Originally published in 1918, this book provides a comprehensive survey of the public land system in Texas from its origins in the early 19th century to the early 20th century. McKitrick details the often-contentious history of land usage in Texas, including the role of the state and federal governments in managing the state's natural resources. This book is essential reading for anybody interested in the history of land use in Texas or the development of the American West. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.