The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-03-29
FLORIDA!
What Governor BlOxham Says,

What Governor BlOXham Says
The following interview with Gov
ernor Bloxham, at Tallahassee, is
the fourth of series of interviews
with the Governors of the principal
Southern States, undertaken by tie
New Orleans Times Democrat, and
published In that paper. 1t is the
best of the series, and will prove val
liable to all who are interested in
F'lorida's condition and progress.
In prefacing the interview, the writer
says: "Govenor BloXham, apprecia>
ting the benefit which would accrue
to Florida from the publication of
such facts as were desired, patiently
and courteously furnished answers to
the questions asked him."
IMMIGRATION.
O. Governor, what efforts are be.
ing made to secure immigrants =?
A. We have an efficient Bureau of
immigration which is doing good
work in collecting and publishing in
formation relative to the amount, To-
cation and prices of vacant lands :
also, facts about our soil, climate,
and the advantages which the State
holds out to those seeking homes.
In almost every county there is an
immigration society, which is doing
what it can to influence immigration.
Railway and land companies are
sending out handsome pamphlets,
which contain fine illustrations and
valuable statistics. Large capital
lists of Europe and the North are in
terested in the State, and ttey are
doing a great deal toward giving our
State reputation abroad. Florida,
/ assure you, is we'll advertised.
@. How are your people disposed
toward immigrants
A. They receive them with open
arms. They understand fully the
value of immigrants to the State, and
they are doing what they can to in-
duce them to come here.
Q. How many immigrants did
your State receive last year ?
A. Of course, l can only approx
innate the number, because we have
no way of knowing it exactly. l
think, from the information l have,
that it is not far from 10000. To
show you how our population IS in
creaslng l will refer you to our tax
books The number OF our taxpay
ers in 1881 was fully l6 per cent
greater than it was in 1880.
PRICES OF LAND.
Q. What is the average price OF
unimproved lands?
A. You mean, of course, lands in
private hands. They vary III price
from 50 to S. per acre. There are
lands so located, however, and which
are so well adapted for orange or.
chards that they cannot be purchased
tor less than 500 per acre.
Q. What are the prices OF your
improved lands
A. From 81 to $50 per acre.
Some of them are held at higher fg-
ures. The price depends largely
upon location and latitude.
@. Do you receive thrifty class
of immigrants ?
A. Yes, very. The people who
are settling in Florida now are the
kind that quickly change the face Of
country.
@. Have many of them have the
means to purchase land or to COM
mence business
A. The majority OF them have.
Some are capitalists, and great
many of them are in comfortable
circumstances. The number OF very
poor immigrants is small.
@. Is the majority of them tor-
eigners
A. No, sir: they are almost en-
tirely from the Southern, Middle
and orthwestern States, with a
large sprinkling from the New Eng
land States.
Q. AT what do you estimate the
increase of your population, from