The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-11-27

There IS no question OF a public
nature, so important and entitled to
more consideration at the present time,
than the management and disposal of
the public lands. This is shown by
the numerous letters received by the
state Land office from every section
OF the United States, and In fact from
all quarters OF the globe, are injuries
concerning lands for homesteads, and
cheap easy lands TO secure for homes.
In every instance IRE those inquiries
answered, either by letter or some
printed matter that reaches the partic-
ular points sought for Tho ignorance
| displayed an some or those inuuiring
letters Is astonishing and one Is al
most forced to believe that the study
OF geography and history has been
dropped from the list OF school studies. |
II is not the purpose OF this article to |
discourage those seeking for informa- !
tion of this nature but rather to assist |
and giFe out for the general good such /
Information most sought after, by |
those really In earnest and trying TO |
better their condition I'm finding home |
among the hills and valleys OF Oregon. J
oregon has been settling up for
more than fifty years Those coming
10 this country after 1850 were given
by the Government n half section of
land. and those coming before that
period were entitled to whole section.
Six hundred and forty acres TO n man
and wife who would agree to live on
the land for five years. at the end OF
that time a patent would be issued TOD
them, and thus thousands OF homes
were established upon lands that can
not be eNcelled anywhere, by simply Z
stepping II off TO suit the fancy OF the q
pioneer home builder. and continuing |
TO remain upon the land the required E
time. !
Disposing Of the public lands In this =
prodigal manner, has caused much .
and what the result might C
have been had a more conservative n
course been pursued In this respect. Is h
yet undecided by those who have given q
Il consideration. d
In area Oregon has over ninety-five "a
thousand square miles, and within q
his territory the state claims two sec o
ions I'm every township. the 16 and &c. c
comprising 1880 acres In every town n
ship which Is set apart for school pur- h
'oses. Thus IL viii be seen how pro- v
'islon was made TO provide for the ed u
lcation OF the rising generation by d
hose who laid the foundations OF our bi
.reat commonwealth. The proceeds OF d'
he sale Of those lands. go 10 make n
What is known as the Irreducible 90
'chool Fund, and Is under the manage 3.
lent Of the State Land Board or School ul
'und Commissioners. The Governor, ! IN
ecretary Of State. and State Treas le
rer, comprise this board. The fund ga
I this time amounts 10 something over IN
Fo and One-half million dollars ex- "a
iusive of the land remaining unsold. as
My the interest on this fund when M
'aned rs used IN support OF the public IN
'hocls, which Is distributed yearly
iroushout the state, through the m
gency OF the county school superin- Dan
ndents. There remains unsold Of se
iese school sections over four hun faI
red and hfty thousand acres. and ~
lis is now being sold for Sl.25 per 90
IRE. ap
The manner and terms Of sale are as In
llows. An application 10 purchase rs sel
ade blanks being furnished by the or
nee, in this application the land Is sta
scribed and the applicant makes an iag
hdayit that the land he Is purchasing Go
FOR bis own use and benent and not lar
O. speculation. that he or she Is over Ia