ARTICLE No. XVII.

PUBLIC LANDS AND DONATIONS.

Section 1. The state of Wyoming hereby agrees to accept the grants of land heretofore made, or that may be hereafter made by the United States to the state, for educational purposes, for public buildings and institutions and for other objects, and donations of money with the conditions and limitations that may be imposed by the act or acts of congress, making such grants or donations. Such lands shall be disposed of only at public auction to the highest responsible bidder, after having been duly appraised by the land commissioners, at not less than three-fourths of the appraised value thereof, and for not less than $10 per acre; provided, that in case of actual and bona fide settlement and improvement thereon at the time of the adoption of this constitution, such actual settler shall have the preference right to purchase the land whereon he may have settled, not exceeding 160 acres at a sum not less than the appraised value thereof, and in making such appraisement the value of improvements shall not be taken into consideration. If, at any time hereafter, the United States shall grant any arid lands in the state to the state, on the condition that the state reclaim and dispose of them to actual settlers, the legislature shall be authorized to accept such arid lands on such conditions, or other conditions, if the same are practicable and reasonable.

Sec. 2. The proceeds from the sale and rental of all lands and other property donated, granted or received, or that may hereafter be donated, granted or received, from the United States or any other source, shall be inviolably appropriated and applied to the specific purposes specified in the original grant or gift.

Sec. 3. The governor, superintendent of public instruction and secretary of state, shall constitute a board of land commissioners who, under such regulations as may be provided by law, shall have the direction, control, disposition and care of all lands that have been heretofore or may hereafter be granted to the state.

Sec 4. The legislature shall enact the necessary laws for the sale, disposal, leasing or care of all lands that have been or may hereafter be granted to the state, and shall, at the earliest practicable period, provide by law for the location and selection of all lands that have been or may hereafter be granted by congress to the state, and shall pass laws for the suitable keeping, transfer and disbursement of the land grant funds, and shall require of all officers charged with the same of the safe keeping thereof to give ample bonds for all moneys and funds received by them.

Sec. 5. Except a preference right to buy as in this constitution otherwise provided, no law shall ever be passed by the legislature granting any privileges to persons who may have settled upon any of the school lands granted to the state subsequent to the survey thereof by the general government, by which the amount to be derived by the sale, or other disposition of such lands, shall be diminished directly or indirectly.

Sec. 6. If any portion of the interest or income of the perpetual school fund be not expended during any year, said portion shall be added to and become a part of the said school fund.

• ARTICLE No. XVII (Public Lands and Donations) (introduced on 1889-09-28 00:00:00 - CREATE - e716412) [This document]

• ARTICLE No. XVII (Public Lands and Donations) (introduced on 1889-09-28 00:00:00 - CREATE - e716412) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]