The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-03-21
Her Prsgress I'm The CalGivaEisa 81 Tropical
Kuits anA Kariy ysestaAaea Ter OraAge
y. Orchards and TuxDsmtine FaTmsl
Political. RR1a1eaaR, Eaaca1H0AaI
ana OsheP Mmssers!
A DAYS talk WITH GOV. BLOxHAn,

The following interview d with Governor
William d. Bloxham, Of Florida, and Is the
fourth of series of interviews with Governors
Of States which are regarded as properly triba-
tary to New Otleana In this interview, the OBJ
3ees aimed ~ y 80 pseseat fair picture Of the
roxth and resources Of Florida, and Of her po-
litical social and financial condition The rep
resentative of the 1imss- Democrat found Gov
ernor Bloxham, at Tallahassee the Capital of
the State The Governor, appreciating the en-
terprise Of the zSnses- Democrat, and also the
benefit which would accrue to Florida from the
publication of such facts as were desired, pa
tiently and courteously furnished answers to the
questions asked him:
y nLlnGRATIoN
Q. Governor, what efforts are being made to
secure immigrants?
A. We have an efficient Bureau of Immigra-
tiOo which is doing good work IN collecting and
publishing information relative TO the amount
location and prices of vacant lands; also, facts
about our soil, climate and the advantages which
the State hold out TO those seeking homes. In
almost every county there Is an immigration So
ciety, which is doing what it can to influence
immigration. Railway and land companies are
sending out handsome pamphlets, which contain
hne Illustrations and valuable statistics Large
capitalists of Europe and the North are inter
ested in the Stale, and they are doing great
deal toward giving our State a reputation
abroad. Florida, assure you, is well advertised.
q How are your people disposed toward i'm
migrants
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 come here.
O H0W MANY irumiUrunfe did vaur Gtafa ro
ceive last year?
A Of course, l can only approximate the num-
Der, because we have no way of knowing it ex-
actly. l think, from the information l have,
thai it is not far from 10000. To snow you how
our population is increasing will refer you to
our tax-books. The number Of our tax payers
in 1881 was fully Is per cent greater than it was
in 1880
Q, What is the average price of unimproved
lands?
A. You mean, of course, lands in private
hands They vary in price from - to &5 per
which are so well adapted for orange orchards
that they cannot be purchased for less than $10o
per acre
@ What are the prices of your improved
lands?
A From a to $50 per acre Some of them
are held at higher figures The price depends
largely upon the location and latitude
Q. Do yon receive a thrifty class of immi-
grants.
A. Yes, very The people who are settling in
Florida now are the kind that quickly change
the face of country.
q Have many Of them the means TO purchase
land or 10 commence business?
A The majority of them have. Some are cap
italists, and great many OF them are in COM
Portable circumstances. The number of very
poor immigrants is small
Q. Is the majority of them foreigners?
A. No, sir they are almost entirely from the
Southern, Middle and Northwestern States. with
large sprinkling from the New England States.
q At what do you estimate The increase of
your population. from immigration, during the
last i've years.
A. In the last ten years the increase was 90
600. This increase, however occurred almost
wholly within the last FIVE years. There is no
settlement Of foreigners in the State excepta set
tlement 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 12 ,5OO,-
600 acres, are classed as follows: School and
Seminary lands, Internal Improvement lands
and Swamp lands. The School and Seminary
lands are subject to entry At their appraised value
not less than 81 25 per acre.
Internal Improvement lands are sold generally
at 81 .25 per acre. None sold at less than
that price, and some Of them are valued as high
as 90 per acre.
swamp lands, of which the State now has
about $500, 900 acres are graded in price accord
ing TO the number of acres sold For 40 acres
the price is 81 per acre for more than 40 and
not exceeding 80 acres 80 cents per acre. for more
than 80 and not exceeding 200 acres, 80 cents per
acre; for more than 200 and not exceeding 800
acres, IS cents per acre for more than $40 acres
10 cents per acre.
There are about 100000 acres of United
States lands in the State, the price of which is
81 .25 per acre. The quality Of the State and
government land Is variable. Some of it is very
good, and great deal of it is not worth much,
except for the TIMBER on it
@, Has not the State made some large sales of
A Yes. About June 1, last year, Hamilton
Disston, Of Philadelphia, purchased 1000, 900
acres of swamp land for 81 900 600. He took
the lands in bodies of 10 900 acres each He sub
sequently sold 100000 acres to English and
Dutch capitalists. who are represented by Sir
Edward ]. Reed and Dr. Wenheim. The COM
pany formed Of these English and Dutch cap
isalists propose 20 do . great deal for the pros
Perity Of Florida In connection with their
lands they have purchased the following rail-
ways: The Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile,
the Florida Central and the Transit Railway,
which runs from Fernandina to Cedar Keys and
Ocala-iA all about 40 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 1t. They
also contemplate building railway from some
point on the Florida Tropical road below Ocala,
BY way Of Leesbarg to the Indian river.
Q. Ara their lands IN the MARKET
A. Yea. and also the Dissten lands and lands
held BY other companies There ere large tracts,
known - Spanish grants, which are chiefly held
by non residents, and which can be bought at
low prices
@. Governor, can you give me 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 timber. j should say that We have
100000 acres Of good timber flands. three
quarters Of which b covered with yellow pine.
@ What are the principal kinds q year tim
Der.
A Our chief timber il pine. We have also
hickory, red gum, magnolia, dog-wood, cypress
and several varieties e oak.
O. Can yo1 give me some figures relative to
ihs pine supply cf yuar 6laasf
A. Les than two .yeen ago the number Of
feet fb0afd measufe} o. Ioag-leased pine, stAnd-
iug IN land nDt cut over md rot injured By be-
ing bled fnr tnrpentine, Was 6e1k ,000o0Q
q ABBOTT how much b cut annually
! A. For the esnaus year esAing May 81 1881,
k b eaaimaked that 9oeN 60 ke& were cuk-
Ths amount cut list yeAl, however, was much
arsaGex. Hha psoAucfiem &C pgns lnmhsE has
greatly incrcaned I'm the lmst yeax.
q, In what part % he Gssle ere The heat long
t1MVn4 pino fp1ss1s fbnnd ss
!. ~ u - pe1tra1 and nexthsn pertiens- The