The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-03-21

A According to our lat 0emsrsfioa the NUM-
Der was 81, 528. divided as toTIoWs: White ~
SO. eossred 40Oo0
AsSai .h.s Rsopsrsiea ssisnd scAooi'
O. Whist b the sentiment 10 Ne peupls with
reisrsece TO shs main'snascs q The pable
A cannot answer that question better than
by quoting frnm the report af the late 4uperin-
tendent Of Public Education- Amer Summing
up the facts whsch 60 to show 1brward move
ment. 20 fAx - our Pahlic schools are cOocsrned.
feeling against the publie schools he's, In fresa
measure, given way 20 . strpag healthy sesti-
ment in their favor, fact that should never be
lost sight Of IN connection Win the gr0wtA md
development Of our schasl system" 10 sAx b
more willingly paid now than the school tax.
Have you any normal scAoolss
A Strictly speaking. wei have no normal
schools. but special attention 10 given 10 the
training Of teachers in several Of our higher
schools, particularly in the East Florida Semi
nary AZ Gainesville and The Santa Rosa Academy
al Milton
q. What colleges have yoa. and where are
they located!
A. We have no colleges known as such, though
the East and West Florida seminaEiss, one
h Gainesville and the other ai Tallahassse, ara
chartered Institutions with powers 20 com1hf De-
grees and grant diplomas TIE Unissd Hlates
donated IS, IA acres of land to these seminarieA
About one-half has been sold, from which $685.
600 has been realized and the income Of il is
available for these institutions The lands do
mated by the United States to Florida for an ag-
ricultural college have been sold, and the funds,
which were invested, are accumulAting. A
small portion was expended In an attempt to es-
tablish an agricultural college
Q. Has the administration Of the Peabody fund
been satisfactory TO the people OF your Ssaief
A. Ii has. The fund is used mostly in aiding
schools OF high grade and scholarship.
@ What do your people think Of the PROPOSE
ton to aid the public school systems OF the re-
spectve States by nationalal appropriations, TO
be distributed in proportion to iliiteracy.
A They are strongly in favor of the PROPOSE
tion.
PoLIrICs
q How is your State divided relative TO the
voting strength of partiesg
A In this State we have only two parties
Democratic and Republican parties. There is
not very great difference in their voting strength.
AT the last election the Democratic vote was 26,-
900 an! the Republican % 900.
q What important reforms have been inau-
gurated by the S.ate administrations during the
last four years!
A We have placed our finances on a cash
basis, and we have relieved our internal inn
provement fund OF the incubus OF q large debt
which had paralyZed our iudustrieA We have
also inaugursted q system Of public improve
ments which will assist in developing all sec
tons OF the State. We have started q move
ment looking to the drainage Of the Okeechobee
lake and surrounding territory. This region,
known as the Everglades. contains several mil
lions OF acres OF land belonging to the State
some of which is very rich and suitable for the
cultivation of almost all kinds of tropical fruits
T. Has the Greenback element any strength
in your State?
A. Not that is known. The Greenbackers
have never put out ticket
@ Are there any indications of an independ-
ent political movement in your State?
A. The indications are so insignificant thai we
have not yet taken them into account in our po-
hiica contests. There are Q few individuals
here and there who talk about an independent
movement
O. Do not the colored people take as much in
terest in politics as in former years?
A am inclined to think they do, though now
u good many of them vote with the Democratic
party.
O. What effect would the success of an inde-
pendent movement, supported by Republicans.
have upon the progress and development of your
State?
A The progress and development of the State
has been so great under Democratic auspices
that am ltisfed that the success of any mon
gTel movement, supported by the Republican
party, would be highly detrimental to the best
interests of the State, and | do not believe that
intelligent Republicans could be drawn TO the
support of any such combination
O. Do you hear any authenticated complaints
OF violence or intimidation, and have any such
complaints been heard within the last two years.
A hear none now, and none of any conse-
quence have been heard within the time mem
toned.
O. Do your people favor free trade or protec-
ton?
A. That question has not entered into our
State politics since the war.
T. What Is the sentiment Of your people rela-
tive TO government aid for internal improve.
menis. and particularly the improvement Of the
Mississippi river?
A. As it seems to be the policy OF the govern
ment 10 aid internal improvements we are glad
TO get our share. We especially favor the i'm
provement Of the Mississippi river because some
day we may, through the instrumentality of
barge or ship canal, make Fernandina or Jack
sOnville practically the mouth of the Mississippi
You may think this scheme rather chimericaI,
but if you will take the trouble to look at the
map you will zee that from New Orleans across
Lake Borgne. through Mississippi sound, and
through Mobile, Perdido. Pensacola Chocta-
whatehee, 6t Andrews, and Apalaehicola bays
We have an almost continnOusi inland water com
muncation to the mouth of ST. Marks river
then by utilizing the waters of the Suwannee
and ST. Marys rivers canal could be constructed
TO one OF our Atlantic seaports, and grain barges
from the Upper Mississippi could be brought
with safety and without breaking bulk to . safe
harbor on the Atlantic coast In fact a charter
has already been obtained for this route, and il
is being considered bJ capitalists.
@. Are your people in Gvor Of promoting in
creased trade relations with Mexico. Central and
South America by nleaas of government subsi-
dies to steamship lines?
A. think they are. We would like to see
the trade Of these countries controlled and de-
veloped by the United States because, for one
reason, with either ship or barge canal, such
as l have described TO you, in addition to our
projected railways we should be deeply inter-
ested in it.
CoLoRED. POPULATION.
@. How does the condition of your colored
population compare with what il was ten years
ago?
A. think il 10 better. notice Q gradual i'm
provemeut. The colored people are better edu-
Gated and, as rule, have clearer idea Of their
duties and responsibilities as eitizeuG In the
neighborhood OF Tallahassee, however, they are
very careless about saving their money
O. Do they show disposition 10 acquire land
or stock
A. Only few of them do
Q. Are many Of them owners of land or
A. No. We have . large colored population,
and the per cent. having properly Of any kind .
q Are hey anxieus to have their children ed
A. They sppArt TO be. a'
q Are they more thirty and Industrious than
formerly?
A. can't say that they ara Il think, In that
respect, ihey are about the same. F.
q. Is there q disposition among the cniored
people 10 snigntef u 81 what are their res-