The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-22
STATE CAPITOL
NEwsY NOTES PICKED UP IN THE
STATE DEPARTMENTS
YESTERDAY.
Items Of Interest for the People and Official
Figures and Opinions for
County officials.
From Tnu sdaY's Dali i


itself has been received by the governor
and copies of it will be sent out through the
state by the petitioners:
To His Excellency, L. S. Ross, Governor
Of Texas:
Your petitioners, citizens of Wilbarger
county, Texas respectfully represent that
the official construction of the acts regu-
lating the sale of school lands is oppressive
to the great majority of settlers under the
act of 1888, is negotiable and Unfair to in
nocent holders of these lands, and about TO
cause trouble and conflict between citizens
of this county.
The possible relief to be afforded by legal
proceedings and ascertainment of the equi-
ties between the state and the settleris so
slow and remote that people in jeopardy of
their homes will be apt to resort to imme
diate personal measures of protection and
relief, and not wait the tardy and uncertain
remedy of law.
We are law abiding and law respecting
citizens, recognizing the majesty of justice
and the necessity of order. We deprecate
resort to violence until all resources of
peace have been exhausted.
The disturbance of titles and values is
appalling, the tide of emigration is checked,
capital is apprehensive and all the material
interests of this section imperilled.
We recognize that the existing laws do
not put titles to school lands upon safe or
that the only remedy is the enactment of
such laws as shall be simple in operation
and equitable between the state and settler
of the post.
The statements made above are not ex-
aggerations, but are based on facts which
will bear the closest scrutiny.
With full confidence in your patriotism
and devotion to our magnificent country,
we respectfully petition that, if your judg-
ment approves the request, q special session
of the legislature be called so consider the
wrongs of this people, and to right them.
And your petitioners will ever pray, etc.,
etc. .,..
Referring to the foregoing petition THE
STATESMAN has been informed that the con-
dition of affairs up about Wilbarger and adj
joining counties is deplorable. 1t is told
that in one instance purchaser under the
act of 1888 located section of land some
time in 1884, complying with all the law
demanded. He settled on and improved
the land in good faith Something over
year ago he sold to another
gentlemen who took possession and added
the land Office and declares that, because
the original purchaser was not living on the
land on January 1, 1889, it is vacant and
subject to location.
Another instance is mentioned where a
man who had settled on a section
had his water to give out, and he had to
haul it some distance. One day, on his re-
tuin home, he found Jumper" had taken
possession of his premises, intending to
hold it until after January and then
claim it as his own. The legal
owner camped right there and then,
and calmly looked forward to the
near future, when the Jumpers" water
would fail. 1t did fail and he was forced
to seek a supply, when the original locator
Jumper" to understand that if he came
'foolin'" around again his body would be
cheerrully filled with lead. Altogether,
land matters in the Panhandle are in
dreadful muss.
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
The following shows the number of chill
dren in the state within the scholastic age
and the amount of money recently APP
portioned by the state board of education /:
COUNTIES.
White male children to 16 years, 174,-
1857.
White female children s to 16 years, 169,-
$50.
Colored male children to IS years, S.
469.
Colored female children to 16 years. $751;
1928.
Total white and colored male and female
children s to 16 years, 450,118.
Amount apportioned, ~, 300, 1872
CITIES AND TOWNS.
White male children to 16 years, -, 628
White female children to is years, &c.
1913.
Colored male children to 10 years, H.
$50
Colored female children to 16 years, H.
1893.
Total white and colored male and female
children to 16 years o. 498
Amount proportioned, 1881 1892.
GRAND TOTALS.
White male children to 10 years, 208-
995.
White female children to 16 years. 1885,
682
Colored male children to 16 years, TO-
419.
Colored female children to IS years, co.
$40.
Grand total white and colored male and
female children to 16 years, 545,616
Grand total apportioned $2,1S2,464.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
State Superintendent Cooper is now busy
examining the papers of Texas candidates
for the Peabody school at Nashville.
The board of examiners for normal GER
tificates met here yesterday and will be in
session about week. SO far no definite
action has been taken. The board is COM
pOSSu as IOllOWEs DupeTl0Ie0ueUI
Witt, of Bolton; Superintendent Sutton, of
Houston; Superintendent Pennybacker, of
Tyler, and Mr.. J. Il. Rodgers, of the School
Journal. There are about $50 applicants
before the board.
CoMPTRoLLER's DEPARTMENT.
Kerr county yesterday redeemed $500 Of
her bonds.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
Two elderly ladies visited the governor
yesterday in relation to the case of the
murderer, Mccoy, soon to be hung at San
Antonio.
ATToRNEY-GENERALs OFFICE
Among the visitors to the attorney-gen-
erals Office yesterday were Hon. j. r.
Townsend, county judge; o. A. Larrazolo,
district clerk, and John Julian, county
treasurer of FL Paso. Their visit related to
certain county bonds.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The statistics of Hill county for 1888 were
received yesterday. The total product Of
cotton was 1856 bales; corn, 1,310,028
bushels; wheat, Al 1854 bushels; oats, 235, OPT
bushels. There were 100 acres in peaches
and 10 in apples; 1896 bee stands and 35,-
712 pounds Of honey; 12O,0O3 pounds of ba-
con purchased and 60,211 bushels Of corn,
Total number farm laborers, ST.; average
wages per month, $14 number Of renters,
1905. Number of sheep sheared, 5708;
wool clip, 17,007 pounds.