The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-08-03
Biggest Landlord in the
Southwest.

That Oklahoma has been doing an
immense real estate business during
the last two years and is still one Of
the biggest landlords in the southwest
is shown by figures compiled by John
r. Williams. secretary OF the state
school land department, and his chief
clerk, T. NJ. Miller, in regard to the
work of that department up to July
of this year. After selling 362, ,55s acres
in less than two years time, the state
still has 2,O7s ,362.57 acres still leased
out, in addition to ,05O. 600 acres which
are occupied by cattlemen for grazing
purposes and are not held under regu-
lar lease contracts.
Besides attending to the work Of
leasing and selling the states lands,
the school land department also has
the handling OF the 100000 cash
school fund donated to the new state
by congress in lieu of school lands on
the eastern side Of the state, to which
Sl56,ss 81 has been added since state
hood from the sale Of common school
lands. or this amount sl,094,5OO has
been loaned to the counties of the state
on county bonds, SO .52l ,OS3 AZ has been
loaned on Oklahoma farms at per
cent interest, s29O, 900 has been invest
ed in state public building bonds and
$25l, POS is now on deposit in various
banks uyer the state. The total earn
ings Of the permanent common school
fund since statehood have been s92l,-
1891.
Most Of Oklahoma's heritage of
school and public lands dates back to
territorial days, sections l6 and 80 hav-
ing been set apart in each township
for common schools by the organic act,
when Oklahoma territory was first or
ganized. The same reservation was
made in all Of the various reservations
subsequently added TO Oklahoma ter
ritory, and in most Of them provision
was also made for reserving section 33
for public buildings and section lS for
the maintenance OF the higher institu-
tions Of learning Of the territory and
the future state. All OF these giants
were confirmed by the enabling act
and an additional ,05O, 900 acres grant
cd for the educational institutions.
The 1908 apprAisement showed that
there we're altogether at that time g.
l23 ,49j.75 acres OF state lands. valued
OF s3l ,l97 ,726.35, or 80. 9s per acre. The
improvements on these lands, which of
course belong to the lessees.
were valued at $5,223,sl5,7l. Since
that time the state has sold 362 ,52g. 50
acres, which brought S5,6l4 ,37s.5 so. The
land was sold on forty years time,
with provision made for annual pay
ments, and the amount still due on
there deferred payments, drawing in
terest, is S., ,254 ,6Sll5.
Altogether the rentals from the var
ious classes OF lands since the begin
ming OF the school land department in
territorial days have amounted to So
6ls ,4O4.96. The common school lands,
sections l8 and SO, amounted originally
to ,ls9, ,o7s acres, and have brought i'm
81, l52 45s. 81 in rentals. Only 400 acres
OF these lands have been sold so far,
all for townsite purposes, bringing in
s244 647.5O and l.l9s, 1875 acres still re-
main unsold. The common school in
demnity lands. 2l4,7s4 acres brought
in s4l9. .s30.ss rentals; l5s,252.02 acres
have been sold, bringing in 81 .596, ,45I.-
81, and 81 ,5Sl 97 acres remain unsold.
The section l3 and indemnity lands,
2sl ,636 81 acres, earned 1921, ,l60.s2 in
rentals % 300 So acres have been sold
for s45S, ,i69 and there are 2s8,ll4 45
acres left. Public building and in
demnity lands, 27l 1868 acres, earned
sasl 100 81 rentals; l7o.s95.7l acres
have been sold for ss,l6s $40 ls, and