The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-09-02

sls. with her bonds at a high premium
But this is not ALL While our bonded debt
I'VE have no floating debp is nominaly 81 ,O97 :
5OO, there is really outstanding ooly $685., 500
tne remainder being in the sinking, school and
other funds OF the State. Long before the out
standing bonds fall due there will be a demand
from these funds more than sufficient to absorb
the entire amount What a contrast between
Republican and Democratic rule!
FOUR LAST YEARS OF REPUBLICAN AND DEMO
CRATIC RULE
During the last Republican administration.
embracing the years 1873 1874, 1875, 1876 there
was assessed for State purposes the sum of
$l641 347.23. or at the rate OF $410, 1886 80 per
year Ii 10 this be added the proper proportion
OF the increased debt left by the Republicans, it
Will show that they squandered the public funds
and public credit u, the rate of fully $3.50 600 per
year for State purposes
The Democrats, for the four years of the pres
ent administration, estimating the values for
1884 as the same 1889 have assessed $1187-
o9o29, or at the rate of $296, ,899 OF, and de-
creased instead OF increasing he public debt In
addition the State has beer kept upon a cash ba-
SIS and the sum OF $110UO0 spent for the Asv-
lum, $4,000 on hand TO build Deaf and Dumb
Institute $1,000 spent for normal schools. and
$69, 9,l55O' raised by the constitutional One-mil
State tax, in excess oi what the Republicans
raised for the same period Here is $3O7, ,155. OF
| spent IN the last four years for educational and
| IN.
deducted, would show the assessment to be
! $245 1910 per year under Democratic rule for
State purposes, and e':3ss $60OO0 oi this 10 pay
the interest on the d,:ii ieit ~ "A legacy of Re
publican msrut.
EDUCATION
Let US now STE who are the true friends of
education in the State No better standard can
be taken than the number OF 81 hpols the num-
Der OF pupils. and the amounts txpendtl by The
different administrations.
Schools
Number schools at close Governor Stcarns - 67G
Number schools at close Governor Drew w.l l3l
Number schools March 20 1854 nearly one VI ar
prior TO expiration of the prescut admins
tTatlon ......................l,4 ,419
Summary
Increase in last three wears - 34s
Increase in last seven years. S23
School attendance
Attendance of pupils in 1876 62 2s4 444
Attendance of pupils in 1850 .............: BIS
Attendance OF pupils in 1852 945
Summary.
Increase in first two years of present admins
tralloh '.'...' $3.50
Increase IN past six years ............ % sol
We have not the data To furnish thr Increase
of school attendance for 1883 and 1884 but the
reports will show it to be extremely gratifying
10 all lovers Of education.
SCHOOL FINANCES
pended by the different parties for school pur-
poses. In 1876, The last year OF Republican rule,
the expenditures amounted to $l5S. .S46 80; in
1880, 1924 ,082.91 in 1888, the eNpcndi urc> un-
der Democratic rule amounted 10 $262, ,34S o.
showing an increase o T1O3 502 03-
The principal OF the common school tund
which had accumulated from 1o45 up tp 1892,
amounted to $3.50 2S4 25, while L. day il amounts
10 1929 ,9S4 25 showing N increase ~ TWO years
OF $17o, 700 being nearly IS per cent. increase
in two years. Certainly most gratifying cX-
hibit 10 all lovers OF eiucatipn
But as Mr.. Pope would AS soon trust This
government to the ignorant people as To Tie edo
catei he is not supposed To take much interest
in The subject
LEGISLATIVE PRINTING
Much has been said about the expenses OF the
public nrintino have taken the trnnhl ,4-@,>-
printing for eight years under Republican rule
and the same period under Democratic rule.
The account stands follows
Eight years legislative printing under
Eight years legislative printing under
Democrats Observation-Disclosures. ...... 49,+63 81
Difference in favor Of Democrats. : 81 ,s67 43
Legislative stationery for eight years
der Republicans. ns.....................$ Ii, 22.2o
Legislative stationery for eight years un-
der Democrats. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ,645.G
Difference in favor of Democrats. l5,O7s SO
Eight years for per diem aud other
peuses of the Legislature, not included
in the above, under Republican rule. 1924 ll3.l7
Eight years for same purpose under
Democrats. ............$ $24O los II
Difference in favor of Democrats, 1884 oo5 90
Notwithstanding the fact that the Legislature
WAS increased thlriy-twO members in 1879, with
the additional expense n,ce cessarly attending
the increase, The above records show that the Re
publican expenses for legislative purposes eX-
ceeded those of the Democracy by 1896 ,95079
1t may be contcnded that The Republicans had
many extra sessions of the Legislature. This is
true and demonstrates their unfitness for the
proper discharge of the duties of the State gov
eminent. But the increase OF membership un-
der l. emocratc administration should fully offset
this
TIE INTERNAL INfRO I'ENENT FUND
AND THE DLSS7ON SALE
Judging from the independent platform and
the meagre utierances OF its advocates, hs seen
in the public press considerable time is devoted
10 animadverting upon the management by the
trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund
To give a clear understanding Of this rather com
Dlicated question, ii becomes necessary TO revert
10 short history OF the legislation and other
causes that produced the ncumbrance of our
landed fund, and 10 render sale absolutely nee
essary to save any portion of said fund to the
development of our State by means of railroads
and other modes of transportation.
By the act of September 4, 1941. Congress
granted TO the State, to take effect upon her ad-
mission into the Union, 500, 900 acres Of land.
These lands are known as the " Internal I'M
provement Llnds proper" By subsequent act
of September 28'h, 1850 the State received
grant of Ill the swamp and overfiowed > lands
in the Sla,e belonging to the United States.
Under these grants the State has received pat
ents for over fifteen million acres Of hnd The
| Internal Improvement Act OF 1855, vested all OF
| the Internal Improvement lands proper, then
| unsold, as well As all the swamp aud overtowed
lands on hand, with all the proceeds that had
accumulated in the Governor Comptroller,
| Treasurer, Attorney General AMI Commissioner
| of Lands as Board of Trustees, to carry our
| the provisions Ot said act.
! The act designated road from jacksonville
| to Pensacola, with extensions To 81. Mlrks and
! Crooked rivers aud ST. Andrews bay "A road
| from Fernandina to Tampa, with IN extension
TO Cedar Key; a road from Pensacola north to
| the Stale line and "a canal from The waters of
the ST. Johns river on Lake Harvey, 10 Indian
| river as proper works to be assisted by the fund
| 1t further authorized coupon bonds to be issued
upon the several roads, al the rate OF $4,000
per mile of completed road, and additional
| bonds for various bridges. etc. The Trustees
| were authorized TO guarantee the per cent. in
| teres on these bonds out OF the land fund, and did
| follows:
| Pensacola and Georgia Railroad Com
nanv ~ ......... $l220 600
| Tallahassee Railroad Company. ........ 2O6,O00
Florida Railroad Company ........... 1,616,OO0
Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Rail
| road Company. y.................''..' ooo,OVO
Total ss,597 900
After the war, the companies operating the
Id rNou a al n M f h,f