The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-02-01
PrecautiOn.

In speaking of the prospective release of the
Internal Improvement Fund from the interest
liabilities resting upon it, as presented by the de-
cision of the Supreme Court affirming the decree
of Justice Bradley, which decree, as we under
stand, makes the ,lacksC nville, Pensacola and
Mobile Railroad property responsible for more
than twothirds of The present interest liabilities
Of the Fund, the FLORIDIAN said week ago :
A little more patience, and q wise precaution
" on the part of the Legislature against granting
privileges TO adventures and spectators, and
" the day is not Tar distant when the Fund will
"be in such condition as to authorize grants and
privileges To Capitalits who mean business
land who will secure TO South and West Flor
" ida the railroad facilities their wants require"
We desire now to emphasize this prccaution We
hold that il is Lhe first duty of The Legislature to
provide for The construction OF Il railroad through
South Florida and the continuation of the J. F.
x NJ. road from the Chattahoochee river through
West Florida 10 Pensacola. These constitute
the two trunk lines provided for by the Internal
Improvement act Of 1865, 10 secure the consiruc-
ton of which all the State lands were primarily
pledged. The men of that day saw that if the
lands were not thus devoted, they would be
frightened away on this and that local scheme
and the people at large derive little no benefit
from them. One has but 10 recall The plans for
absorbing the lands for personal and local bene-
fit prior TO 1855 and TO examine the schemes in
augurated between 1868 and the present time, rs
shown in the various acts passed within this
period, TO be satisfied of the wisdom of The pas
sage of the Internal Improvement law. Under
that act the building of four hundrod miles Of
railroad has been secured, at a cost in lands Of
less than 100000 acres giren direct to tie roads as
subsidies in alternate sections No company, or
ganized under that act, received anything more
than the right of way and alternate sections for
six miles on both sides of their several lines.
The trainers of that act negaived the idea of
granting thousands Of acres per mile in addition
to the alternate sections They assumed, and
very properly, that an organization which de-
manded more than the alternate sections, was
neither more nor less than specializing corpor-
alton expecting 10 make the promised improve
ments, whether railroads or canals if made at all
out of the subsidy the State might give Com
panies making such demands were considered rs
taking advantage for personal ends of The desire
of the people for railroad Improvements, and
Legislatures have 81 nee been too ready 10 grant
them without considering that they were further
complicating an already complicated fund and
postponing indefinitely the completion as to
trunk lines of the Use system indicated and pro.
vided for by the act of 1866. We do not wish to
be considered as opposed 10 grants beyond The
provisions of the act of 1855 but we admonish
the Legislature against granting lands TO corpor
atoms whose schemes are outside of and antago
nistic TO the trunk lines which, if constructed,
will subseIve the greatest good to the greatest
number. We say antagonisIc," because the
large subsidies demanded by companies whose
lines OF road are in no way connected with the
completion of the system established in 1855
only tend to embarrass the Fund and defeat the
construction OF the trunk lines The best inter-
ests OF the Stale demand the complet ion of
these, while other lines, whether lateral or indie
pendent are only Of comparatively local benefit
and can afford to wait Every act of incorpor-
alton granted, with subsidies attached beyond
alternate sections, simply adds TO existing com
plications and postppnes The giving to South and
West Florida the facilities their interests and The
interests of the State demand and require
Whole sections, like the country west of the
Chattahoochec and south of Gainesville or Oca-
la are interested in the completion Of the system
as to trunk lines, and we hold II to be of prime
importance, as already said. that the Legislature
shall so guard the public lands as TO make GER
tain the construction Of these roads, no matter
what may become, for the present, Of other pro-
jected improvements. The region between Es-
Gambia Bay and the ST. Johns river is vitality
concerned in the extension of the J. p. & M.
road westward, while South Florida is hindered
in its development and progress for the want of
rapid facilities for reaching market If it be true
that the interest liabilities of the Fund, by the
Affirmation Of the Bradley decree, are reduced to
a comparatively small figure, the prospect of
relieving the lands from the remaining interest
obligations Is hopeful, and this furnishes stronger
reasons for canten on the part Of the Legislature
against any action that may have the least ten
dency towards defeating the completion Of i'm
prOvements which are admitted TO ne of frat
consequence. Grants of land, however, outside
Of alternate sectlors worthless until existing
liens are distinguished, and any such grant only
comPlicates matters and may prove serious
obstacle to the building Of the trunk lines when
the liens are extinguished.
The Union savs that On WA,lnasdav vo,,no