<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>dmlpl101603_exh991.txt
<DESCRIPTION>DISTRIBUTION PRESS RELEASE FOR 3RD QTR 2003
<TEXT>
Exhibit 99.1


NEWS RELEASE                                           Dorchester Minerals, L.P.
Release Date: October 16, 2003                    3738 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 300
                                                        Dallas, Texas 75219-4379
Contact: Casey McManemin                                          (214) 559-0300
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       DORCHESTER MINERALS, L.P. ANNOUNCES ITS THIRD QUARTER DISTRIBUTION

         DALLAS,   TEXAS  --  Dorchester   Minerals,   L.P.   announced  today
the  Partnership's   third  quarter  cash distribution.  The  distribution  of
$.422674  per common unit  represents  activity  for the three month  period
ending September 30, 2003 and is payable on November 10, 2003 to common unit
holders of record as of October 31, 2003.

         Cash  receipts  attributable  to the  Partnership's  Net  Profits
Interests  during the third  quarter  totaled $5,736,821.  These receipts
generally reflect oil and gas sales from the properties  underlying the Net
Profits Interests during  May,  June and July.  The  weighted  average  oil
and gas  prices  received  for such  sales  were  approximately $28.08/bbl and
$5.45/mcf, respectively.  Approximately  $419,000 of gross capital expenditures
attributable to drilling and  completion  activity and the  installation  of
field  compression  facilities  were paid by the owner of the working
interests  in the  properties  underlying  the Net  Profits  Interests  during
June,  July  and  August.  Cash  receipts attributable  to the  Partnership's
Royalty  Properties  during the third quarter  totaled  $6,623,603.  These
receipts generally  reflect oil sales during June,  July and August and gas
sales during May, June and July. The weighted  average oil and gas prices
received for such sales were approximately $27.95/bbl and $5.34/mcf,
respectively.

         The  Partnership  received  approximately  $117,000 from lease bonus
and other sources during the third quarter, and received  division orders
attributable  to, or otherwise  identified,  60 new wells completed on Royalty
Properties located in 29 counties and parishes in seven states.

         The Partnership  has previously  advised that, in accordance  with a
newly enacted  Oklahoma law (HB 1356),  its third quarter  distribution  would
be reduced to reflect  'pass  through  entity'  withholding  attributable  to
Oklahoma sourced income.  The  Partnership  has  subsequently  determined  that
its quarterly  distributions  are exempt from such withholding and as a result
the third quarter distribution has not been adjusted.

         Dorchester  Minerals,  L.P. is a Dallas based owner of producing and
non-producing oil and natural gas mineral, royalty,  overriding  royalty,  net
profits,  and leasehold  interests located in 564 counties and parishes in 25
states. Its common units trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol DMLP.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

          Portions  of this  document  may  constitute  "forward-looking
statements"  as defined by  federal  law.  Such statements  are  subject  to
certain  risks,  uncertainties  and  assumptions.  Should  one or more of these
risks  or uncertainties  materialize,  or should underlying  assumptions  prove
 incorrect,  actual results may vary materially from those anticipated,
estimated or projected. Examples of such uncertainties and risk factors include,
but are not limited to,  changes  in the price or demand  for oil and  natural
gas,  changes  in the  operations  on or  development  of the Partnerships
properties,  changes in economic and industry conditions and changes in
regulatory requirements (including changes in environmental  requirements) and
the Partnership's  financial position,  business strategy and other plans and
objectives  for  future  operations.  These  and  other  factors  are set forth
in the  Partnership's  filings  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

-30-

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</DOCUMENT>
