The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-08

estimate that haRe seen is three million OaEsb
but dob know yet to whom these lands will belong
If the dontentiO of the railroads is upheld by the
courts then the Every and lands underlying Lake
Okeechob wi1go to- the railroads the legislative
AS have said these suits are now pending in the
courts soe of them IN the State courts and some in the
Federal courts In some instances the courts have up
held the Contention of the Trustees and in other in
stances they had upheld the contentious of the legislative
grantees the railroad companies but no court OF na
jurisdiction has yet passed upon this vital question
Those cses pending in the State courts will ultimately
have to be passed upon by the Supreme Court of the
State of Florida and those pending in the Federal Courts
Court of the United States And unhesitathgly say
that it premature inexpedient yes. the height of
folly to invest from three to thirteen million dollars in
we know 70 whom these lands will belong when drained
think the railroad companies have had quite enough
from the neople of Florida without investing three to
to thirtee1 million dollars in draining these lands
for the possible yes probable benefit OF the railroad
and canal companies. q. : e,s.r aa,.e aa,o at.r
Now falow-ctizens the Trustees contend in some of
the literature they sending out that the expenses of
drainage dan be met by the money in the Internal
Improvem nt Fund together with what will be realized
by the future sale of the Internal Improvement Fund
lands and that this immense cost will not fall upon the
peope-tl tax payers There is according to the last
statemento the Trustees about $3.50 600 in that Fund
II speak ii round figures, but approximately correct
The Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, one of
the legislative grantees of lands has enjoined the use
or expenditure Of about 1925 600 of this $3.50 900 in the
fund This amount tied up by the inunctiOns Of the l.
N. R. ~ Co., together with $12 600 paid by the
trustees in special attorneys fees for the defense of
the Trustees in the suits have mentioned, and other
expendiSuses Of the Board leaves not over $4,000 OF
Other railroad companies have enjoined the future
sale of any of the lands by the Trustees, until it has
been finally determined by the courts, to whom these
lands belonged; this leaves but small amount, and no
hope of increasing the amount with which to meet even
the minimum estimate dranage-three million dollars.
There are now in this fund less than three million
acres of lands if Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades
are drained that will add about three million more
acres of Internal Improvement lands making total of
less than six million acres while the legislative grants
undecided to the railroad and canal companies but which
they claim to have earned, approximate million
ergs 50 you see that the leg g fant e IL te
lands now held by the Trustees, we'll Lake Okee
chobee and the Everglades and their legislative grants
call for about one million more than the Trustees can
possibly have ...
The contention of the Trustees is not entirely consist
enhey first tell us that they will be able to complete
the drainage with the funds of the Board without add
tonal burden upon the tax payers again, they tell us
that they want legislative assistance What legislative
which to proceed? The legislative assistance which they
do want the right to tax the people of the State of
Florida to carry this drainage scheme and for one
will never give my vote to tax the people to drain these
lands long there possibility of their becoming
the property of the railroads and canal companies. ZAP
plause)
That the Trustees do want legislative assistance to
the end have mentioned is evidenced by the fact that
the last Legislature passed Act creating Drainage
Commission That commission consists of those gentle
men whom have tod you compose the Board of Trus
tees of the Internal Improv Fund-the same per-
sonel. - o.. I1aAl
That Act gave this board authority to levy tax not
exceeding ten per acre on7 land in the drainage
districts.
Drainage districts are created and designated at the
discretion of the commission They made levy of that
tax that u.s. they had authority to levy not exceeding
ten cents per acre and they made levy of five cents
per acre. but the collection of that has been enned
the United States courts at the instance of the own
ers of some of the lands taxed in South Florida and
The Federal Court has held the Act authorizing the
levy to be unconstitutional but the Drainage Cornms
sion expect to get this authority by constitutional
ture andwi be voted on by YOU at eYenera election