Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1896-01-15
suouLpsouooLLA>Ds sELEAssDs

LDSCHooLLANDs BE ELEAsEDs
 Our contemporary has discovered 'nigger in the wOodpile,' in the bill introduced by Delegate Mur- phy. for leasing the lands reserved for university purposes And all schop! lands m the territory It thinks the bill has an innocent look to casual observer but to a real w.se man who eau read between the lines it has omnibus portent to the territory as under it the valuable timber lands included in the reserve can be sold for a song. It says:
 "There are 46,0SO acres of these heavily timbered university lands, which at oaly so an acre would bring the princely sun of S2,604,0O0 Then. shall We jeopardize this great heritage, of ArizouS and her child ren by placing 1t in the hands of a few men to lease it to saw mill and railroad companies for a few paltry dollars an acre. and this will surely be done unless We have better watch dogs to look after our public interest in the future than We have or have had.
 Parties leasing land are not usu- ally accorded the privilege of de yastating the land of its timber, and there Is no reason to believe that 1T the above bill were passed, that saw mill companies and rail road companies would be permitted to steal the timber from the land. The object of the bill is sell evident. That is, that the territory may com mence now to realize on its donation O! land from the general govern ment, without waiting an indefinite period before doing so.
 The b.llitSelt contains 8 safeguard against any jeopardIzing business by providing for the leasing ot these lands under such laws and regula- tions as may be hereafter prescribed by the legislature of said territory, but until such legislative action. the governor, secretary of the terri tory, superintendent of public in- struc;ion shall constitute a board for the leasing of said lands under the rules and regulations heretofore prescribed by the secretary Of the interior for the respective purposes for which the sad reservations were made"
 The only question involved Is whether Arizona can have the bene- it of these lands for educational purposes during its existence & a territory, or must she wait until ad- mittel as a state. There IS no more danger ot her interests suffering now than 1T We wait until statehood is secured.
 The superintendent of public in struction, the governor and the secretary of the territory should have the interests of the territory sufficiently at heart to Protec; it's interests, and they can certainly be relied on for doing the best that Is possible for the territory.
 This measure has been advocated for several years by the press of the territory, and, if We mistake not, has been recommended in reports of governors. Much of this land Is LOW occupied and is being cuiti- yatei, and Is yielding good revenue to the fortunate occupants, but neither the general government or the territory IS receiving any benefit from it. Should this bll become a law, there is no reason why the ter ritory should not receive a hand some revenue from these school lands for its school fund and thereby lessen the taxation required at pres ent to main; "a the public schools. There Is not one whit more danger now in taking some action looking towari- realizing some revenue from these lands than there will be under statehood