In a thread below about a famous survey known as Survey 34-1/2, Block 194 in Pecos County, Texas, patented by Ira Yates, the former goat rancher who decided to give up ranching when he learned that he owned a gigantic pool of oil under his land, there was some discussion of the laws of Texas under which Survey 34-1/2 was made.
Here is a link to the original Act of 1900 that transferred the unsurveyed lands in the Texas public domain to the Permanent School Fund and provided the terms under which a person might apply to purchase the unsurveyed lands, including some rather large chunks such as that which Ira Yates purchased as Survey 34-1/2.
Act of February 23, 1900, Chapter XI
Act of 1905 - Unsurveyed School Land (Texas)
Here's a link to the Act approved April 15, 1905 that amended (in Section 8) the original act of 1900 regarding the sale of the unsurveyed land that had been appropriated to the Permanent School Fund.
Act of 1919 - Unsurveyed School Land (Texas)
This is a link to the law as amended by the Act approved April 3, 1919.
Act of 1919 - Unsurveyed School Land (Texas)
Mr. McMillan, what was the name of that little paperback book that everyone used to study for the L.S.L.S. exam? I think it was published in the 40's or 50's by an engineer. The title was something like "The distribution of the public lands in Texas". That title may be slightly off but it was similar to that. The book was about 4"x5" and had either a red or blue cover on it.
Act of 1919 - Unsurveyed School Land (Texas)
You're probably thinking of "Introduction to Texas Land Surveying" by M.E. Spry.
I've always heard it referred to as the "Spry book".
Glenn's right
>what was the name of that little paperback book that everyone used to study for the L.S.L.S. exam? I think it was published in the 40's or 50's by an engineer. The title was something like "The distribution of the public lands in Texas". That title may be slightly off but it was similar to that. The book was about 4"x5" and had either a red or blue cover on it.
I think Glenn's right. You're probably thinking of M.E. Spry's "Introduction to Texas Land Surveying". Spry was a civil engineer in Odessa. I don't know when the first edition was printed, but had thought that it was after 1954 when the Registered Public Surveyors Act was first adopted.