permanent school fund in six per cent. bonds; the stopping of the sale of school lands at fifty cents per acre; the lengthening of the school term to six months in the year.

State University. As early as 1839, the Congress of the Texan Republic set apart forty acres of land in the

STATE UNIVERSITY.

future capital for the

grounds of a State University. Fifty leagues of the public land were reserved for the support of the University. In 1881, a general election was held to locate the University. Austin was selected. On University Hill,

that had forty years before been chosen, a beautiful building was erected. The University opened in 1883. Its faculty is one of the finest in the United States.

Asylums. The eighteenth Legislature, guided by the recommendation of the Governor, made appropriations for the enlargement or improvement of all asylums, and established a second asylum for the insane at Terrell. This consumed much of the cash balance; but the money expended in such a manner did more good than it would have done lying idle in the treasury.

Fence-cutters. For many years the public lands of Texas had been a free pasture for thousands of cattle. In 1881 and 1882, this land was placed on the market. It sold rapidly, the buyers being mostly wealthy cattle men, who bought immense tracts. They at once began

building wire fences about their property. The country was so sparsely settled that there was no one to keep the "cattle kings" from doing as they pleased; hence it happened that often they did not stop with fencing their own land; hundreds of acres of school land were fenced. Few roads were left. Small lots belonging to poor men were either inclosed in these large fences, or they were so cut off from all roads as to be worthless. At length, a strong feeling arose against the cattle men; their fences were cut again and again. In January, 1884, the Governor called a special session of the Legislature to settle the troubles. It was decided that all public roads must be left open; that gates must be left every three miles; that private parties whose land had been fenced without their consent should have full redress; that fence-cutting should be considered a felony. As soon as it was seen that the Governor intended to execute these laws to the letter, the troubles ceased.

Greer County Question.-The strip of land known as Greer County, was considered a portion of the Texas Republic, but as early as 1859 the United States made claim to the same. In 1819, a treaty had been drawn up between the United States and Mexico defining their boundary line: the Red River formed a portion of the boundary. When, in years after, this river was more fully explored, it was found to have two forks. Texas claimed the north fork to be the principal fork, and hence the Red River meant in the treaty. This would bring Greer County in Texas. The United States claimed the south

fork to be the one meant by the treaty, and this throws Greer County north of Texas, in the Indian Territory. As the county became more thickly settled, the question increased in importance. In 1885, Congress decided to have four Commissioners appointed by the President to meet four Commissioners from Texas, in order that the matter might be settled. The Texas Legislature agreed. Governor Ireland appointed J. T. Brackenridge, W. S. Herndon, William Burges, and Geo. R. Freeman to represent Texas. The Commissioners met, February 23, 1886, and spent several weeks in carefully investigating the matter. When the final vote came, the four United States Commissioners favored the south fork as the Red River of the treaty, while the four Texas Commissioners favored the north fork.* The question still remains undecided. President Cleveland has this year issued a proclamation, warning settlers against buying property in Greer County, as, if the land be proved to belong to the United States, their titles will be void.

*Extract from Colonel Herndon's Argument:-"When the subject is understood, the United States will abandon her claim, set up by Indian agents and land speculators, and quiet Texas in the title and possession of this territory. We submit under this view that Texas acquired a good and valid title to all the territory rightfully claimed and included within the limit of the Republic of Texas on the 29th day of December, 1845, the day that the Republic of Texas ceased to exist, and her territory became one of the States of the Union; and that the United States eliminated the question of boundary from further dispute between Texas and other governments, and guaranteed to Texas the peaceable possession and right to dispose of her lands as she may deem proper. These solemn acts of the two governments referred to, ending in the annexation of Texas as a State of the Union for the considerations named therein, constitute the title-deed of Texas to the county of Greer, the territory now in dispute, and the United States is estopped from re-opening this question and setting up a claim to this territory."

ROSS' ADMINISTRATION.*

(1887- >

Prohibition. The twentieth Legislature decided to submit to the people an amendment to the State Constitution, prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors in Texas. After one of the most exciting campaigns in the history of the State, the amendment was defeated, August, 1887. Drought. The summer of 1887 will long be remembered on account of the terrible drought that cursed Texas, especially in the west. Crops were literally burnt up; cattle suffered intensely; many settlers were forced to seek new homes.

Our New Capitol.-In 1875, the Constitutional Convention appropriated three million acres of land for building a new capitol. The burning of the old capitol, in 1881, made the proposed structure an immediate necessity; accordingly the work was begun in 1883. On March 2, 1885, in the presence of an, immense crowd, the corner-stone was laid with all due ceremony; the

* General L. S. Ross was born in Ohio, in the year 1838. His father soon after moved to Texas. Young Ross was noted from his early boyhood for his bravery in fighting the Indians. When only nineteen years of age, while he was at home for the summer's vacation, he led an attack against the savage Comanches; he afterward won wide-spread fame by the defeat of the Comanches and the capture of Cynthia Ann Parker. He entered the Civil War as a private, but was rapidly promoted until, at twenty-five, he was a Brigadier-general, the youngest in the army. In 1875, he was a member of the Constitutional Convention. In 1880, he was in the State Senate, and was Chairman of the Committee on Finance. He had often been solicited to become a candidate for Governor, but always refused until 1886, when he was nominated by a handsome majority. As a Governor he has won great popularity among the people, and proved himself worthy of their trust.