Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-13
WATERED LANDS.
Put the Watered Lands on the Market
that Poor Men May Buy
Homes Chesply.
An Appeal from Western Texas 60 the
twentieth Legislature, to Sell
the watered Lands.
Pecos valley Star.

Pecos Valley Star
The wstered school lands belonging 10
the state Of Texas, aud which have been
set apart with other school iauds) aud
wisely too, for the benefit Of the school
fund, for the education OF our children,
have been disposed Of to great extent,
excepting In the Pecos aud Rio Grande
valleys-thus it will be seen that West
Texas Is more interested 10 the correct
solution of the watered schosl-lAnd
question, than any other portion
OF the state. Being on tne ground, and
knowing whereof we speak, we take
the position that 1t Is right aud proper
that the people OF the West should be
heard on this question, hence we take the
liberty OF making some suggestions 70
the members of TIE Twentieth legislature
on this subject, and TO call their attention
TO matters of fact In connection there
with.
In setting apart these lands the object
was to create revenue for the school fund.
What has been the result2 In answe. we
would state that In 1884 the land board
withdrew these watered lands, not only
from sale to the actual settlers, but
from lease to the stOcKmen--a 1ne
plan to raise revenue tor the school fund,
and this Is the present condition of these
lands. The reasons assigned by our
honorable land board for Withholding
these lands from the market were, that II
they were left on the market, the large
cattle syndicates would absorb them, aud
that the actual settler would be left out,
or at the mercy Of the syndlcates. Under
the resent ruling OF the land board what
has been the results ? The lands have
been withdrawn from the market, hun.
dreds of families have been deprived
OF the privilege Of securing a home for
themselves and their little ones The
development of the auest valleys in this,
or any state has been retarded. The lands
have lain idle, and the use for which they
were set aside has been dead letter, so
far as scholastic benefits are concerned.
And the school fund, for which our hon
orable land board has seemingly been 50
solicitous, has not received single cent,
and the future will be repetition OF the
past II the present mal-administra-
ton of the honorable land
board is continued, consisting
rs 1t does, OF five men delegated with a
power never before conferred or taken
upon themselves by set of men, since
our government sprung from colonial
chaos, Setting aside, as they have, the
acts Of our Legislature, ignoring the
rights OF many in the interest OF a few,
we for one say let them be consigned to
deserved oblivion. Place the lands on
the market to the actual settler, aud our
school revenue will be increased thou
sand fold,
The impression that II the watered
lands OF the Pecos aud Rio Grande val
leys were placed on the market it would
antagonize the stock interest, is an erro-
neous one. There IS not large stock
owner in this section of the country but
would like to see our valleys or river
lands under cultivation. Why? They do
not need the land for grazing purposes,
the coarse salt grass that grows In the
valley Is unfit for stock. The water
! problem has been practically solved, AMI
! the river for watering stock has always
been an unfavorable place, owing to the
disadvantages in the way OF stock getting
down to the water after their weary tramp
OF from five to ten miles.
| Our farmers will find good market at
home for everything raised in the way OF
forage for stock, and the stockman can
feed and fit his cattle for late market
right here at home, the very thing he Is
DESTROYS of doing and instead Of one
interest being antsgonistic TO the other,
their interests would be mutual. The
recos river with its great volume of water
could be utilized and our country en-
riched. There is no question as TO the
adaptablllty of the soil of our valley lands
for agricultural purposes, everything that
has been tried does splendid; cotton,
corn, wheat, oats, sorghum, vegetables Of
every description and every variety OF
fruits, etc.
Now, with the above facts, we OF West
Texas, ask IN Justice to ourselves, our wives
and our children, that we receive the
earnest and kind consideration from the
Twentieth legislature that we are so Just
| " entitled to. And may their acts in the
| future be so tempered with justice and
equity that the local legislative discrimin-
ations Of the past will be obllterated
by giving to West Texas her rights This
done, the Pecos and Rio Grande valleys
In four or i've years will be the pride OF
the Lone Star state, and the envy OF the
world. Mark the prediction.