CONTROL OF GRAZING LANDS. 61 



consont from the d(>p;irtinent havino- rharo-e of tho kind. iVt present 

 in Vietoria the rental for the orazino- lands is dxed ])y "vahiers,'" 

 The system as at present in operation in Victoria is said to have pro- 

 duced ver^" satisfactor}' results. 



In Queensland and Western Australia various methods similar to 

 those tried in the other colonies have been in vocjue at diti'erent times. 

 Here as elsewhere the present plans are some modification of the lease 

 svstem, the plans for the alienation of the land having been abandoned, 

 as they have proved detrimental to the development and prosperity of 

 the country. 



CANADA. 



Though the grazing lands of the Dominion are far less extensive 

 and important than ours, still provision has been made for their con- 

 trol. The governor in council has authorit}^ to grant leases of unoc- 

 cupied Dominion lands from time to time to any person or persons 

 for such a term of years and at such a rent as ma}' be deemed expe- 

 dient, with the condition that if it is thought best bv the Minister of 

 the Interior to oHer the land for settlement he ma}', on giving the 

 lessee two years' notice, cancel the lease at any time during its term. 



TEXAS.' 



The public lands within the State of Texas are entirely under her 

 control. The commissioner of the general land office of tho State has 

 charge of the land. The public lands are carefully and skillfully clas- 

 sitied and valued and plats prepared. Provision is made for the sale 

 of grazing lands, not to exceed four sections to the same settler, at a 

 price not less than $1 per acre, but the purchaser must settle on one 

 of the sections. The grazing lands are letised at not less than 8 cents 

 per acre, the period of lease to be not more than five years. Formerly 

 the possible period of lease was ten years. The person occupying the 

 land has preference in re-leasing. Land may be advertised and let to 

 the highest responsible bidder in such quantities and under such regu- 

 lations as the commissioner may think l^est. Notwithstanding objec- 

 tions on the part of some to different phases of the Texas lease system, 

 it seems to have proven fairly successful, and is certainly much 

 ])refcrable to no system at all. 



STATE SCHOOL LANDS AND RAILROAD LANDS. 



In Colorado and other States the lease system has been applied to 

 the school lands with very satisfactory results. The large tracts of 

 land granted to the transcontinental railways, including in some 



' We are indebted to Mr. J. J. Terrell, acting commissioner of the general land 

 office of Texas, for the above facts. 



