The Caucasian., 1913-10-23
CITIZENS AWAKE.
A Menace That Should Be ThrOtticd
in It's Incipiency-Thc Duty OF the
Officials OF Shreveport.

The Caucasian is not an alarmSt |
nor is it ever sensational, but 1t
would direct the attention OF the
citizens and in particular the oftl-
cials of the City Of Shreveport to
menace that should be thrOttled mi
its inclplency.
It has been developed that the
State Land Office is programmlns to
lease to exploiters of oil and gas al!
that part of Cross Lake which is not
now covered with water, or more
directly explained, the part which
may be designated as from the shore
line to the present water confines
of this lake.
As estimated from the State Land
| Office the State would become the
beneficiary of about $4,000 from
such leases.
The claim of the State is arbi-
trarily predicated on the states
right to the minerals within this
area of this lake, which in the opln-
ion of the Caucasian, if contested
vigorously, would be exploded, for
the reason that in accordance with
Act 81 of the Legislature of 1910 the
City Of Shreveport has been vested
with the ownership of this Cross
Lake tract on the payment to the
State Of one dollar per acre, IN
which there is embraced about
It1.OOO acres. The purchase price OF
this Cross Lake tract is to be paid
within ten years.
| 1t is of record that the amount
necessary to meet this obligation
before the limit Of ten years has
been provided by bond issue, au-
thorized by the property taxpayers
of Shreveport, and will be liqul-
dated as soon as these bonds are
converted into money.
It is also distinctly stipulated that
lif this Cross Lake tract is not used
within ten years from the passage
of this Act, this tract is to rever
to the State.
II is also provided that this ira .
lis for the purpose of securing pure
and wholesome water for the use 0
the people.
In considering impartially the in
ltent of the Act it is amazing to thlnl
that with the several stipulation
and provisions Of this Act that TN
State Land Office should assume tn
right to any part or portion OF thi
tract, which at intervals within tn
year flows over its banks or wha
may be termed its shore lines. 1t
conceded that to the State is re
y served the rights to the mineral
!, within this Cross Lake tract, b1
how could the State maintain II
rights within this Cross Lake tfat
when after this lake has bee
damned the water therein WI
lcoyer the portion of the lake no'
dry and should rise and expand
it's shore line.
This reservation to the State
the mineral rights in this tract
technical and could not be mali
Itained in equity in any court OF JUS
tice and law; therefore the slmp
suggestion that the State Lar
tOffice would venture in a proceed
ure of leases is discreditable, b.
any attempt at the preparation
9 such act would be not only dishol
orable but monstrous.
Between the State and the City
Shreveport there is a bond OF go
N. faith, as provided by Act 81 OF u
l3. General Assembly of the 1910 Sc
sion which can not be severed
gally nor honorably, notwithstan
ing the claims Of the State Land =
fee. The State can not place lts'
'-8 in the predicament of being unf'
IL or dishonest in its dealings, as
70 emphasized in this case. 1t Is Dou
by the agreement.
In this connection the CaucaSi
Oo2 would inform the public that st
Senator Leon R. Smith has Wflt'
512 10 Governor Hall strong prot
- against the proposed programme
oo ooo the State Land Office III when
oi' officials of the city should JOIN '
2oo orously. These officials as the r
$50 resentatives of the people sho
not await the action OF the 81
Land Office, but should become
VI. tive at once. Their protests 10
= Governor would reinforce Seha
= Smith in a disapproval ana
sentiment of the programme OF
- State Land Office as unfair ana
800 violative of good faith on the !
600 of the State Indeed, the o1iiclai
the city should be on the alef'
be ready to protect the city ; I
. to Gross Lake by injunction or OF
n ~ 4