Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-06-28
School Lands.

| AS Washington is nearing Statehood
the question as to what should be don,
with the school lands becomes NOR,
and more OF vital Importance to ever,
citizen within our borders. This sub
ject is being daily more agitated among
the great masses Of the people a:
well as by the more enlightened
and astute politicians. Our own Ter
ritory should profit by the experience
of other Territories whose school land.
have been ruthlessly disposed of by
designing officials with little or no re-
gard to the great object originally in
tended to be subservcd by our Govern
ment.
These lands are, in point of fact, the
inheritance of the children, and as
such, they should be scrupulously
watched and protected from the van.
dalism of grasping corporations and
syndicates. Let any one read the
laws regulating the disposal of proper.
ity decided to minors and he will be
struck by the scrupulous care with
which they have been framed.
So it should be with those portions
OF the public domain set apart for the
exclusive benefit and profit of the ma
tons wards, the school children.
The great sum total of school lands in
Washington Territory, according to
careful estimates, well nigh reaches
two millions of acres, and all these
lands are rapidly approaching in value.
Indeed, it can be shown that this
yearly increase in valuation is alone
sufficient to carry on and perpetuate
the public school system of the Terri
tory. 1t will be seen, then, that there
is no present need, as yet, of disposing
OF this vast inheritance. The value of
these school lands varies, of course, &C.
cording to location, nature and quality
OF soil, timber and mineral deposit.
1t is not high estimate to say that
$75 an acre would be a fair average
value of school sections, as farming,
railroad and timber lands are now sell
ing throughout Eastern and Western
Washington.
Three important towns, Tacoma
and Seattle, on the Sound, and Spo-
kane Falls, east Of the Cascades, have
each section of school lands within
their corporate limits. Either of these
sections could be disposed of to-day
for 81 600 an acre, and if they were
advertised to be sold for cash to the
highest bidder, either one would bring
. million dollars and then leave fair
margin for the purchaser.
Our readers have only to confer with
real estate men posted in the progress
and prospects Of these cities to be
thoroughly convinced that these esti-
mates and figures are not visionary
but clearly within the bounds of proba-
bility and truth. Several financial
whales, have, for some time, had wary !
eyes on these bonanza sections and it |
will DO we'll for the Constitutional Con-
vention to look with wary eyes to their
safety and preservation.
Finally, it may be said that if the
school lands of Washington Territory
be preserved in all their integrity from
schenhing and soulless operators, the
future success of its public school sys-
tenn is an assured fact.
Several questions pointing to this
end are already exercising the leading
Of the Territory and men,
bers-elect of the convention. First,
Shall these lands be sold for cash and
the receipts placed in . general fund
subject to the present and future needs
Of the 6tatef' Secondly Shall each
county b the sole custodian of its
own school lands, to use and dispose
Of the same q the people, through
their commissioners. may in their wis
dom choose to dor
Thirdly, shall the school lands of
tho Territory be sold outright, or
leased to responsible parties and the
surplus Of the proceeds 60 to annuity
. reserve fund As init
mated before, these questions are vital
t. the best interests Of every child of
school age within the borders Of our
prospective State and they should be
taken into wise and careful delibera-
ton.