Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-12
THE GAZETTE: FORT WORTH TEXAS SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER p

OF this win go to the city OF Fort worth
as her pro rata share according
TO scholarship population. The remain.
Ing S2Ol2 has been distributed among
the school districts OF the county, and
VIII be paid out TO teachers during the
current scholastic year My action Ia
this matter was prompted solely by a dc.
sire to promote the interests OF the pub
nc schools OF Tarrantscounty thought
then, and still think that the action Of
the court was right. After all that have
heard about this matter, and after care.
fully considering II from every point Of
view, unhesitatingly say that II the vote
onthe cancellation OF the Burnett lease
were to be taken over again, should vote
Just as | did before. As the records
show, the commissioners were divided,
two voting for and two against The ac-
ceptance OF Mr.. Bumett's proposition Of
compromise, As the presiding officer of
the court II was my privilege to cast the
deciding vote. With reference TO the two
commissioners who voted in the mega.
tive, l have this TO say they are both
faithful and Jealous officers OF Tarrant
countyi In this masteG as in all others
coming before the court, under my OBJ.
servation, verify believe that they had
In view the good OF the county, aud were
Influenced by no other motive save
n desire TO protect the school fund OF the
county Between these gentlemen and
myself there is simply difference OF
opinion as TO the wisdom of a business
transaction. give them credit for hon
esty OF purpose, and claim the same IN
behalf OF the others two commissioners
and myself
shall now suggest a thought or two as
to what the result would have been had [
voted In the negative and rejected Mr.
Burnetts proposition. 1t will be observed
by examining the phraseology OF MIR.
Burnetts proposition that II was propo-
sition OF compromise. Had II not been
accepted by the commissioners court,
he would under the law have been In no
sense bound by 1t, and II could not ever
have been introduced in evidence In court
for any purpose whatever. We would
have been driven 10 the necessity Of in
shutting suit In the district court for the
recovery Of the rent, and Mr., Burnett
would have reconyoned with claim upon
the county for damages. AS TO the merits
or dement's OF the damage claim
l have no time now for discussion. SUI
ice II to say II would have been tedious,
vexatious and expensive law suit to the
county, one which in all probability
would have remained In court for years,
during all Of which time Tarrant county
would be getting no revenue from her
school lands, and at the end OF which we
would be no nearer a settlement OF the
lands than we are at present, with large
bill for attorney fees to be deducted from
whatever amount might be recovered by
the county.
How does the matter stand at PRESENT.
Tarrant county has been fully paid for
every day that her lands were occupied
by Mr., Burnett. She has them free from
incumbrance and ready to receive the
anxious settler. Ever since commencing
the preparation OF this paper / have re.
ceived letters making inquiries as to
when the lands would be sold and the
probable terms. From one OF these let
ters take the liberty of copying as fol.
| lows:
"What disposition are you going TO
make with your school lands In Wichita
county, Myself and several others have
been out there and find large portion OF
it good agricultural land and would like
| TO settle on II. We understood that Burk
Burnett had had II leased, but he was
taking his fence down, and we supposed
you would make some other disposition
OF IL; hence | write. Quite colony
would go from this part, and think 4
would all be settled in very short time
Would be glad to hear from you as early
as possible. II we can not secure YOU
| lands we want to look elsewhere"
! The original Is In my desk and viii be
shown by me to any one who is DESTROYS
OF seeing IL. II may also be stated in thit
connection that since the cancellation Of
Mr. Burnetts lease one gentleman has
made bona flde proposition TO purchase
the entire body Of the land at price
which would Yield an annual income OF
more than double the amount that Mr.
Burnett was paying for his lease, To
this | would never give my consent, be-
cause-I believe that by selling the land To
settlers we can make It yield larger reve
nue. than in any other way.
This is a subject in which am deeply
interested, and upon which could write
indefinitely; but have, perhaps, already
written more than any who are not my
special friends win have the patience Il
read regret exceedingly that circum
stances prevent my visiting every portion
Of the county and seeing the people IL
! person. Since the early part OF May ! have
been kept at home by circumstances en-
tirely beyond my control My wholi
time Is now engrossed with my ofcla
duties. There Is large amount o
school work TO be done, which require
my daily presence at the courthouse
My court will be in session every day
excepting Sundays, from now until thu
/ day OF the election.
| While | am deeply Interested 10 thu
result Of the forthcoming political con
test In Tarrant county, am much more
interested In the proper discharge OF the
duties which already deyolye upon me.
One word with reference to the anony
nous paper hereInbefore mentioned ant
| ] am done. AS 10 who may be the authol
Of this remarkable production ] knownot
neither do / care. For him | have ne
words Of abuse; towards him ! entertain
/ no feelings save those Of pity. II must
indeed, be desperate cause which dc
ponds for success upon the use OF suct
| means as this. SAM RURMAH.
]