The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-09-15
Eleventh Page

under which the East Coast Railway claimed
are not OF any value because. long before that
grant was made. prior grants. Of equal merit
! valid, had absorbed all the lands and more too
hl As another instance OF Mr.. Ingraham's former
lack OF faith In the validity OF the grants TO the
hast Coast Railway. and OF the recent date or mis-
conversion to the idea that these grants are good
Il will say that at their meeting December ~, 1902.
the Trustees were presented with proposition
from the East Coast Drainage & Sugar Co. to pur-
chase the territory 100000 acres) embraced In
Florida. during the second Bloxham administers
ton, for thirty cents an acre IL this proposition
had been accepted (instead OF being declined) Mr.
Ingraham and his associates would have gone
purchase Of lands TO which, IL Mr. Ingraham's pres
emit contention that the grants to the East Coast
Railway prior to the date of his contract OF the
Canal Company are good, the Trustees had no
right to give title. To assume that Mr. IngrahAm
would have paid out $4,000 cash for lands for the
Canal Company, from which MIR. Ingraham, acting
In his capacity as Vice-President OF the East
Coast Railway Co, could GUST the Canal Company
or from which the Il. & NJ. r. r., and all other
grantees claiming, could Gust the Canal Company
would be unjust TO Mr.. Ingraham's reputation as
careful business man. Again Is the conclusion
irresstable that Mr.. Ingraham did not believe
that the grant 70 the East Coast Railway was OF
any value when he made that offer. as director In
another company, 10 buy the lands which were
embraced within that grant, and again is the cor.
rectness Of my assumption that Mr.. Ingrahara 10
u
East Coast Railway co. amply demonstrated.
The fact OF the matter Ii that Mr.. Ingraham Is
not trying by this rushing into print to establish
the title OF mis- railroad to lands, because he by
his actions as directors OF the Drainage q Sugar
Co., admitted that his railroad had no valid claim.
but II IL part or the political program Of the East
Coast Railway to assume virtue which II has
not In order to discredit the actions of the peo-
pies representatives who have resisted their Inn
proper demands, In the hope that enough people
will be deceived to elect other servants who will
be complacent
The salient fact about this contention over lands
Is that Mr.. Ingraham has never had any faith In
the validity OF the land grants made to his rail.
road or to all other railroads He and those
claiming like him, have merely used the legisla-
tive land grants as an inlucement to the Trustees
for them to give away the peoples lands to which
they alone have title. This point Is clearly shown
by the fact that none OF the claimants have raised
the point Of priority OF grants none OF them have
tried to force the Trustees to deed lands granted
to them by the Legislatures. setting up the claim
Of priority. All OF them have been petitioners to
the Trustees for what land they, the Trustees,
were willing to give them. This Is Mr.. Tngrar
hams position now, as It IL the position OF all
other representatives OF railroad companies. The
suits that have been brought are allowed to drag,
and whenever the issue Is In danger OF being join
ed some dilatory tactics are pursued to further
-T,' n. B. BRowARD.