The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-18

bidder, or II the appraisement was put
at the right figure, there could be no
complaint, but as 1t is, the squatter
gets it at its appraised value, which is
much less than the land is worth. I
believe this should be investigated"
The state official who received the
letter did investigate, and found that
he could do nothing That is usually
the case. 1t would take an expert
detective in many cases to trace out
the method by which a collusion was
brought about between the prospective
buyers of land and the people who ap-
praise 1t.
That there is such collusion is shown
plainlyenough from the reports which are
constantly coming in at the office of the
state auditor. who has charge of the
land sales. The case mentioned in the
above letter is one of hundreds where
very valuable school land has been
appraised at a merely nominal sum,
and purchased by a more or less bona
fide settler at that price. 1t is usually
the case that such bargains in land
do not fall into the hands of new set
tiers, but are gobbled up by those who
live there, and are familiar with the
state of affairs. The new settlers nave
to buy from the spectators and Fay
the prevailing fancy prices before they
get a look in. Hence it comes about
that the plea of certain western Kan
sas people that the the low priced
school lands are of benefit to new set
tiers is probably not we'll founded 1t
is the land spectators and the Old set
tiers who want to increase their mold
irgs and get the benefit.
Governor HOch's Recommendations.
In his message to the 1905 session OF
the legislature, Governor Hoch said:
"The attention of the legislature is
particularly called to a matter of great
Importance concerning onr school land
school lands approXimatirg one million
acres, located chiefly in the western
half of the state. Under the law, th'se
lands are on the market at minimum
price of $1.25 per acre. It is mater
of common notoriety that .ands in mat
part e the state, as well as in other
sections of the state, have greatly en-
HANGED iE value during The last lour
or five years, and espec'a"y during 'he
last two or three years. lndlviduaI
owners have generally advanced tne
price CT their holdings more than the
entire amount at which these scnooi
lands are held. These schooi iands
should either be withdrawn fr IN mar
ket, or the price at which they VIII
be sold increased commensurate Win
the growth and davelo rmenr OF that
country I believe a million dollars can
he saved to the state school 1und py
prompt action on the rart Oh the ies-
issature in this ma.-er.
At the 1907 session, the Iorl1ler IcCoii
mendation having baen ignored, cover
nor Hoch said in his message
In my last message l called atte1-
ton to the fact that nearly :,htHoIi
acres of school lands were stu open
to purchase at the minimum price d
s1 Ok ner acre. The patents for
these lands pass through the COVER
nor's office, and 1 am satisfied most OF
them have been purchased by spect-
lators s'Ice the Legislature Iailed to act
The legls iature may, however, sun q ;, =
a consid crablc sum by promps action.
But the Legislature didn't act At 81.
The fragments of the once Vast san
sas school domain are very microscope
and the probability is that most OF the
fragments consist of land which is no.
YER desirable for some reason.
.rhc only hope CT the state Is to prove
,ba- some of this land has heen Sc
cured from the state through fraud,
and thus recover possession. Probaoly
the place where much crookedness VIII
he unearthed is in the manner OF max
ing the appraisement.