The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-01-17
$...OKLAHOMA..|
x IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE TERRITORY
New Land lowe for ok,ahon,,

| New Land Laws for Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City.-The certainty OF an
attempt 10 create new laws for the
control OF the public lands of Okla
homa at the coming legislature is
arousing interest ns to what Legislation
Is needed. Opinion Is divided between
two classes of citizens, one OF which is
In favor OF selling the public lands 10
the highest bidder as soon nc possible
the other insisting that the lands
should not he sold but be retained,
under territorial ownership until
the experience OF years and their iu-
creased value would mako IL ex.
pcdient 10 sell them.
Persons opposed to the sale OF The
lands cali attention to the history of
the early sale Of public lands In other
states. II is held that in almost ev-
cry instance the lands were sacrificed
for sums in no wise commensurate
with thcir subsequent value and that
| individuals rather than the public in.
| stitutions for which The lands were set
| apart, were the bcneficiarics. Tie
value OF agricultural lands in Okla.
ten years, and In the meantime the
territory, instead Of the lcssccs, should
receive the benefits.
The present le>sccs are naturally
anxious for an early sale of the lands
us they hope to buy the farms on
which they are now located. There
are now more than 5000 OF these less.
ecs, and their combined influence Is
formidable. Most of these lrssces will
look To their own private gain rathe,
than to the welfare OF the territory.
There are persons In favor of tho sale
OF lands lccau>c OF the fear that these
lcssces will become menace to til,
po i'ical parties in Oklahoma, and will
grow in power until they can dictate
all legislation affecting the public
lands, IA few not without substantial
grounds.
The sale OF these lands, not. how
ever, until the territory becomes d
state, recommends itself as IL bust.
ness proposition. The value OF the
lands is now estimated to be seven
million dollars, producing an annual
income Of s200,OO0 Three per cent OF
seven million dollars would be SaiO. OGO
l believe that the proceeds of the sale
could be converted into six per cen,
bonds. Much OF the land could be sold
on long time, with notes bearing seven
per cent interest. Furthermore, the
land would be subject to taxation,
which IL will never be while owned by
the territory. Under the leasing "ys.
tenn the lands will rapidly exha rst
their fertility and productivcucss and
decrease in value as the years pass
Freeman T.. Miller OF saltwater, sen.
iator.elcct, is preparing bill to be In.
troduced In the next legislature pro.
viding for the control OF the public
lands independent Of the interior
department. This bill will have strong
backing. IL abolishcs the prcsen.
school land board and creates the ter
ritorial Office of territorial commiss.
ioner Of public lands who will abso.
lntcly control the department There
are many persons who prefer n board
Of control, to avoid putting in the
hands OF one man the opportunity to
build up n political machine. The bill
provides for the appraisement OF lands
in each county by the respective boards
Of county commissioners. This also Is
regarded rs dangerous and likely to
make the public lands an issue in
county politics, II is believed that the
lessces In each county, being directly
interested, would be more energetic In
seeking to control the county board
than would the citizens who wore no,
lessees This would operate to reduce
the income from the lands.