The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-01-18

appraisers whose duty shall De 20 accompany tine asses
his rounds and with him to Ak the valuation Of all
lands subject to taxation and whose valuation shall be nna
and shall stand for four years In this way spirit OF I'm
proyement AN real will be developed and property
win something like its cash value and though
largely increasing the value Of taxable property win give
uniformity of assessment. l8
here would say that section 81 Of the revenue law,
should place the power of issuing second
of for the collection Of taxes
the hands of the Comptroller enrey instead Of the county
commissioners As The law stands the matter
trely with the commissioners, who may arbitrarily suspend
the collection Gas has been done in county this year, to
the detrmen States interest Besides this Comp
troer from his position coupled with the advice from ae
Governor and Cabinet certainly the best qualified person
to say when the collections shall be delayed
And many various would be decidedly for the
interest the amended
require the close of the collectors books by the SOh day Of
November if earlier and the fixing of the sales day Of
property for the nonayment of taxes to the first day of JAN
uay of each year instead Of the first day of April
stands.
From the very full and able report of the Commissioner it viii
be that the public to increase
and that the general condition of matters in his department
has been improved.
In will be well that shortly
after coming into office learned that there large
swamp and overlooked lands which had been selected by the
State but for which the general government failed declined
issue patents Soon afterwards visited Washington and
finding such to be the facts the case and also finding that
would be well for the interest of the State to have
residing in Washington to prosecute these claims before the
Department appointed Colonel S. WALES, of that city,
agent wout compensatory in behalf Of the State examine
into the condition of the claims of this State for lands under
the OF Congress- the swamp and overlooked
land Upon receiving the report of Colonel Wales it
laid Trustees of Improvement
Fund.- and subsequently contracts made by the Board
with him procure adjustment of the claims of the State
these he has had patented and has turned
tents TO the State, for 3,76l ,ssO.87lOO acres.
Full and complete information to the progress of the
work. the terms of contracts and compensation be found
! in his report
/ LANDS sold TAXES.
From report of the Commissioner of Lands Immi-
grafton will unable make
eary advertisement of lands sold for and subject
redemption contemplated by section of the "Act pro-
vide for the redemption Of lands sold for taxes" approved
March llth 1879 and there is large yet
deemed think that the time should be extended to January
| LIST. 1882.
!. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
The Board of Trustees of this Fund.- recognizing the wisdom
and soundness of that policy which would encourage
and foster such improvements would promote the interest
the State and its citizens have been willing and ready
counenance and aid legitimate bona de scheme looking
this end During the past two years several propositions
and proposals for the internal improvement of the State have
believed the material interests of the State would be
advanced 10y them Several railroads. canals and other
poaons have been incorporated under the general and
pushing forward their work. notably among which
railroads in the part of the State which
nearly completed full complete list of the cOrpor-
recently organized accompanies the report Of the Sece
1 tary of State.
In regard to the entries and sale of State land desire
make the following suggestions:
The law stands requires the payment of the pur
chase money cash upon the entry of any public land and
many of citizens and of the poorer immigrants
unable do this and they settle these lands without
entry. And there these squatters remain They make only
such improvements essentially necessary to health and
life; frequently they live in this for years. exhaust
ing whatever fertility there be in the land and when
they off, leaving only out land and dapdated
improvements WHILE in the meantime the State has received
of remuneration in any way for the
the land Them again, it checks and kills the spirit of i'm
povemen among the class Of people settling these lands
If asked why they do not build comfortable houses
plant and make other improvements the reply in
vaaby "This is State land able to buy, and
don't how soon may be entered And this
poor is prevented from becoming land
holder and taxpayer. To obviae these difficulties in the
way their becoming taxpayers instead of quatte and
to increase the from the public domain think
every settler Intending settler upon State land should
be allowed pay for his homestead (say 100 less
in three ntaments Oneh of the purchase money in cash
upon entry oneh two years and the other in three
after date of entry in the meantime the land be assessed
and taxed the property of the settler In this way only
considerable revenue viii he brought into the Treasury from
lands which, under the present system, Of little
fit the State but door win be thrown for the
Of settling and Improvement the poorer classes
of citizens and immigrants which will in the
years of ncaculabe benefit to the State Of Florida
home will he placed within easy reach Of the poorest and
feeling of protection and security viii be produced among
the settlers public lands that will develop the thrift and
economy necessary the with which buy
| land.
| IMMIGRATION.