The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-06-20


phate commissioners and an inspector Of
phosphates and to define their duties and
authority; 10 grant the rights to mine phos-
pilates in the beds of navigable waters of
the state ofFlorida upon certain conditions.
and to prohibit persons from unlawfully
mining the same.
Be 1t enacted By the Legislature ofthe State
Of Florida. SECTION /. That the Gov
ernor, Comptroller and the Attorney Cen
eral of the state OF Florida be, and they are
hereby constituted, Board of Phosphate
Commissioners; which board shall have the
control and management of the phosphate
Interests of the state Of Florida, in the beds
of her navigabe waters and OF all the phos-
phate rock and phosphate deposits therein,
and which may be dug, mined and re-
moved therefrom to the extent OF the
states interest therein. The said board
are authorized for, and in behalf of the
state of Florida, to enter into contracts
with all persons desiring to avail them
selves Of the provisions of this act in con-
formity Herewith, and to take such means
as may be necessary to collect all such
sum or sums, which are or may become
due to the state of Florida on account of
the phosphate rock and phosphate depos-
its dug, mined, or removed from the beds
of such navigable waters of the state
SEC. 2. The state of Florida hereby
grants the right to persons, natural or cor
porate, to dig, mine, and remove from the
beds of navigable waters of the state any
and all phosphate rock and phosphate de-
post therein, upon the terms and condi-
tons as follows, to-wit: That there shall
be paid to the state OF Florida, the sum Of
fifty cents per ton for every ton of phos-
phate rock or phosphate deposit analyz-
ing fifty per cent and less, and not exceed
ing fifty-fve per cent bone phosphate of
lime, so mined, dug and removed sew
enty-five cents per ton for every ton OF
phosphate rock or phosphate deposit an
alyzing over fifty-fve per cent and not ex-
ceeding sixty per cent bone phosphate of
lime, so Mined dug or removed one dol
lar per ton on every ton of phosphate rock
or phosphate deposit analysed in excess
of sixty per cent bone phosphate oflime, so
mined, dug and removed, an account of
which shall be rendered quarterly to the
Board of Phosphate Commissioners and
payment shall be made quarterly to the
Treasurer of the state of Florida for all
phosphate rock and phosphate deposit 80
mined, dug and removed during the quar-
ter. Provided, that no person or per-
SONS shall be permitted 70 dig, mine or re-
move any phosphate rock or phosphate
deposit from the bed of any navigable wa
tiers of the state of Florida, until he or
they shall have first entered into con-
tract with the Board of Phosphate Com
missioners, in conformity with provisions
of this act, and shall file with such board
bond with good and sufficient sureties,
either personal or by guaranty company
10 be approved by the board, in such sum
as the board shall deem proper, conditions
to comply with the terms of such contract
and the provisions of this act
SEC. 3. The Board of Phosphate Com.
missioners are authorized to give or con-
tract for the exclusive right to dig, mine
and remove phosphate rock or phosphate
deposits from the beds of the navigabe
waters of the state within certsin well de.
fined limits and for period not to exceed
five years. In granting such rights the
Board of Phosphate Commissioners shall
require that the person or persons, COM
pany or companies shall begin mining
within six months from the date of the
contract, and that such mining shall be
continued the full 'erm of the contract un-
less the phosphate or phosphate deposit
be exhausted. The Board shall give pre-
ference to riparian owners, also 10 those
who may have commenced mining or pre-
pairing to mine prior to This passage OF
this act, but riparian owners and persons
having commenced mining or preparing,
in good faith, 10 mine and remove such
phosphates shall make application for q
contrs Ct and file his or their bond. as
herein provided, within sixty days from
the date of notice that any application has
been made in good faith by others for such
contract, which notice shall be given by
the Board of Phosphate Commissioners
Provided, That such contracts shall in no
case exceed ten miles by the course of said
stream. Provided also, that the provisions
of this act shall not be construed as ap
plying in cases of navigable streams or any
part thereof that is not meandered, and
the ownership of the lands embracing
which is vested in legal purchaser.
SEC. 4. That the Board of Phosphate
Commissioners are authorized to aproin
an inspector of phosphate at a salary no
to exceed fifteen hundred dollars per an.
mum, whose duty it shall be, unCer the di
rectiou of said board to visit and inspec
the works and operations of all person
mining or removing phosphate rock O
phosphate deposit from the bed of III
navigable waters of the state to analyze o
cause to be analysed when deemed neces
sary or required by the Board of Phosphate
Commissioners, said phosphate rock O
phosphate deposit so mined. dug and re
moved, and 10 inspect the books and &C
counts of persons 80 mining in the inter
est of the state and the furtherance of tn
collection OF the moneys due or whic
shall become due to the state on account c
phospbates mined, as aforesaid; that sue
inspector Of pLosphates shall in all re
spects, be and act as the executive office
of the said Board Of Phosphate Commits
sioners.
Sec. 5. That any person or persons VIII
shall dig, mine or remove any phosphat
lock or phosphate deposit from the bed {
any of the navigable waters of this stat
without complying with the terms of th
act shall be guilty of a misdemeaner an
upon conviction thereof shall be punishe
by fine not to exceed one thousand dollar
or Imprisonment in the county Jail not
exceed twelve months or by both fine an
Imprisonment. Provided, however, III,
49, r.ov;a;nno IF thia ooc%;or eboM . - -.