The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-28
MAI, W. V. JOHNSON,
His Address Before the House Com
mittee on Public Lands
Valuable Suggestions as to the En-
actment of Wise Lease
Laws.

before the hou:e commlttee on Puplto
lands and land office on the night of Feb
ruary 4. There was full committee pres
ent to hear Mr.. johnson, who spoke as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Committee:
That great body of State School, Uni
versity, Asylum and other lands in charge
of the state, concerning which it becomes
your important duty to suggest the enact
ment of wise laws, lies to the extreme west
and northwest portions of the state. But
few railroads have as yet been built to
those remote parts, and facilities for
travelling there are but limited and sur
rounded with difficulties The population
is sparse and the comforts few and print
| tive.
Hence, your constituents in the middle
and eastern portions of the state have
travelled and know but little
of the actual conditions existing there!
Whilst their representatives, for the same
reasons, are not so well informed of the
wants and interests there as of the more
populous and prosperous portions.
Hence, it may not appear improper for
one long acquainted with the business, the
social and Typographical features of that
country, to come before you and modestly,
yet earnestly, invite your consideration OF
those conditions as they really exist, and
ask that you shall deal with them in that
magnanimous spirit which should inspire
every legislator; to ask that you shall
calmly and diligently investigate an i'm
portant subject concerning which igno-
rance has given rise to many false i'm
pressions, and prejudices have stimulated
much unwise legislation.
1t may be necessary for me to refer to
that liberal policy prevailing at the early
settlement of the west, which offered the
lands for sale to all upon easy terms and
use of the unoccupied portions free of
charge. Yet shall not here advocate the
placing of the lands upon the general
market for sale, nor the abandonment of
the lease policy.
| 1 shall treat the present policy of the
state in regard both to the sale to actual
settlers only and the leasing of the
unoccupied portions as established and
| fixed for some time to come.
But a truthful narration will illustrate
the marvellous prosperity which developed
under that primitive and generous policy,
and present the gloomy disasters which
GUS.
To that end I invite you to go in mind
with me to that great region where we
| cannot in person go In comfort or haste.
There the princely endowments which
the state has 80 wisely and lavishly be-
slowed upon its educational and humane
establishments spread their broad ex-
panse in primitive yet magnificent gran
deur.
With area broader than many infuen-
tial states of this union, with lands rich as
those of the Mississippi valley, and eli
mate unsurpassed by any in health or
comfort, this naturally splendid country
awaits your inspection.
What do you behold?
Turning from the physical features of
the country, over which God has spread
80 much of beauty and luxury, and look
ing to the works CT men and their condi-
ton, what do you see?
The contrast is so great and sad you
will scarcely credit the evidences which
will surround you.
First, you will discover a sparsely scat
tered and impoverished population strug-
CLING patiently, yet almost hopelessly,
with the hard conditions which modern
legislation has imposed upon those who
have the hardships and isolation of a
frontier life
Next, you will observe the complete
prostration and ruined condition of the
livestock industries with which frontier
people must always chiefly subsist them
selves.
Ruin broods gloomily over the land,
whilst poverty and misfortune cannot
conceal their misery.
Surely, if wisdom may not suggest lib
eral laws, sympathy and charity should
prompt them.
You may we'll ask whether these ruined
Industries are those which so lately in
vited capital, energy and enterprise from
the best people of the best countries of
the world; which gave renown to Texas
and brought more foreign capital to be
invested in them than all the other
occupations of the state combined. You
may ask if those impoverished yet proud
and accomplishing people were lately
styled cattle kings" and Seattle barons,"
who acquired fortunes feeding their herds
upon the "childrens grass" Now none
are so poor as to do them honor. Three
OF every four are financially ruined, and
the remaining one would be ruined also.
except for fortunate investments elsewhere.
Net ing takes the light of hope from the
faces of men, nor leaves them SO black with
despair, as hostile and sectional legislation.
If any may think the picture overdrawn,
let him take note for $4,000 executed by |
any four average cattlemen of the west
to any banker in this or any other state
and offer it for negotiation. He will
quickly see how capital rates their finan-
cial worth. Formerly the same men found
an eager demand for their paper at ten
times that amount.
In view of these sad facts, we come TO
the practical question of legislating for
this unfortunate part of the state. Is tnow
necessary to urge the wisdom, propriety
or necessity of granting relief from the
hard conditions imposed by the lease lawY
The lands have been withdrawn from
market except under conditions which