The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-03-29
366

several of our higher schools, partic
ularly in the East Florida Seminary
at Gainesville and the Santa Rose
Academy at Milton.
Q. What colleges have you, and
where are they located?
A. We have no colleges known as
such, though the East and West
Florida SeminarieS, one at Gainesville
and the other at Tallahassee, are
chartered institutions, with power tc
confer degrees and giant diplomas
The United States donated 50, IA
acres of land to these seminaries
About one>hait has been sold, from
which $4,000 has been realized and
the income OF it is available for these
institutions. The lands devoted by
the United States to Florida for an
agricultural college have been sold
and the funds, which were invested,
are accommodating. A small portion
was expended in an attempt to es
tablish an agricultural college.
O. Has the administration OF the
Peabody Fund been satisfactory to
the people of your State?
A. 1t has. The fund is used mostly
in aiding schools of high grades and
scholarship.
Q. What do your people think of
the proposition to aid the public
school system ofthe respective States
by national appropriations, to be dis
trbuted in proportion to illiteracy?
A. They are strongly in favor of
the proposition.
POLITICS.
O. How is your State divided res
lative to the voting strength OF
parties?
A. In this State we have only the
two parties. Democratic and Repub>
lican parties. There is not very great
difference in their voting strength.
At the last election the Democratic
vote was $4,000 and the Republican
$4,000.
@. What important reforms have
been inaugurated by the State admin
istration during the last four years?
A. We have placed our finances
on cash basis, and we have relieved
our internal Improvement fund of the
incubus of large debt which had
paralized our industries. We have
also inaugurated system of public
improvements which will assist in de-
veloping all sections OF the State.
We have started movement look
ing to the drainage Of the Okeenh0~
bee fake and surrounding territory.
This region known as the Everglades,
contains several millions of acres OF
land belonging to the State, some of
which is very rich and suitable tor
the cultivation of almost all kinds OF
tropical fruits.
O. Has the Greenback element
any strength in your State?
A. None worth speaking OF. The
Greenbackers have never put out a
ticket
O. Are there any indications Of an
independent political movement in
your State?
A. The indications are SO insignifi.
cant that we have not yet taken them
into account in our political contests
There are few individuals here and
there who talk about an independent
movement.
@. Do the colored people take as
much interest in politics as i'll former
years:
A. | am inclined to think they DO
though now a good many OF them
vote with the Democratic party.
@, What effect would the success,
Of an independent movement, sup
ported by Republicans, have upot
the progress and development ot your
State?
A. The progress and development
of the State has been so great under
Democratic auspices that | am salts
fed that the success OF any mongre
movement, supported by the Repub.
lican party, would be highly detri,
mental to the best interests Of The
State, and | do not believe that intel
ligent Republicans could be draw
to the support Of any such combina
ton.
Q. DO you hear any authenticated
complaints OF violence or intimida
ton, and have any such complaint
been heard within the last two years
A. ! hear none now, and none o
any consequence have been hear(
within the time mentioned.
Q. DO your people favor free trade
or protection?
a. That question has not entered
into our State politics since the war
O. What is the sentiment of yOu