The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-02
TO GO OUT OF LAND BUSINESS
MIR. WRIGHT TALKS OF HIS BILL
HAVING THAT OBJECT IN VIEW.
A Clear Exposition of tho Purposes
OF the Measure, Intended to Dis
pose of All states Lands.

Austin, Texas, February 1.--Mr. Wright
Of San Angelo. one of the joint authors oil
the general land bill introduced In the
| house last week, has the following to say
with regard 10 tho purpose OF hio pro.
posed measure. which Is one of the most
complete and comprehensive yet suggestcd
for tho quick disposition OF tho acreage re-
naming on tho States hands:
1.-THE bill you refer TO was introduced
jointly by Messrs. Garner OF Uyalde, MUIR
ply OF Bcxar and myself. II is intended
to place upon the market for sale all school
and asylum lands lying In tho extreme
western aud southwestern counties and
west OF what 10 now known MS the absolute
lease line as made by the amendment TO
the act OF 1895 by tho logitAiture In 1897
upon such terms and in such quantities
as viii enable the State 10 dispose OF them
at their real values and permit them TO DO
bought and used for the only purpose for
which they are sultable--stook raising.
The school lands we're set aside by the
constitution as a permanent fund Tor the
public schools: tho legislature was au-
thorized TO sell them upon such terms as
they deemed best. the proceeds OF such sale
To constitute a permanent fund and the In
terest an available fund for school pur-
poses. They have been upon the market
for sale under various laws for more than
a quarter OF a century, beginning with the
act OF 1874. The policy OF the law under
this act was TO sell only to actual settlers
and In quantities OF not more than 100
acres, thus clearly demonstrating that II
was the intention OF the legislature TO sell
the States school lands only In those parts
OF Texas recognized by all as agricultural,
Under tho acts OF 1879 and it's amendment
In 1881 the number OF acres TO be acquired
by purchase was increased TO one section
OF arabic land with actual settlement ana
three sections Of pasture land without set
Element, thereby showing tho intention OF
the legislature 10 extend the sales OF the
States school land further into the West.
I'm 1888. however. the state seemed
determined 20 go out OF the land bust
ness and all her lands were placed on
the market by what IL known as the seven
section act by the terms OF which as many
as seven sections OF land could be pur-
chased by one person and without the re-
quirement Of actual settlement Under
this law the State sold s.52s.s72 acres Of
land over the entire State--two-t hirds or
which has since been forfejted-and tho
entire sales amounting TO but lltiin more
than tho unsold school and asylum lands
now remaining In the district ] have tho
honor TO represent. The greas trouble
with the act OF 1889 was that the minimum
price of 81 per acre was entirely too much.
The lands were not actually aorth u. and
In The section 81 West Texas that VIII come
under tho operation Of tbIs bill very littie
Of the lands sold under the act OF 1858. re-
main In the hands Of purchasers. Neither
the soil nor the seasons justified IT'S re-
tention by the purchasers.
''Ihe law was again changed In 1857. but
Il was not until 1885 By the now famous
Coss bill that law was found as to condi-
lions and price o. sals suited to what rs
now known AZ the stock farming part OF
Texas. This isw met the case aud has
fulnlled the expsctsttot ana promises OF
IL makers. y Tar - those particular. sac
tions Of ths state N concerred, ane re
yFtss' rsa>istls sevllsg ~ uaas = -