Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-08
LAND LAWS.
A Plea From the Actual Settler for
Proper Protection From the State.
The Present Law Keeps Settlers Out of the
State, Because 1t Operates in Favor
of the Corporation.

CROSBY COUNTY, Tex, Dec. y, 1853.
To the Gazette.
Please make room for a few lines for
the actual settlers in your valuable pa
per. We have Democratic administra-
ton in the state of Texas. We elect
Democrats for governors and Democrats
for legislators. 1t looks to me as if they
might make a change in our present land
laws so as to enable our poor people and
homeseekers to have equal rights with
the rich foreigners and rich corporations.
Here is what I have reference to in re-
gard to the land laws: Here comes the
bOmeseeker or farmer. He wants home
in Texas Everything is plain in the law
to him that he can get home IN Texas.
He goes to work to find himself loca-
ton. He finds the state school lands at
81 per acre, He files on them and makes
his first payment He is not able TO take
more than one section. He complies
with the land laws of our state;
that is all he is able to do and support his
family He settles in good faith with
us. He expects as much from the state
of Texas as any other man iii the way of
protection. He pays the taxes required
from him by the state. He complies
with the laws.
Now comes the rich corporation
from some of the Northern
states, or a foreigner from Scotland
or England or some other govern ment
He is visiting Texas for the purpose of
doing something with his loose cash,
that it may bring him a good interest.
He sees the situation of our land laws.
Well, ne win have all the advantage of
the actual settler, according to the land
laws of Texas, and why? Because he
can get what he wants for a heap less
than half what it cost the actual settler.
Why, he can lease every section of land
joining that of the actual settler for
STOP 40. He has the advantage over
the actual settler. He ties up all the
land he wants all around the
actual settler. He strings out some wire,
builds a small house for his cOmmissary
and hires Il boss to look after his ranch
when it is stocked. He pays no tax on
those sections of land he has just got
from the state at less than half what the
poor man or actual settler had to pay in
order to get himself and his family a
home. Well, our syndicate or corpora
ton goes to Scotland or England, or as
the case may be, giving orders-dOn t let
so and so put so and so in that pasture
Then, the actual settler is done up by
the former or by the corporation. He
can hold only so many head of cattle or
horses or sheep or goats in there.
He is bound to pay interest on the land
at the rate of 81 per acre and taxes on
the same, and taxes on his improvements
or forfeit it all, and pull up and go
somewhere else. He may offer to sell
out to this Incorporation. No, we don t
want your place. Here is the answer:
You are coralled by this corporation
You can It pay from $50 to $50 per an
mum on one section of land, when the
corporations can corral you with four sec
tiOns for a very small sum above
the actual settlers, and you have to
get up and leave. Then the corporation
viii lease the same land that you have
paid so much on and improved and paid
taxes to the state, expecting a home for
yourself and family. You can't move
much of the improvements, for the coun-
try is subject to such as this so long as
the present land law exists. The corpo-
ration knows the advantages it has and
can get your section from under the |
actual settler at half what it costs the |
settler. Now, it is time for Democrats |
TO look into this. Settle up our country. |
The more people that come to Texas the |
more Democratic votes will be east.
ACTUAL SETTLER.