Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-21
IN GREER COUNTY.
Legislation Needed to Protect Claims-The
Class of Settlers Needed

Legislation Needed to Protect ClaimS-The
Class of Settlers Needed
MANeUM, GREER COUNTY, Tax, Jan. II, 1859.
To the Gazette
In my hastily written communication
of December %, find some ambiguity
that makes it necessary for me to write
again, as l am anxious for the readers Of
your valuable paper to understand the
true status of Greer county as regards
land titles. The only title we have ut
present 70 our claims is that of pos
session under the laws of Texas, and we
pay nothing to the state for the use or
occupancy in the way of interest or
taxes This is working n great hardship
upon our county officials, and seriously
impairs the value of county scrip. We
pay taxes on polls and personal property.
We are anxious to have the question of
title settled or such legislation as viii
prevent the jumping Of claims. At the
present rate of increase of population
the choice sections viii soon all be
claimed IS they are coming from
the North and South. Those who come
from the North and believe, rs they very
commonly do, that Greer county right
fully belongs to the United States, and
that it will ultimately be included in the
Oklahoma territory take only 100 acres;
while those who come from the South,
and particularly those from Texas, are
Texans who have had their ideas ex-
banded and views broadened by living IN
Texas, and considering the vast terri
torial domain that has been so prOdigally
squandered in the past, and believing
that Greer is rightfully and legally
ont of
have it, want section and claim q
section. Taking this view of the sub6
ject, and believing that actions speak
louder than words, conclude
that whenever man plows
furrow around section, writes
his name and the date on four stakes and
drives one ut each corner of q section that
he is in favor of Texas getting Greer, and
believes that Texas will continue to hold
it. These differences i'll views are liable
to lead TO conflicting Chalmers - and
the lG0-acre man viii jump the fuTTow
and stake him a claim on the same Sec
ton. This will lead to litigation and in
some cases to the use of the Winchester.
To prevent such serious consequences il
becomes absolutely necessary that we
have legislation that Will clearly define
the right of settlers, until such time "a
the United States is definitely settled.
I viii here state plainly that l believe
that many of those who come from the
North and believe that Greer
county belongs to the United States
are as conscientious and as intel
ligent as those who come from
the South. They have been surrounded
by and subjected to different influences,
and I do not expect them TO think and
feel alike. Believing that Texas is hold
ing Greer county wrongfuIly they do not
have that respect for Texas law that the
Texan does. Some of them are our very
best citizens, are Claiming section,
are doing some of the best work that has
been done in Greer. Others take only q
One-quarter section, are doing just az
nobly, and are as welcome. We do not
ask n man where he is from to insure him
a welcome, but "fwhat have you come
here to dO?'' If it is to secure a home
and become permanenS citizen and help
to build up society, develop the country,
establish churches, schools and respect
for law, order, morality and Christians
ty, which means peace and good
will to man, you are well
come; but if you come just
to make money, or TO stay until the
Oklahoma bill is passed and then you are
going to the Indian nation, or if you
come here TO disseminate infdelity and
skepticism and build mp saloons, gam
bling houses and such things as are CAL
culated to stir up strife and hatred, we
would say; "Your sort are not needed -
s. c. TALLEY.