The Nevada County picayune., 1921-02-03
TO WITHDRAW
 STATE LANDS
SENATOR WILSON INTRODrUEs BILL IN LINE WITH GOV.
 ERNOR'S IDEA.

bhpouylhg the special message of the governor, received in the Senate yesterday, Senator Wilson of Wash hstoh county yesterday introduced A measure which would withdraw from sale for period of five years all state and school lands, during which lima provision would be made for i,s sala or lease at prices commensurate with Its value The governors message was received after the Senare had ado,ted the resolution introduced by Senator Townsend, which recommended lee,s,a. ton similar to that suggested in tha message.
 senator Wilson's measure would con. stit'te the governor, attorney genera, and state auditor as an ex-officio leas- irg board with power bo act, after in Festigation, upon applications for the purchase or lease of state lands. ,s- peclally those known or believed to baYe oil, gas or mineral deposits, and upon applications for leases in the bed. oI navigable streams. The system uf having the application pass under the scrutiny of the Leasing Board would, 1t Was said guarantee that the state would receive prices which would more nearly reflect the value of the land UY,o
 The governors message is az fol- "Gentlemen of the Forty third General lows:
 Assembly:
 Your attention is called to the fact that splendid showing of oil has been found in Union and other counties of this state, the well in Union county be. ing regarded as an unusually good well, This will give new impetus to the prOs- pecting for oil, gas and coal already going on in other portions of this state. Fabulous sums are being paid for lands lying in and near Union county. A sim
 
 state, which is liable to occurr at any time, would enhance the value of lands in other portions of Arkansas. I see no good reason why lands of the state rendered vaulatble in this manner should be sold for nominal pric, as is now the case. The price for state lands is too low and should be increaa- ed. I, therefore, urge that the lands which are the property of the state of Arkansas, through grants by the Unit cd States government. forfeiture or otherwise, be, for period of five years or for such further time as the legis- lature may deen proper, withdrawa from sale. The same is urged with ref erence to the school lands of the state.
 "I further urge that commission of three, composed of the governor, attOr- ney general and auditor. be created and vested with the authority to lease the lands which are the property of the state through grant by the United States government, or forfeiture and otherwise The authority of this com mission should also include the leas;ng of the river beds of the state
 Since the school lands of the state are the property of, and for the bene- fit of the public schools of the state, il k urged that, either in this measure or similar one, similar commission vested with the authority to lease the school lands of the state. he create5 this commission to the composed Of The governor. attorney general and the su- porintendent of public instruction of this state bill looking to this end, p,operly safeguarding the interests. of tite public schools of the state, W II, as ,m informed, be prepared and intso- duced at once This is matter or great importance to the people of the state of Arkansas at this time, IS ln keeping with recommendations made Dy the retiring attorney general ln ms biennial report and I, therefore, rec ommend that your honorable body give careful considerati0n 10 any meas ure that may be introduced looking 10 this end, and if same is found to be just and properl one, you are respect fully urged to pass it."-Gazette.
 WOMAN WOULD BE MAYOR.
 ParagOuld. Jan 26.-Municipai po- I;,;o,I affairS arc getting an earlier