The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-28

almost prohibit their sole, and the use Of
them, under heavy penalties, is secured
only by the heavy taxation of cents per
acre, granted in the form of leases for a
term of not more than five years-leases
which req uire the lessee to pay annually
in advance sum which his business can
not afford, and yet furnish him no protec.
ton or permanance for that business.
He must pay the heavy charges
promptly, and yet on the next day, or at
any time, all who choose may come and
take those lands away. What is the value
of lease, dearly bought, which gives the
lessee no rights that Others are bound to
respect?
Can it be wondered at that such
leases are unpopular and unsought?
Yet the state has adopted the lease pol
icy and it must be borne.
In all that great country west of the
Tooth degree of west longitude livestock
growing is almost the sole occupation of
the people, although here and there few
feeble efforts are being made toward farm
ing in that arid climate.
Give both GLASSES a free and equal
chance. Let the Survival of the fittest"
decide the question of agricultural or pas
toral capacity.
Permit the land commissioner to with
hold from lease those lands which he has
reason to think are wanted for actual set
Element, and so completely protect and
support the actual settler.
But of those great prairies and plains.
where only the stockgrower must for
many years conduct his solitary calling,
| b. Ia NTH
some degree of permanence, security and
economy.
Make the leases for ten years
and absolute for the time and at
not more than two (2) cents per acre.
These conditions, and every one of
them, are imparatively demanded.
Any less favorable cannot give
the relief necessary to re-establish
prosperity there. They are not
unreasonable in any particular unless time
should prove that two (2) cents is more
than they can pay.
Under such conservative legislation,
many new leases will be made-and the
old leases should be cancelled and the
lessees permitted to contract under the
new system. Perhaps even greater reve-
nues may be secured whilst giving new
born hope to dispondent people.
The state should glory in the prosper
ity of all its people and help and foster
ALL
Under this liberal yet simply just pol
icy the west will revive and become once
more "power in the land" Capital,now
struggling to disengage itself from the
wrecks of disastrous enterprises that it
may flee away, will take cour-
age and remain, whilst foreign
capital now seeking seou-
rity at low rates will be invited to come to-
upon our unoccupied places and lift again
the name of Texas to place of honor.
On the Llano Estacado, or Staked Plains,
no natural supply of water exists and none
can be supplied except by processes too
expensive for the actual settler as CLASH
fed by the conditions of the present law.
In its natural condition it is practically
a desert, and uninhabitable by man or
beast. But its soil is good, and the natu-
raj grasses fine and valuable. If capital
and enterprises be invited by liberal terms,
they will redeem that great space and con-
vert it into the most valuable portion of
the state. With long leases, which will
protect the leaseholder, and at a low rate,
cattlemen will make it blossom as rose
and prepare the way in time for
its complete settlement and develop
ment. Liberality and simple justice
will inaugurate wise policy of
internal Improvements without charge
to the state, whilst increasing the revenues.
An unwise and illiberal policy will leave
that great body of fine lands to the native
wild beats which yet prowl along its
margins but cannot penetrate far into the
| desert.
1 cannot believe that the appeal which
the wretched condition of that part of
the state now makes to the wisdom,
liberality and Justice of its lawmakers can
J possibly be in vain, and 30 l leave it with
them, whilst hope awaits its issue.
W. V. JOHNSON.