Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-16
PANHANDLE LANDS.
VIEWS or GRASS COMMISSIONER glass;
n.a.rLLLS.1.

VIEWS or GRASS COMMISSIONER GASs--
-FOUR CENTS AN ACRE OR NOTHING.
MIR. w. T. Gass, one of the state agents
(who are generally spoken of as "grass
commissioners has been in Fort Worth
some days.
A GAZETTE man yesterday had chat
with Mr., Gass on the land question, and
asked mis- views on this intricate question
Said The GAZETTE man:
"What is your explanation, Mr.. Gass
of this complicated state of affairs IN
which Mr.. Goodnight and you are SO
prominently hguring?"
"My official duties as agent for the
state require me to look into and report
on the condition of affairs in my district
as pertaining to the school lands of the
state. Iu the course of such duties
| / found that Mr.. Goodnight, in
his individual capacity and as representa-
tive Of other parties, had within his three
separate pastures 1913, 1863 acres Of land,
of which about 100000 acres belong to
the school lands aud public domain; Of
this there are 1860 acres under lease
and $4,000 acres of the million and a
half belong to the parties occupying
them"
"What prevented any others from graz
ing on the same landg"
"Simply the fact OF all this land, pub
lie, leased and owned, having been put
under wire'fence, and Goodnight, having
been in that country among tie first, had
the pick of the range. Alternately with
the school lands are many sections Of
railroad and private lands. Very wise
provision has been made by the occupants
to arrange with the railroads for the use
Of their lands, for neglect to do so would
subject any one inclosing railroad and
private lands TO suit in the federal courts,
aud they fear any litigation in that direc-
ton"
"But why is the state of Texas not
treated as fairly2"
"Proyision OF the law admits of suits
for rent and criminal prosecution under
the unlawful incloeure act TO be brought
only In the district in which the lands are
located. Because of this necessity for the
cases being thus tried in the local courts
the state Is debarred from scarcely any
chance OF recovery. do not impugn the
honesty OF the courts as administered,
but as everybody in those grazing re-
rious are entirely concerned In the cat
lie business and dependent upon 1t, 1t Is
not in human nature to give adverse yer-
diets against themselves. Hence 1t Is
lost time for the state TO endeaVor to gain
ANYTHING for such suits"
"Why do these cattlemen not lease
these lands under the lawY'
"They give as reason that the land
board has no right to raise the minimum
price per acre above four cents; this
amount the majority of Panhandle stock
men have rendered, but the author-
ties have repeatedly rejected 1t.
Yet these tenders were not made until
after The time had passed when the lands
could have been leased at Genus
neriod of about six months. The status
of affairs now is that temporary inlunc-
lions are pending against Goodnight, and
other suits are probable as against other
narties. the operations Of these inJupc-
lions are To prevent any repairing OF the
fences around the public domain or re-
building or building Of new fences ana
line-riding."
uUaye YOU recommended any remedy
eyes. I have proposed that the state
make compromise Of the matter on the
basis az 4 cents per acre for all the time
the land has heen used and laclosed ny
the cattlemep; the STATE will thus get
some money, but by refusing this there
seems very little hope OF anything being
obtnined by the state until sueh time as
iudlcIous legislation is had changing the
venue OF suits" -
as not a large portion OF the PanhAn.
die land capable Of being cultivated ana
desirable Tor actual settlersS"
81 believe the day wiz come wneh tne
Panhandle OF Texas will be the granary
Of the state. classify one-halt or over
az agricultural lands, but don't propose
10 classify the seasons. 70 summaries
the matter in acres, the Panhandle con,
taiug about 10000, 900 acres OF scaool
lands, OF which about 1000, 600 acres aI l's
under fence, and Of this latter only some
ROO 600 are le6sed.n