The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-04-05
THE PROPOSITION OF THE CAPT.
TOL SYNDICATE.


The capitol syndicate through Mr..
Farwell, has made a proposition to
ell back the 100000 acres OF land
acquired by the syndicate for build
ing the state capitol of Texas, to the
state at the price Texas is now offer
ing her public lands tor sale to actual
settlers. 1t is asserted by MI Far
we'll that Sl,OOO,OO0 have been ex-
pended in improving these lands, in
fencing and in sinking $50 wells upon
them. The reason assigned Tor this
proposition by the syndicate is that
the policy of Texas is against the
holding of such large bodies of land
by corporations and nnn.residents and
hat although the syndicate acquired
title to these lands without any re-
strictions the state is attempting to
force them in a certain time to close
up their business and move out.
"Let justice be done though
the heavens fail" If the holding OF
this amount of land by foreign cor
poration is prejudicial to the interest
of Texas, and it acquired title without
restrictions or limitations as to the
possession and enjoyment of these
lands, both justice and the interest OF
the state would demand that the
slate repurchase the lands. Ii the
laws of Texas passed subsequent to the
conveyance of the lands for value re-
ceived byTexas to the syndicate, impair
the title the only honest and just man.
ner of releasing the state from perpe-
trating a great wrong in the enforce
ment of an ex post iacto law would be
for the state to repurchase the lands
and issue it's bonds as proposed by the
syndicate. This of course would have
to be done by submitting to the people
an amendment to the constitution
authorizing the transaction. The peo-
pie of Texas are honest and they
would vote for such an amendment,
even if it occasiOned a loss to
Texas. But would it occasion loss
to Texas? In our humble opinion
quite otherwise, it would be the
graDdest and most profitable specula-
ton that the state of Texas could pos
gibly make.
In the first place it would relieve
the state from the embarrassment of
carrying out its policy to sell its lands
in small quantities to actual settlers.
The impeachment of 100000 acres in
one body would be removed as it must
be removed one way or another
honestly or dishonesty. Think for
moment what could be done with that
land, divided up into sections, every
alternate section could be sold to &C.
tua settlers ut mimi I'M OF SCAN
acre, the state retaining every altern-
ate section that after settlement would
readily bring $40 al acre. The objec'
ton that well-to-do foreign emtgrants
have to this country is that they can
not conveniently settle together on
land of equal prOductiveness. If
this plan was adopted well-to-
do colonies, Scandinavian and others
could be settled on these alternate
sections at a nominal price if neces
sary and then the other alternate sec
lions would bring more than all of the
land would have done undivided.
The acceptance of this proposition
not only involves the honor OF Texas
but it provides way by which the
present policy of tho state, now en-
barrassed, could be obviated and
would secure for the state the best
class of emigrants at large profit on
the investment.
TIE lepislature owes il TO the tradi. |