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

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years
A. In the last ten years the in.
crease was 10000. This increase
however, occurred almost wholly
within the last five years There is
no settlement of foreigners in the
State except a settlement of Swedes
on the Sanford grant in East Florida.
Q. What is the quantity, quality,
and price of State and United States
lands open to entry or purchase
A. The State lands of Florida,
about 10,500,000 acres, are classed as
follows School and seminary lands,
internal improvement lands and
swamp lands. The school and sem
iAary lands are subject to entry at
their appraised value, not less than
ST 25 per acre. Some tracts are val
ued as high as 81 per acre.
Internal Improvement lands are
sold generally at 81 25 per acre.
Some are sold at less than that price
and some of them ale valued as high
as Sc so per acre.
Swamp lands, OF which the State
now has about 100000 acres, are
graded in price according to the
number of acres sold. For 40 acres
the price is 81 per acre for more
than 40 aud not exceeding so acres,
80 cents per acre tor more than so
and not exceeding 200 acres, 80 cents
per acre for more than 200 and not
exceeding 600 acres, IS cents per
acre; for more than $40 acres. 20
cents per acre.
There are about 100000 acres
of United States lands in the State,
the price of which is 81 Is per acre.
The quality of the Stale and Gov
ernment land is variable. Some OF
it is very good, and great deal of
it j. not worth much, except for the
timber on it.
Q. Has not the State made some
large sales OF lands lately
A. Yes about June 1st, last year,
Hamilton Disston. OF Philadelphia,
purchased 100000 acres of Swamp
land for S1,O0O,0OO. He took the
lands in bodies OF 10000 acres each.
He subsequently sold 100000 acres
to English and Dutch capitalists, who
are represented by Sir Edward J.
Reed and DR.. Wertheim. The com
pany formed of these English and
Dutch capitalists propose to do a
great deal tor the prosperity OF
Florida. In connection with their
lands they have purchased the fol-
lowing railways The Jacksonville,
Pensacola and Mobile, the Florida
Central aud the Transit Railway,
which runs from Fernandina to Ce
dar Keys and Ocala-,in all about
800 miles of constructed road. They
have bought the chartered rights OF
the Tropical Florida road, which
runs from Ocala to Tampa, and are
now constructing it. They also con
template building a railway from
some point on the Florida Tropical
road below Ocala bY way of Lees.
burg to the Indian River.
Q. Are their lands in the market =?
A. Yes, and also the Disston lands
and lands held by other companies.
There are large tracts, known as
Spanish grants, which are chiefly
held by non>residents, and which
can be bought at low prices.
TIMBER.
Q. Governor, can you give me a
close estimate OF the extent of the
timber lands of your State?
A. Nearly all of our public lands
and the greater part of our lands in
private hands are covered with tim
ber. should say that we have 3d.
100000 acres of good timber lands.
three>quarters OF which is covered
with yellow pine.
Q, What are the principal kinds
OF your timber
A. Our chief timber is pine. We
have also hickory, red gum, magno-
liza, dog wood, cypress and several va.
rieties of oak.
Q. Can you give me some figures
relative to the pine supply OF your
State