El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-17
SCHOOL LANDS
: AND LEASE LAWS
Some interesting Facts and
Figu es.
Il PASO COUNTY SECOND
In the Number OF Acres Yet Unsold.
Enormous 1otais.-Over 3D.
600 Square Miles OF UnsoIo
School dnds Qemdin

S(nOcI IdUOS KEENAN,
The press of the state recently pub
lished a statement made by Land Com
missioner Rogan which contained some
figures OF much interest. 1t has been
sometime since a positive declaration
has been made OF the exact number of
acres of land now on the books of the
general land Office to the credit of the
school fund. There has been more
or less uncertainty prevailing for
years with reference to this matter,
and the points involved in the Hogue
case We're, to a certain extent based
on the amount of land, which at that
time was actually owned in the name
of the school fund. The special ses-
sion of the last legislature settled that
controversy by appropriating to the
school fund all of the public domain
or unsurveyed public lands amounting
to 4.456 1875 acres.
In addition to the above acquisition
by the school fund 4S2 .9iS acres which
had been sold prior to September l,
1898. were forfeited back to the state
for non-payment of interest. Further
additions were made in the cancella-
ton of right to 5S3.SS7 acres because
the legal provisions with reference to
were disregarded The
state also recovered 1.422.1Sl acres
from railroads. Thus the acres of the
school fund seemed to increase rather
than diminish. as during the same per-
iod few million acres were sold. The
freedom in using the usually eXtrava-
CANT word million" or millions" in
connection with the state school lands
would. no doubt. startle the residents
OF some of the older states, should the
discussion come under their observa-
ton. but the magnitude of the lands
in question is not exaggerated and
while the boundless acres would excite
incredulity. a comparison of the rec
ords will bear out the figures to be
found below.
There were 1920 .3S9 acres of land
to the credit of the permanent school
fund on September l. 1898. and there
was added to that amount 6.946.O11
acres from sources enumerated in the
the foregoing which made a total of
26 .666400 acres.
Since September l. 1898. the land
has sold 6.O52 1913 acres,
leaving a balance unsold on the first
day of last month of 2O.613.527 acres.
an increase net of S93. sic acres over
the amount owned on September 1.
1898.
OF the total acres in the name of the
school fund 1853 .95l are under lease
and the financial accounts are kept in
the treasury department, while the
land Office makes all awards both of
sales and leases. 1t will be seen that
o.659.516 acres are neither sold nor
leased, which is accounted for by their
location. some covered with salt and
alkali. others barren and mountainous
irouths, lack of water etc.
Extraordinary inducements will have
to be offered by the state to have this
barren land developed so that it can
be source of revenue to the school
fund.
There has been more or less agita-
ion in the west over the absolute lease
aw. one party favoring total aboli- |
non OF the line. while another fac
ion contend for moving the eastern |
boundary line tier or more of coun- |
les west and open up for settlement |
Counties now included within the lease |
Some interesting data is gathered as |
result OF the commissioners recent |
statement which will be in his recon- |
hendatlons to the governor for legis- |
ative action. There has not been a |
statement published showing the area |
u the lease district nor the number |
IL acres of school lands in the counties |
Nhlch the commissioned recommends |
o be opened for settlement. 1t must
De borne in mind that in the counties |
composing the lease district, about /
'ne-half or the land is owned by rail
DADS by virtue of certain grants. and
while the state or ather the school
una does. or did own the even num-
'ered sections. the alternates or odd
ectlons are under private ownership
nus the acreage may not be as large
s expected. Then. too. n large num-
er OF old headlights and confederate
cript were located in the southern
les OF counties composing the lease
erritory. All of which makes a con-
iderable reduction in acreage. Thous-
nds OF acres have been sold. especial
prior to the passage of the act. set
ing apart the absolute lease district
nus the total acreage has been con-
iderably reduced
The counties in the lease reservation
which there yet lies unsold school
and are as follows:
Andrews, Bandera. Borden. Brewster.
'ameron. Coke. Crane. Crockett. Daw-
on. Dimmitt. Duval. Ector. Edwards.