The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-21


it, and the entire benefit OF their being reclaimed will
nure to The United States. refer the Senate TO Gen.
esnps letter on page 49, and TO the committees report
page 9, on this point
2. That while about million of of land in the
grant have been surveyed several years snce only 800
have yet been sold These lands poor pine bar
rens, except IN limited quantities, and their location
uguols to the everglades, until the latter are improved
orbs the idea of their being settled upon sold
They will be enhanced in value the improve
ments are made The timber on them will render most
OF them then worth perhaps the minimum price OF public
lands In tbs bill one-hal6 az alternate sections, is re-
serged 10 the United States Of these lands
The Senate will notice that the bill prescrbes the OBJ
ects OF the grant, and imposes the State, if accepts
he grant, the obligation to effect them far practical
bic 1t does not require of the State to do than to
devote the entire proceeds and avaIs oil the grant to the
work. but the conditions imposed such appropra
ton of those proceeds. Those conditions are
L. That the State shall appoint competent engineer,
before st January, 1885, and finish it within ten years
and that ''f practicable, communication for vesse s
shall be made by the proposed canals between the Gulf
O. That the State shall not alien, transfer, pledge or
mortgage or otherwise dispose OF any OF the lands ex-
cep 10 effect the "ful and faithful fulhlment OF the first
condition. and the entire avails and proceeds shall be
luslvey and sacredy appropriated TO the completion of
the work"
g. Until the works are completed no sale of any of the
lands shall be made for less than dollar and quar-
ter per acre
a. Until the President shall authorize, in writing, no
entry or encroachment shall be made on the lands on
s. The sixteenth section, or school section in each
township may be located by the legislature another
section 10 secure in each township valuable
ton for school purposes
G. One half OF the surveyed lands in the grant re-
served by United States. State TO have the right Of
way. President to reserve within two years lands for
houses forts, arsenals, docks navy yards other
public works, sc. Grant not to affect Spanish grants
or hereafter confirmed, lands bought OF the Uni
ted States at public sale private entry, donation
empton right or rights under armed occupation acts
ffpr HnISh oil ri walls n n
be invested permanent perpetual fund.- the interest OF
which is to be expended for purposes OF education IN the
territory granted.
g. No tolls or charges for United States vessels or
property of any kind, mails troops &C., through
canals All tolls to be fixed by State Legislature, and
applied to keeping said works in repair
g. The surveys OF the lands are to conform to those OF
the United States as far as practicable.
But will not go further into this subject My object
is not to press this bill to-day desire to attract the no.
tce of senators the subject, in ORDER when again
called up, they may be prepared to vote upont If any
objections entertained hope senators will ex
press them desire to furnish any explanations that
Mr.. NILES. | would inquire of the honorable
tor to the extent OF the conveyed by this grant
whether under water or not.
Mr.. WESTCOTT. 1t is fully set forth in the Com
mssloners report page g. which will advert to- With
in the grant there always covered with water,
and which estimate includes rivers agoons, sounds the
diameter and other lakes south of the northern line Of
the grant, and which It is not proposed to drain or
claim, and which cannot be reclaimed, and including also
the everglades and Atseenahoota and HaIpatiokee
Swamp 100000
There is occasionally covered with water low
lands that it is not expected will ever be of
great value 100000
There has been surveyed 500, $50 into sections
and 409,3ls into townships, mostly worth
less pine barrens 100000
There is yet unsurveyed worthless sand bar
rens, reported as not worth surveying,
about 100000
Whole area of land and water in grant 100000
OF the first item of 1900 900, which includes the
gla1es and Atseenahooa and Halpatokee swamps all the
lands that it is estimated can be reclaimed do not exceed
million of acres. The residue will yet remain mum
dated, and whether those reclaimed not will turn out
be valuable as is anticipated by some quite doubt
full
Mr.. FITZPATRICK. / would ask what action the
wishes taken days whether he intends to press
Mr. WESTCOTT As stated when was up BEFORE
sir, my object is simply TO State the matter that obec
tons may be brought forward-if any have suggested
themselves TO the minds of senators-and obviated do
not wish to press the NATTER if there any objection
the bill, am perfectly willing it should lie over for the
present.
: Mr. FITZPATRICK 1t is we'll known that have
recently become member Of this body, and could not
vote upon this bill without understanding the question
merely wish to request the gentleman to postsone action
upon it for reasonable time, that may have oppor-
Inity TO Investigate the subject Having never heard of
the bill the accompanying documents until to-day,
sir, have yet had opportunity to examine the mat
ter, but promise the gentleman to inquire into the facts
without delay
Mr. KING wish to call the attention of the gentle
man to an amendment which | should wish TO propose to
the BILL in that section eservng one thirty sixth part of
the reclaimed lands TO the State, and appropatng them
TO the common schools 1t reads:
"5 One thirtysxth part of all said lands within said
boundaries shall be reserved by said State, and approp
the OF common schools, for the inhabitants
said lands in lieu of the sixteenth section appropr-
each township of the public lands in said State the
said thirty sixth portion to be designated in such mode
and manner the Legislature of said State may by law
direct"
Now, Mr.. President, the operation OF that section
would be to appropriate the thirty sixth part OF these
lands for common schools in lieu of all the lands now
apart in all the towns for that purpose That is the
construction which the clause will demand it certainly
is not the object of the gentleman and merely call his
attention to ii that he may be prepared to obviae when
the matter is again called up
Mr. WESTCOrr | thank the senator for directing
my attention to the he pointed out, and which !
presume was typographical error and which will be
corrected.
Mr. YULEE. | understand from my colleague that
he intends to defer action upon this bill but asks for any
Not having been consulted TO the details of the BILL
did not give my attention to 1t until was requested
few days since TO examine it, | find it to my mind en-
rely Objectionable much so, that have some doubts
whether should be able TO give it my vote NV col
league has given considerable talent time, and labor to
the subjects and for one, thank him for having devoted
his attention to it. think very desirable sir that the
lands included in this bill should be reclaimed and re-
duced to cultivation 1t would add very greatly to the
elements of wealth. and TO the resources of the whole
available and fertile lands, within strictly tropical eli
mate, which we have not now any part of the posses
sons OF the Union.
should be in favor of, and would support with great
readiness and with much eagerness, any measure
which proposed to relnqulsh to the State of Florida
either these lands-f Congress prpferrpd tn confne