TEXAS AND ITS LAND LAWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 22 May 1869, Page 6

TEXAS AND ITS LAND LAWS.

From tbe "Texan Almanack" for 1869, a periodical published at G-'al-veston, we extract the following inducements offered by the people and Government of Texas to immigrants. The soil of the Lone Star State is unequalled for fertility, a 5001 b, bale of cotton being a common yield per acre ; and the production of cereals is equally great. The climate is "salubrious and temperate, and the mineral resources great, although as yet undeveloped. The country is now in a settled state, the rowdyism consequent on the rule secesh having been repressed with a strong hand. Among other advantages offered, it must not be forgotten that pasturage is free to all ; but let the Almanack speak for itself : —

<J While the Immigration Aid Companies of other States profess to offer lands in certain localities at one or two dollars per acre with favourable terms of payment, we can safely state that the immigrant, on his arrival here, can almost have his choice of the best uncultivated lands in the State, not only at one or two dollars per acre on time to suit himself, but that thousands of aur landowners will readily make a clear title to 50 or 100 acres, without pat/, and with a guarantee to secure as much n\ore adjoining after a year or two at the present almost nominal price. There is, indeed, a wide difference in the value of lands here as elsewhere, not only according to quality, but in reference to the improvements on them, their vicinity to market, and other circumstances. But whatever may be its intrinsic or its market value, we do not hesitate to say that the poorest immigrant can procure a small farm from the very best of it, and in the best neighbourhood, with all the advantages of schools, churches, and good society, on terms that will enable him to pay for it so as to have a title in fee-simple within a period of three years at farthest. This he can do from the products of the land itself, besides giving his family a comfortable support, and enhancing the actual market value of his farm three or fourfold by his improvements, such as fields enclosed with hedges or other fences, wells or cisterns of good water, orchards planted and already producing many fruits, such as peaches, figs, plums, etc., etc. (for these fruits can be had in three years), good gardens enclosed, a comfortable dwelling-house, out-houses, corn-cribs, stables, etc., and also a few head of stock cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, etc., all rapidly increasing on the adjacent prairie pasture, together with his work-oxen, horses or mules. This is no imaginary picture, but one that has been realized in all portions of the State, by thrifty and industrious farmers. The great demand for agricultural labour, and the vast quantities of our best lands that have been thrown out of cultivation by emancipation, have made it the true interest and the policy of our landowners to offer more liberal terms to immigrants than have ever been presented for the past thirty years. All now feel the necessity of giving every encouragement to immigrants, as the only means now left to give their lands any value."