The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-04


Very little of interest transpired in this
department yesterday and only routine
work was attended to and disposed of.
Mr.. Randolph Laurence the efficient sec
rotary, returned yesterday from Missouri,
where he went to visit an only brother who
is hoplessly ill.
Leases we're awarded as follows Cottle
county, l section; Ell Paso, 7 sections;
CARA, section; Hardeman, l section,
Lubbock, 20 sections; Mason, 2 sections;
Preside, II sections; Refugio, 2 sections;
Scurry, 2S sections; Uvalde, l section. To-
tai, 88 sections.
The total amount of money paid into
the treasury for the month of January, by
the board, was $34,014.16.
Clerk James has just CONF leted list
of lands on which payments have been for
feited and yesterday he was forwarding
copy to the surveyor in the county where
the lands are situated with instruction for
him to note the same on his abstract.
These lands will again be put on the
market.
There was an unusually heavy mail yes
terday, and the clerks had some difficulty
handling it. Bob Shelley, for different
parties, rendered $1,000, on four per cent.
leases, but il was refused as usual. The
board meets Tuesday next, to make
awards with bids on hand yesterday, for
about sixty sections to lease, and $50 to
purchase.
The fruits of the work of Mr.. Wallace.
one of the commissioners sent over into
eastern Texas to invest gate depredations
upon public timber, is becoming apparent
daily, in very substantial, and at this
time, very welcome manner. Yesterday
some $315 was received by the board for
timber cut, and Monday it is expected
remittance of $1,000 will be received. 1t
is expected that several thousand dollars
will be realized because of the efforts of
Mr.. Wallace, while in the pine region.
This is clean pickup by the state.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
The Crescent Insurance company. of
New Orleans, which has been doing bust
ness in Texas for many years, has notified
the commissioner, that owing to success
sive and heavy losses for a series of years.
they have determined to give up the I'M
equal contest and have Withdrawn from
the state. 1t was good company and its
withdrawal is regretted.
PENITENTIARY BOARD.
The penitentiary board held meeting
last evening to consider a communication
from the Kansas & Gulf Short Line Rail
way company, calling attention to the bad
condition of the track leading from their
road to the Rusk prison. This road, a
little over mile long, is the property of
the state, and the board yesterday ordered
it put in good repair.
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
This department is still busy at work
compiling the school statistics of the
state A letter was received from a gen.
tleman, wanting to know of a desirable
locality, remote from other higher insti-
buttons, in which to establish a normal
college with low rates of tuition.
MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
In this department nothing of interest
was transporting and no news of start
ling character had been received from
the Mexican border. Nor had any been
received from the Panhandle, and it is
more than likely that the report wired out
of that secii about the great losses If
cattle, are absolutely false, for if such a
thing had occurred the rangers at Har-
rold and in Wilbarger county would GER
tainly have written the department about
it as matter of private news.
In the matter of raid by Mexicans
from the other side of the Grande, into
where it is alleged they robbed
a small store, the ad jutant-general referred
it to the United States military authori-
ties, he having no rangers in that section
of the state.
UNIVERSITY OF TEX. S.
By request of the professors, Col. A. j
Peeler will deliver lecture to the law
classes this day, at 11:3O a. H., upon the
subject of ''The practice of law in the
United States courts" These lectures, by
the distinguished gentleman, always in
sure the attendance of every student in
the law department. They will profit by
his wisdom in law and equity.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
This institution did not look very much
like a busted concern yesterday, for there
was pile of silver, in boxes, standing
JuSu DClilho uuO SOuhtOit hiSh
as a mans head, while great bags
of it were lying around loose
on the floor. 1t was some $4,000 which
the comptroller paid in some time ago
on vouches, and he was now delivering
the cash. When cash payments are to be
resumed is doubtful.
For the first time in nearly seven years
the state of Texas finds itself short of the
necessary cash to meet outstanding obi
cations and to pay current expenses, and
yesterday about o'clock the curtain was
rung down, cash payments ceased, and the
registry of warrants presented for pay
ment began. This state of affairs was
brought about by demand from the
board of education for $4,000, interest
due the available school fund, and for
which check was presented. 1t could
not be met nor could any part of it be
paid, ard the available school fund, being
in need of money, it was determined to
stop payment on all claims and turn over
all revenue to the school fund as fast as
received from collectors and paid over to
the treasurer. TO question of how long
this condition of affairs would be likely to
last, the treasurer could not say, but
hoped it would not be long. In this
connection, it will be interesting
to review the balances of
revenue for preceding years. General