The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-11-05
FLORIDA GRANTS TO RAILROADS.

quoting approvingly the proposition
for the State to "inaugurate steps "
to have the lands given by our legis-
latures to railroads, taken from the
roads and returned to the General
Government. This proposition is
based on the theory that Florida had
no right to the lands she gave those
roads. We have given the history
of those lands ard shown conclu-
sively that Congress, by the act of
1857, gave us nearly 10000, 900 acres,
regardless of their quality, and prior
to that time 100000 acres of the
highest and best lands in the State,
for Internal Improvement purposes.
But let us take another view of
this matter and recall few years.
To illustrate the position we will
take the Florida Southern Railroad
as an example. The territory
through which that road runs was
greatly in need of transportation.
The members of the Legislature,
elected by the people from
those counties were heart and soul
for road, and freely voted
this road a handsome land grant.
The people sustained their Repre-
sentatives in thus voting, and did SO
with enthusiasm and unanimity.
The Palatka Herald never raised an
objection that we remember, and
shouted Justify over Palatka's future
when work was commenced on the
road.
Then when the J. T. & K. W.
reached Palatka another shout Of ex-
ultation went up from our able con-
temporary. The people through all
those counties where the roads were
building seemed animated with new
hope, as immigration would necessa-
rily follow transportation, and their
possessions become more valuable.
During that period Of expectancy,
was there single voice raised against
the State land grant TO the road :?
Were their Representatives condemn
ed for voting it? Did the Herald
enter protest on the ground that the
State had no right to the lands ::
No, but every encouragement was
given to the road, and its every ad-
vance was marked with satisfaction.
Now, after the road is finished and
received the land grant that these
very counties voted it, is it not
late hour to question the validity of
the grant ? Is it just ? Is it honest ::
Will 1t encourage others TO invest in
our State
We have case in point at home.
The road from Carrabelle to Au-
gusta Georgia via Tallahassee and
Townsville, has a land grant. 1t is
now building, and the good people
of Wakulla held a public meeting
some time since and guaranteed the
right of way through the county.
They want the road-we all want it,
and will hail its completion with
great pleasure Now is it an en-
couragement to that road to be told
that as soon as it gets its land grant,
the people will inaugurate steps "
to deprive it of its grant and return
the land to the General Govern
ment?
OF course nothing Of the kind can
ever be accomplished-the idea is
one of extreme folly, but the publica-
ton of such vapid effervescences, by
the Herald and other journals, may
have tendency to scare off capital
and mislead unthinking minds. The
title to the State from the United
States is absolute and incontroverti.
bic, and the transfer from the State
to the railroads is equally valid.
Now, after the railroads have sold
large quantities of these lands to set
tiers, to inaugurate a policy that
would lead to endless litigation
without the slightest hope of success
and only to cast clouds over titles,
and set back our growing prosperity,
is calamity We hope never to see
inflicted upon Florida and her PEG.
pie.
L - L.