faith as a
homestead for himself and family, II a
married man, IL single man for himself
only, specifying the quantity, etc; that
he nave the benefit of long partial pay.
ments gs at present, and that
he have the right after three
years OF continued possession
OF the land 70 pay out the whole II his
purchase and obtain patent for the same
or making proof Of occupancy BY hl.
own affidavit aud at least two other credi.
bic citizens SIS at present required for
homesleads on vacant public domain, and
! that II he sell his right TO any person be-
fore oblain!ng patent that his assignee b,
required - make similar affidavit rs
original settler, and that anyone making
false stlldayit, or Violating or evading IN,
law IN any material manner be subject 4
imprisonment Ia the penitentiary, etc
and that said land revert back 70 the stat,
ana be subject To resettlement as before
: That when The present leases on ab0v,
I lands shall expire, the same be with
; drawn from the market for this purpose
? aud thrown open 10 actual settlemen
: only
There Il no question but that Yves
Texas would rapidly settle now il ihes
lands were in a shape 20 be gO- hold q
by actual settlement. The entire West i
alive with poor men, and generally farm
2 eTs prospecting, hunting school or othe
5 lands on which To settle, that tlley ca
: get on long time on partial payments
: Bat nudcF the existing circumstances,
/, am sorry 10 say, the free-scnool, asylum
y and university lands being, rs a rule. GOT
BLEED np OF otherwise covered, III
poor immigrant, after perhsp
weeks Of diligent search
ingaiFy and expense gives up Ill hope .
{ nnding even a SECTION on which ~ ca
AZ locate, and ~ 3 ssnrfAs rG.e rrfErns hon
= discouraged ana disguStea with this pres
& ent hand policy Of oar state All his 4
!. course Is 4 great draw back 10 ahe SAITH