Marker Inscription
Notorious county land dispute arising from state practice of paying railroads in public land for trackage laid. Began in 1873 when Houston & Texas Central claimed, in error, some 300,000 acres of Block 97 which were in reserve for Texas & Pacific. Found in 1882, the error voided all deeds from H. & T.C. for lots in the reserve. Much land was unscrupulously resold, causing a decade of conflict over claims. Issue was decided only when 1899 Legislature, on authority of State Supreme Court, declared land to be state school land and gave settlers option to buy. (1972)
About this site
The Block 97 Controversy is a historical marker in Snyder, Scurry County, dedicated in 1972. It is one of 60 historical markers documented in Scurry County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 63 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 32.7283, -100.9971 near Snyder. The nearest cataloged historic site is Von Roeder Cotton Breeding Farms (historical marker), about 1.9 miles away. Others within a short drive include First Christian Church, Stanfield House, 1910, and E. W. Clark House, 1908.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5415005293. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
