The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-06-21

1t is rumored that a sale of 40O0,O 900 acres of
State lands has been effected by the Internal
Improvement Board through Governor Blox-
ham, one of its members The sale is said to
engaged in the Okeechobee drainage project
The price, 25 cents per acre, amounting to the
sum of 81 100000. If such sale has been made,
we see no necessity of any secresy about it. The
terms of sale, price and conditions should be
made public at the earliest Fernando
ma Mirror
Our contemporary, departing from IFS usual
habit of maturely considering every subject be-
fore 1t speaks upon it, intimates that there has
been some secresy about the sale Of 4,000,O00
acres of land by the State to the PHILADELPHIA
company engaged in the Okeechobee drainage
scheme. This Is entirely mistake. 1t is true
that Governor Bloxham did not see fit TO publish
to the world that negotiations for the sale of this
land were pending, and give The public detail
ed account of every phase of the contract as it
was being made but, like prudent man, he
used his best judgment, and consulted the Board
who, with him, have power to make the sale
and are responsible for il, and with their advice
conducted the negotiations like any prudent
business man would have done. The fact is the
transaction is not completed yet. and until such
is the case, Gov BlOXham would hardly be JUS
titled in stating that the sale had been effected.
After some preliminary negotiations, an offer of
one million of dollars for four million acres was
rendered by the Philadelphia company, one
fourth of which was TO be paid at once, the re-
mainder TO be paid in the future, the purchasing
company reserving the right with certain limits,
to default 10 subsequent payments If they chose
to do 50, in which event the State was to allow
them to take land at the regular price for the
S26OOOO Already paid; This proposition Gov.
Bloxham laid before the Board and advised its
acceptance the Board concurred and contract
covering all the points was drawn up and for
warded TO Philadelphia to be signed by the cOmpa-
ny, and then returned to the Board at Tallahas-
see, who would sign it, receive the money, and
thus complete the transaction
We presume the contract has been duly signed
by the Philadelphia Company and returned to
Tallahassee; the Board, We understand. will
meet TO day TO consider It; and If everything is
all right they will sign the papers and complete
the sale.
We not only heartily approve the sale, but we
rejoice that il has been made and shall deeply
regret It II anything occurs to prevent the Phila.
delphia Company from taking the whole four
millions Of acres. Our correspondent Pro
gress," In another column. gives several strong
and obvious reasons why this sale will be advan-
tageous % the State. As he correctly states, the
sale Of Internal Improvement lands for years
past has not been sufficient 10 meet the interest
on the debt and necessary expenses, and the
only way TO exiricate this fund from this embar-
raSsment was to sell large quantity OF the lands
at once. This, In ITSELF was sufficient reason
fUE making The salei but its wisdom is supported
by many other considerations which We will not
now discuss, bat 10 which. at another time we
may refer We are sure the people will approve
with hearty good will this action of Governor
Bloxham's administration 1t will tighten their
burdens apd give TO the State the most vigorous
puth forward on the road Of progress that it has
yet received. l77
II might be objected that the withdrawal of
% large body Of lands from the market ct
State prices would be prejudicial TO the rapid
settlement Of the State now progressing 90 sails
factorily. But this objection has been met in q
provision Of the contract which spulates that the
State may continue TO sell lands selected by the
purchasing company to actual settlers at regular
State prices, the Slate crediting the company
with the amount received from such sales This
IL wise reservation, and goes to show that Gov.
eruor Bloxham and HE advisers have, In this
great Transaction, materially considered Il In all
lie bearings, and have acted only after being
thoroughly satisfied that every Interest Of thc
State would be subserved by the course they
have pursued. -JactsonstRs Union.