The people of Texas have always been interested in better educational systems. Early Texas newspapers reflect this fact. Consequently, land was set aside by the Republic or State at one time or other for the benefit of The University of Texas, county schools, eleemosynary institutions, and public schools. In many cases, this land has been sold, and the systems have benefited from the fund thereby created. The University of Texas By the Act of January 26, 1839, the Congress of the Republic of Texas set aside 50 leagues of land to be used in the establishment of two colleges or universities. This land was not surveyed until August 30, 1856, and The University of Texas actually received a fraction over 49 leagues, that is, about 217,000 acres. Most of this land, which was located in Grayson, Hunt, Fannin, Cooke, Lamar, Collin, McLennan, Callahan, and other counties, was sold. From them the University received about $653,000. A fraction of one league remains in the hands of the University. The Act of August 30, 1856, provided that income from sales of University lands should compose a fund subject to appropriation by the Legislature for the University. Earlier, an Act of January 30, 1854, which was primarily concerned with encouraging the growth of railroads in the State, gave the University one of every ten sections allotted for railroads. To this, the Legislature added on February 11, 1858, $100,000 in bonds, and one section of land in ten granted to the Galveston and Brazos Navigation Company. The Constitution of 1876 provided the first real basis for the University, granting the school one million acres from the unclaimed public domain, providing that the one of every ten railroad sections were not taken by the University. An Act of April 10, 1883, added another million acres to this. The Constitution of 1876 also provided for the establishment of a Permanent University Fund which was to be composed of all land belonging to the University and all income from the sale of this land. In later years, this fund has grown by leaps and bounds as royalties and bonuses from oil exploration and production on University lands have been added to it. At the end of 1957, the Permanent University Fund stood at about $292,000,000. This money is invested, and income from these investments goes into an available fund from which The University of Texas draws two-thirds and Texas A & M College one-third for current expenses. Public Schools