The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-03-30
state,s Liberal Land PoIioN.

To the Editor Of Tho Post
san Angelo Texas March ~ The above
was the heading Of striking article from
the ever-howing pen Of our fellow country
man. c. h. Mctcalfc as published IN the
Dallas News OF March 20. As MIR. Mer
calfc has been honorcd by the cat,emen's
convention AT San Antonio ana his photo
graph placed in the groap of cattle
kings" of Texas by the Texas Stockman,
we take 1t that he speaks with authority
and his statements are indorsed by The
cowmen of West Texas.
In that article he says; Two things
strike an unprcjudiced citizen as remark
able in the proposed polyglot bill reported
to the house by he committee.
The first is the inter absence of Interest
taken in the school fund Of the State in
relation to the value and disposition Of
the lands" He takes the position that
our school lands are TOO cheap anu says
that the ''deSpsed cowman' viii take the
land nj a higher price and why not look
at the interest of the school children and
uursue a business policy and sell TO those
who will pay the value of the lands?
Now. our esteemed friend Metcalfe has
been in this country Il long time, so long
that the memory of the oldest settler
''runreth NOT to the contrary" and be is
not ignorant Of the fact that the "de
splsed cowmbn'' had this country practical
IL bought up rs far as school land goes
under what Is known rs the Z section
act, at 50 per acre and up and per cent
interest. All OF which land was forfeited
and went back to the State for non-pay
ment of interest. And the cowmen among
others represented to the Legislature IL
1895 that the prices OF the land ana raIc
of interest and lease were too high, and
that to take IT one year with another wet
and dry, 81 per acre and cents ner acre
per annum for dry grazing land was all
they could afford to pay, and am credibly
Informed that the cowmen rad hig lobby
In Austin in 1898 TO bring about this very
reduction in prices and interest. and never
failing tn cut deep into the ME IA sweet
en- their own tooth they would have pro
cured cent per acre rate on leases II
II had not been that Governor Culberson
would not stand it. TheF thought the pur-
chaser ought To pay per cent. while the
cowman should be allowed 20 use the land
NJ . cents per acre The high price o.
the land and interest, together wlth eX-
IRENE dry weather. cassec nearly an the
school land In West Ie',as 10 be forfeited
available school fund WIS reduced TO q
minirH m The records bear IN mind, viii
-ow that three fohrths OF the land sold
under former laws at So per acre and up
and forfeited 20 the state prior 10 $3.50,
was land purchased 10y the larger pasture
men or cOwmen. The available school Fund
navng been greatly reduced on account oil
these forfeitnres, the twoto,d purpose ol
the act OF 1885 was 10 increase the avail
able school fund on more permanent
Dasis ana to encourage the settienn,nl
and development OF the country Tbs
Ubiquitous lease system, as II has been
applied. has not attained either That tnt
available fund has been increased has beeI
rather IN spite Of. fhan on account OF, tue
lease system as II has been applied.
The low rental value Fixed by the act
Of 1893 caused more land TO be leased,
but the available school fund would have
been Increased much more had all the land
| been opened TO settlement and sale. aud
certainly the fund would have heen inors
I permanent by sales. and the settlement
| aud development OF the country has been
| checked retarded and prevented by ths
| lease system. The state of Texas still
has an Interest In reserying our State
| school lands for homes FOR the people
/ From The earliest dawn Of the Republic
| down almost 10 the present day the Stats