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

pants are tnere IN Violation of law that a
majority of the owners of the stock are
non-residents of the state; that the timber
from these lands is being cut aud sold by
these usurpers in an open and law-defying
manner; that in this unorganized and
sparsely settled country an appeal to the
local civil authorities, under existing laws,
Is useless waste of time and money;
That the attempt to enter and settle upon
these lands so illegally occupied, is dis
couraged, both covertly and openly,to such
an extent that settlement is retarded and
the development of that portion of our
state is checked. For these, and many
other reasons, the board has reached the
conclusion that one of these alternatives
is presented:
Either new laws must be imme-
diately passed to meet the emergencies;
or ~ some plan devised by which the
state constabulary force can be used to
enforce the laws; or (3) the educational
lands must be abandoned to the rapacity
of the few, and taxation resorted to for
the support of our free schools"
Your reply to the above report is
matter of history, and was taken by those
interested to be declaration that you
could not under the constitution and laws
in force, furnish the remedies indicated.
The correctness of the conclusions
reached by the board has been borne out
by the facts. When it became apparent
that the executive and judicial depart
ments of the government were powerless
to enfore the land enclosure act, or to col
lect rent for the school land, held for their
own exclusive use by cattle corporations,
applications for leases ceased, and a
rapidly growing source of revenue
"withered in night"
When the full history of the birth
rapid growth, and "untimely taking Off
of the lease system is fully understood by
the people, there will be day of reckon
ing for those responsible, if they can be
found. In population of over two mil
lions souls, at least ninety eight per cent
are interested in realizing a revenue from
school lands, until wanted for settlement
yet two per cent. have so far successfully
opposed such utilization. This can only
be attributed to apathy on the part CT the
representatives of the great interior, anG
intelligent industry on the part of those
representing the pasture regions.
OUR PINE LANDS
remain practically tied up under the acts
of 1882-83, which place all timber land al
a minimum of IS per acre,without regard
to the quantity or quality of timber. Al
result depredators are at work, anC
legitimate timber cutting proportiOnatel,
checked. If these lands were the proper
ty of an individual or corporation agents
would be watching and protecting thu
owners interests, and selling either thu
land or timber at actual value. Under thu
present law, choice is presented to mill
men of purchasing whatever logs may b.
offered without inquiry as to ownership
or closing their mills. | have
for the past six years, without effect, beer
urging the Importance of such Legislation
as would protect the interest of tn,
schools and yet not strangle that portion
of the state. During that period tn,
amount of timber stolen would have am
ply repaid all expenses of classification
and sale.
THE IRRIGABLE LANDS
belonging to the school and universit
funds demand special and careful consid
Grafton. They should be separated
classed and their sale so regulated tina
they shall not fall into the hands of spec
ulators. The valleys of the Pecos and Ri
Grande rivers contain thousands of acre
of such lands, which, when placed unde
] irrigation, will command from $50
| 500 per acre. The question presente
is, how shall the first cost of dams an
bitches be paidY The single settler ca
not furnish the means, and if an associa
ton of capitalists advance the money, tn
interest becomes perpetual tax upoi
the producer. Without irrigation thes
lands are almost worthless; with it thei
value can hardly be estimated. In VIE
of these facts would it not be practicabl
to invest portion of the respective pei
manent funds in such Improvement
judiciously expended it Is absolutely with
out risk, and no objection can be urge
against it that would not apply to loan
to counties. The feasibility and wonder
strated in the far more arid states an
territories of the west and northwes
Greedy, in Colorado, now in the midst G
fertile fields and gardens, was, but fe
years ago, vast expanse of alkali so
and sage brush. IT these lands can be 8
developed without being forced to pa
perpetual tribute to capital, these valley
will soon take an enviable place in tn
a .ricultural ranks of our state.
THE TAXATION OF SCHOOL LANDS
in the hands of purchasers, who have nj
completed their payments, is, undo
the present law, liable
create confusion and ultimately driy
the state into litigation with actual Sc
tiers. When land is purchased ard tn
first payment made, it is placed on tn
abstract for taxation in the name of tn
purchaser. 1t often happens that I'll
land is abandoned and no further pay
ments made, and the land is sold fl
taxes due the state. 1t is understood, {
course, that the purchaser at such sale
charged with notice that he is purchasin
only the interest of the deiaulter, but {
a matter of fact, many new corners al
not advised, and they purchase and occl
ply the land for two years, when the state
agent makes them an absolute dee,
While such occupant may not have leg
right, he feels wronged, and 1t would b
advisable to avoid such contingency.
THE RIGHT-oF-wAY
of railroads across unsold school an
university lands calls for some regulation
Some are built and others are buildin
through the pine lands of the east, al
the pasture lands of the west, and no pr
vision is made for the determination
their rights, or for securing to the fun