New-York tribune., 1870-04-15
TIE FINANCES OF ELOBLDA.
A STATEMENT FROM HER GOVERNOR

4 STATEMENT FROM HER GOVEFNON"
To ne Edttor Of TAe tribune
SIR: Much disparaging comment has lately
been INDUCED in by newspapers OF this city In regard
70 the condition of the State OF Florida there
fore ask that you win allow me space IN your columns
for a brief statement Of facts relating thereto
ON January l. 1870 the state of Florida had an ouand
ing handed and floating debt Of but s07ll II This in
cudes tho bonded debt prior to the war; the interest on
the debt during and since the war; the expenses OF two
Constitutional Conventions held since the surTender ana
ell unraid claims against the Government OF this
amount the Indian Trust Fund ct washington holds
so5 3CO and the remainder Is held principally within the
state In addition to this there Is due from the general
fund to the school, Seminary and Internal improvement
Funds OF the State sO5 0 for moneys absorbed during
the RebeIionand since. We viii suppose al this debt
funded in per cent bonds, and we have
Due 10 state creditors s.--,.....-..-.', t,Os1ii y
Due state Trust Funds.-..,.........-.. SJ3,0l5 O5
Total sl,Oll,756 %
Tie interest on this debt would be-. sO,S22 %
The now Constitution requires that an annual tax su
cept 70 deray the current expenses OF the Government
and nav the interest upon the public debt shall be erted
pafore the war the assessed value Of property including
slavea was according TO my recollection about sOOCO
05 Under the old law the property-owner valued his
own property and after the var the people generally re-
turned their real estate at less than quarter OF It's value
and hundreds OF thousands Of OF lands held by
that the aggregate valuation only about s250OOOo
Under the new Constitution and laws all the property Is
required 10 be assessed by Assessor appontedby
tho Governor and Senate and not subject TO the caprice
OF unwilling tax payers.
Under proper assessment, such ~ viii now oe made
II i. safe 10 place the valuation at tjOO0oOCo The law
recidcs that onehaf u per cent shall be levied as
state tax This will yield s25OOCo in addition 20 the
revenue from specific fOr polls licenses &C. which
will amount "a from 10000 20 $4,000 This viii
Afford ample revenue without any increase Of the rate OF
taxatou 10 defr-y the current expenses of The Govern
ment pay the annual interest. and allow LIBERAL
AMOUNT to the sinking fund Jr TIE ultimate payment of
tie state debt.
baye shown thu. the iunediate resources Of the
STATE are sufficient meet az s obligations IN addl-
ton TO tL, wo have 400 miles OF railroad IN operation
which, under existing laws, pays tax: 1909 miles Of
telegraph paying no rcvenue oyster beds and fisheries
along 90 miles OF coast and equal 70 the best IN the
world yielding state revenue foreign corporations
doing business he state Insurance companies, steam
ship lIpanles, &c. pay no tribute When these ana
other resources now latent brought INTO rcquis0n,
a. IN other states, the state can carry ten times her
pre.en, public d,bt without additional burden TO the
people IN the rate OF taxation. About ii50OcO Of our
floating debt is receivable for public lands OF which the
state has about elcren millions Of acres already and
whom the public surveys completed VIII be entitled
nler * citing laws 90 receive over IRE millions more
In addition 70 this the state Of Florida has a valid
unquid.tcd clam against TIE Federal Government Tor
expenditures in the Seminole war Of siuOHO or s-o
The railroad policy The IA that % the states oil
Georgia and Alabama To complete her system, as pro
ieced II will require about 900 miles more OF road ahd
tho Icr-latrrc at ia a'c session, authorized iJ
nearly unanimous vote The lolulng the state credit n
ad OF the railroad companies to the amount ''I'ou'y :"
rs OOO $1,000 and $1,000 per MILE 70 pe issued 'a n
works age cgmplgtaa IN S'.SC'A u ~ i"'''a' sDo-