The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-23
some VACANT LAND
Kansas Has Thousands of
Acres Not Yet Occupied.
OUT IN WESTERN KANSAS
School Land Is Adapted Only
for Grazing,

Topeka, Kan, April 22.-The effort on
the part Of George E. Cole. state auditor,
to ascertain the quantity and quality of
school land open to sale or forfeiture in
Kansas. has resulted in the discovery of
several thousand acres of lana located in
various parts of the state. This investi-
cation is being made through the county
clerks who were requested to furnish
detailed information regarding the sub
ject-
Many Of the county officials have re-
sponded promptly to the auditors re-
quest, and have furnished valuable in
formation for the records in the state
land Office which is a part OF the audit
or's department The service has been
rendered willingly by a majority OF them,
but some of the officials have declined
to respond because there IS no compensa-
ton for the work The majority OF the
officials, however have furnished the in
formation and have been glad to do so.
They regard the movement as one which
viii be Of benefit to the state because
of the prospect of effecting sales of some
of the lands at least, which of course
then makes the property subject to tax
alton. The sale Of the lands viii also in
some instances be followed by the ad-
vent Of settlers. Mr.. Cole said yesterday:
"The information which has come to
this Office from the county clerks shows
that many of them have expended much
time and made an earnest effort TO OBJ
tional record valuable. For this I am
very grateful and appreciate very much
the hearty and prompt response which
has come TO my request.
mere are three distinct propositions
identified with this movement, and one Of
which regard as sufficiently important
for public interest.
''First-A large amount of this land
which is lying idle is no occupied and
carries practically no benefit to the coun-
" in which it is located viii be placed on
the tax rolls.
"Second-The unusual and universal de-
mand for Kansas land indicates that this
unoccupied acreage Will not only place
the land on the market and thereby
increase the wealth Of the state as gen.
eraI proposition but viii also increase the
population because there is no doubt
that the highly prosperous condition of
Kansas affairs is attracting immigration
and with the land to be thus easily OBJ
tanned will prove a lasting benefit.
'Third-Another important feature of
the subject is, til monies realized as prin-
cipal from the sale of school lands win be
turned into and increase the amount OF
a., sobool f.rnd xrrnsob is dis
tributed to the various counties.
Some Of the school lands which come
under the foregoing are located in the
western part of the state and the county
clerks report that it is adapted only to
grazing. However, as the western part
Of the state is now being largely devoted
to the cattle industry, the value of these
lands will not be Iessened because they
are not tillable.
"In some of the counties Of the middle
district of the state there is found to
be considerable land which is adapted
either to grazing or to farming as the
circumstances of the ownership might
demand
At the present time it IS impossible for
the auditor to estimate exactly the acre
age of the land which has been reported,
but the fact that a small number of
counties have made reports exhibiting
more than 10000 acres Of land, is ac-
cepted as an indication that the acreage
in the state is very large. Since it has
become generally known that the audi
tor is making this sort OF an investiga-
ton, the departments mail has been
doubled in volume owing to the inquiries
that are being made. These inquiries
come not alone from Kansas. but from
the adjoining states and the more popu-
lous and larger states Of the east Then,
in addition to these inquiries by mail,
there are many personal inquiries made
at the department. This week three gen
tlemen, representing a newly organized
colony of foreigners who are, however,
naturalized citizens Of the United States.
spent two days in the Office Of the audi
tor making lists Of the lands in the vari-
Gus counties and have started out for the
purpose Of obtaining control Of sufl-
cient quantity to establish themselves in
the state. Some Of the colonists are not
residents of Kansas, but it was said that
others were to come from other states
The reports received from the counties
are being tabulated as rapidly as possible
and the information thus obtained viii
be issued in pamphlet form. which viii
be sent out from the Office Of the auditor
upon application