The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-03
EHE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Comprehensive Report of Com
Z u missioner Hall, of the
Land Office.
Review of State Land
Matters, with Tim.ly and
Important Suggestions.
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,

1ENEhAL LAND OFtlOES
4 AUSTIN, Tex, September 1, 1888.
T.. s. Ross, Governor, Austin, Tex.
| My Dear Sir-The following tables of
Exhibits show the operations of this de-
Ipartment for the two years beginning
ISeptember l, 1856, and ending August 81,
11SSS:
! Exhibit "a" shows the issue of 1854
/ patents, covering 7,580,356 acres, as
against 1900 patents, covering 9,017,729
acres for the two preceding years. At
tentiOn is called to the item in this exhibit
of 491 patents embracing 2,149,756 acres
of capitol lands, which item is extraordi-
nary, and, to indicate properly the decline
1/ work of this kind, should be deducted
4 Ppm the figures above given.
Il iAAs patent and filing fees have been, and
n are II =, the chief source of revenue to
\ this bffice, and in consideration of the
, certainty that receipts from this source
will rapidly decrease and soon reach
minimum, it is evident that radical
changes are necessary in the laws regulat-
! Sing and prescribing fees for this depart
= nent, if the same is to be self-sustaining,
as is contemplated by the constitution of
the state.
LAND CERTIFICATES ISSUED.
Exhibit "B" shows the issuance of 30S
p certificates, authorizing the location of
294 291 acres for individuals, and $3.50 for
the school fund. The issuance of certifi-
Gates for land YVES formerly prolific
source of revenue, but now exhausted, as
all laws authorizing the same have been
repealed.
NEW RETURNS.
4 Exhibit 60" giving the new returns,
shows the inevitable decline both in num-
si,er and acreage. For the next two years
the falling off, except in land sales, must
be still greater, proportionally, resulting
in further loss of revenue.
| PUBLIC DOMAIN.
In connection with exhibit I'D" it may
be stated that the result of 398,876 acres
of liabilities in excess of public domain"
is an approximation in which near ap-
proach to accuracy is not claimed; this
being effected by all the errors in surveys,
such as excuses, deficiencies and conflicts.
1t is apparent from the maps of this Office
that there still remains about 100000
acres of unappropriated public
domain lying chiefly within the
limits of the Texas and Pacific
reservation and the counties north there
from. To this may be added one half of
Greer county. In view of the fact that
full provision has never yet been made for
securing to the school fund that proper
tion of the public domain donated thereto
% by Section 2, Article VII, of the Consti-
tuition, it is suggested that the proper
steps to secure this end, as far as now
possible be taken without unnecessary
delay.
Chapters and 8, Title LXXIX, of the
Revised Statutes, being the presumption
and homestead laws, contain the only pro
visions for the disposition of the bulk OF
the public domain remaining. The evil
dence in this Office is conclusive that q
large proportion of persons who avail
themselves of Chapter s, do so purely for
speculation or for the reward paid by the
real beneficiary, who sim ply makes use oil
the pre-emptor to defeat the reservation
laws and to consolidate large holdings
Under this law it is required of the pre-
emptor to occupy the land no longer than
until the same shall have been surveyed
the field-notes returned, and 81 per acre
paid to the state. He can then secure
patent and sell or abandon the land; and
thereby defeat the object of the law, which
is to give homes to che citizens and secure
the permanent settlement and improve
ment of the country.
Under Chapter 8, above mentioned, the
homeless citizen, after three years actual
occupancy, is given homestead free upon
payment of patent fees. No good reason
exists for the retention of both of these
laws upon the statute book, and it is
thought that good results would follow the
srepeal of Chapter S-Chapter furnishing
ample provision for all who seek homes In
good faith.
SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY AND ASYLUM LANDS
The act of April l 1SS7,providing for the
sale of the school, university and asylum
lands, and for the lease of such lands and
of the public lands, took effect. on July 4
1887, entailing upon this department a
vast increase of labor, care and RESPONSE
bility. The results of its operation thus
far are briefly set forth in exhibits Z
end f.
The requirements of the law, that these
Lands be carefully classified and appraised
before they could be offered for sale, ne
Flo ,sstated a virtual suspension of sales fol-
PIsome months. In fact, not yet has the
classification been sufficiently advanced to
Pimeet all demands for pur.
P4chase. While the law seemed
p Ito contemplate and provide for the
classification of such lands as were in de,
nand for immediate purchase, it was dis
recovered in the very inception of this
dwork that it was impossible to determine
Which lands we're in such demand. 1t was
hlso evident that the work could be done
dnore economically by being done sys-
Dramatically. Hence, the cassfier was di-
Htected to complete the particular district
10 which he was assigned. This necessi-
tated the employment of large number
bf men in order to meet the wants OF
every section of the state with as little
delay as possible. Up to this date about
three, fourths of these lands have been
classified and placed upon the market;
land b. the end of this year not les 25,000,-
600 acres will have been offered for sale.
LEASES.
Exhibit "F," showing landss Leased, does
not include leases which have expired or
have been cancelled, but only such as are
still in good standing.
The 6,427,966 acres of school lands
leased embraces also all leased public do
main.
OF the 100000 acres belonging to the
University fund, only 77,437 acres are
leased, being little more than one