The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-06-28
The Four million Acre Contract.

The Four Million Acre Contract.
Articles of Agreement entered into this, the
first day of June, in the year one thousand, eight
hundred and eighty-one, between William ID.
Bloxham, Governor of the State of Florida,
William d. Barnes Comptroller, Henry A.
L'Engle, Treasurer, George p Raney, Attorney
General, and Hugh A. COrley, Commissioner of
Lands and immigration of said State of Florida
and by virtue of their said offices the Trustees
of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State
OF Florida, of the first part, and Hamilton Diss
ton, Of the City of Philadelphia and State of
Pennsylvania, of the second part, witnesseth =
That the parties of the first part as such Trustees,
in consideration of the payments by the said
party of the second part Of the sums of money
hereinafter stated, hereby agree for themselves
and their successors to sell and convey, by good
and sufficient deeds, cOnveyances and assurances,
to the said party of the second part and his as-
sociates, or to such person or persons as he may
direct and appoint, an absolute, indefeasible es-
tate in fee simple to four million acres of land Of
the lands of said Internal Improvement Fund,
acquired by the State of Florida under the Act
of Congress OF September 18th, 1850, TO be Sc
lected as hereinafter provided, by the party of
second part or by such person or persons as he
may appoint, the title conveyed TO be free and
clear of all charges, liens, trusts condolences or
encumbrances whatsoever
The party of the second part, in consider
alton Of such conveyance, hereby agrees with
the party of the first part to pay therefor the
sum of one million dollars as follows, to-wit:
Two hundred thousand dollars to be paid upon
the execution of this agreement
Three hundred thousand dollars, the second
payment to be paid within ninety days from the
above date of this agreement
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, being
the third payment to be paid within one hun
bred and fifty days after the above date of this
agreement.
And two hundred and ffy thousand dollars,
Al, and IN no
or before the first day of January, "a. D. 1892
| one thousand, eight hundred and eighty-two
Upon the payment of the two hundred thou
sand dollars, being the first payment, the four
million acres of land agreed to be sold can be
selected by the party Of the second part, or by
any party or parties he may designate, and shall
| be withdrawn from market as fast as selected
and the parties of the first part notified thereof
| provided, however and 1t is agreed that the par
ties of the first part may sell, with the consent
of the party second part any of said lands at
the schedule prices now liked for such lands. and
! Al r----r--.-1ne second part on account of the
moneys to be paid by him under this agreement.
The party of the second part shall select the
| lands in bodies of ten thousand acres but AFTER
the selection of three million five hundred then.
sand acres the remaining five hundred thousand
acres may be selected in smaller bodies il agreed
| upon between the parties
If the party of the second part shall make full
payment OF the one million dollars, but he or his
agents fail to select the entire quantity of four
million acres on or before the first dav of jam
airy, eighteen hundred and eighty-two, the parties
OF the first part will make and deliver to the par
ty of the second part, at his requests certificates
or floats" authorizing the party of the second
part or his agents 10 locate the quantity not then
selected upon the lands acquired by the State of
Florida under the Act Of Congress aforesaid be-
longing to the Internal Improvement Fund. and
subject TO entry at the time of such location in
bodies of ten thousand acres, or in such other
quantities as may be agreed upon between the
parties 10 this agreement with respect to the five
hundred thousand acres TO be last selected and
upon the location of such certificates the parties
of the first part will convey to the party of the
second part, or TO such person or persons as he
may direct, the lands so selected and located in
the same manner as Is agreed upon with respect
TO the lands selected prior to the first day of Jan.
uary, eighteen hundred and eighty-two
The title TO said lands shall be made by the
parties of the first part or their successors to the
party OF the second part as follows: When the
first payment Is made title shall be made for two
hundred and fifty thousand acres when the sec
ond payment is made, title shall be made for
three hundred and seventy thousand acres ad-
diIonal; when the third payment is made, title
shall be made to two hundred and fifty thousand
acres additional; and when the last payment is
made, title shall be made for the remainder of
said four million acres provided, the lands shall
have been selected
IL Tue party Ol the ScCOhu part make default IN
any of the payments by him herein agreed 10 he
paid, as herein above provided, the moneys and
legal obligations OF the Fund receivable here
under, or either, paid by him previous 10 such
default, shall be retained by the parties of the
first part, and the parties of the first part shall
thereupon forthwith convey to the party OF the
second part an absolute estate in fee simple clear
of all encumbrances, liens. trusts or condolences
in sut1cient number Of acres of land, 10 be de-
sgnated by the party Of the second part within
sixty days after such default, at the lowest cash
schedule prices at which the parties Of the first
part usually sell said lands. to consume the
amount Of money and obligations paid in by the
party Of the second part before such default.
The first payment Of two hundred thousand
dollars shall be made In lawful money OF the
United States; and for any other payment any
legal obligation or Indebtedness of the Internal
improvement Fund of the State of Florida will
be accepted as cash at the par value thereof
In selecting lands In bodies of ten thousand
acres" Il is meant that each selection of ten
thousand acres shall be In q compact body as
nearly as practicable, and ten thousand acre
tracts may be made up Of detached smaller par
GELS OF land, where the intervening lands do not
belong TO the Internal improvement Fund.
The payments herein provided for shall be
made to the Treasurer Of the Internal Improve
Fund.