The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-15
TO FORBID
SUB LEASES
BEING MADE
Oklahoma School Land De-
partment Planning to En-
force Contract,
TO STOP SPECULATION
Tenant viii Thereby Deprive
Ali Profits in Land.

Guthrie. 0. T., August 14-The terito-
iaI school land department has under
contemplation the Inauguration Of new
policy in connection with its leases on
school land in eastern Oklahoma The
plan. if determined upon, will prevent
the sub-Ieasing of land by the acereditt-
e. lessee OF the department It has be
come a customary thing for persons Sc
cuing facts Of valuable agricultural land
TO lease the same, securing a neat sum
in advance of the territorial lease price
schedule. The school land is usually
leased for a TEN Of three years at a
ate of so many dollars per acre per
yea. If this land is sub-let it is leased
for term of one year. at ate much in
advance of the price paid the department
In western klahoma the department
gives lessees the privilege Of sub-leasing
the land. This concession applies partic-
ularly to grazing land. and there has
been few complaints from the western
part Of the territory relative to this
policy. In all contracts for leases on
land in eastern Oklahoma there is
clause which states that the land must
not be sub-leased 1t is the opinion of
department officials that failure TO
comply with this stipulation is suffi-
cient grounds upon which the lease may
be annuned Very little attention was
ever paid to this clause until recently.
Complaints have been reaching the de-
partment. stating that there has been
utter disregard for the contract IN the
matter 1t WAS these complaints that
caused the matter to come up for con-
eideration.
A circuia letter is being prepared which
may be sent to all lessees. calling their
attention to the clause in the contract
with the department, bearing on the sub
leasing question.
The lessee will 5e asked 10 Immediately
comply with the contract or steI's VII
eb taken to ann4l the lease
It is stated -Lat This policy will af-
feet many persons holding leases III cast.
ern Oklahoma These individuals have
leased their land receiving -5ood priccs
for the same. Persons who now reside
in Kansas hold school lard in Oklahoma,
sub-lettfng 1t to farmers. who then he
come the actual tenants.
IT IS believed that the policy of sub
leasing is. therefore. unfaic 10 the man
who becomes the tenant OF the land, ia
many cases paying a high price for the
second lease Also that 10y such methods
the present lease plan VIII be unsatis
factory to the many persons who desire
school land on which they can make
their homes bat are forced to take sub
lease
The circular letter is as follows:
Guthrie O. T.. August IA, 1902
1T has been reported by special agent
of this department in the regular course
of his duty that you are sub-letting the
land leased to you Icy the Territorial
leasing Board. to-wit: The - quarter
section = in toB-nship-of range-of
meridian: this is in direct violation
of one of the conditions Of the contract
in your lease, which recited. The said
party cr the second part covenants with
the said parties of the first part that
he viii not assign this lease. or underlet
any portion of the leased premises. and
that he viii not commit any acts Of waste
upon or to said iand: The contract fur
ther provides for forfeiture Of the lease
at the option of the board in case the
lessee violate any OF the conditions
thereof
1T is not now the intention Of the board
to act in summary manner with YOU nor
10 confscate your Improvements. but
Tor the present to warn You to comply
with your contract or in ease YOU find
this impossible. 20 give you an opportu-
nifty TO relnquish your lease and dispose
OF your improvements
You are therefore hereby notified to
comply with the terms Of your contract
and to inform this department thereof
so that It may not be necessary for thu
board 10 take further action This notice
is given with the approval of the board.
y. J. HOUSTON. Secretary OF Board
'N. B.-The breach OF this contract Is
the cause Of very numerous complaints
which cannot be overlooked or disre-
garded.
The object OF this provision is to pre-
vent speculation in leases and to give to
The laborer who tins the territorial lands
the benefit Of his labor.
The territory is entitled TO all rent
paid for tho land
II suo-leasing We're allowed impossible
burdens would often De imposed on the
actual tenant and the leasing system
would eventually DE brought into disre-
i,use
a suh-iessee under annual contract can
hst have the same interest in preserving
and imnroving The land as does the lessee
whose term is longer ana Who holds the
usual renewal contract.
therefore,, the board IS convinced that
TIE provision IS . correct one and should
be enforced. ~ ,. HOUSTON ;,