The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-17
GOV. JENNINGS AND
THE DRAINAGE LAND

the present administration nor the
one preceding it,
How many acres were so contract
ed by former trustees that were out
standing at the beginning of the adj
ministraticn of 1901, and for which
suits have since been Instituted IN
the United States courts?
"717,S48 acres"
What is meant by legislative land
grants?"
Briefly, it may be understood as
acts of the legislature, beginning with
1879, granting the residuary interest
of the state in the public lands. though
claimed by the railroads to be abso-
lutte grants CT lands.
WHAT number of acres OF land ar"
embraced in such legislative grants?
My answer to that. subject TO veri-
ficatiOn." said Gov. Jennings. is T.
000, 900 acres. or approximately 5000
600 acres more than the total acreage
of the fund"
What has been the leading conten-
ton between the railroad companies
and the trustees involved IN the suits
in the United States court?
Generally speaking, the railroads
contend that the legislative land
grants gave the man absolute title TO
the acreage embraced in the grants
The present trustees and thlr lmmedI-
ate predecessors insist that the lana
grants are imperative, and do not
pass the title TO the lands to the
railroads; that the title to the swamp
lands was vested in the trustees Tor
the purposes Of drainage and reclama-
ton long prior thereto.
OLD POLICY.
What had been the pO;;cy or the
trustees under the land grants prior
to 1902
THE record shows. as | understand
| it. that they recognized the contention
of the railroads. and conveyed all OF
the lands by deeds and contracts, Ia
! accordance with applications from the
railroad companies, then in the fund,
! and 700, 900 acres additional.
What has been the policy of the
/ trustees beginning 1901"
| ct has been the established policy,
! faithfully pursued by the trustees sinc5
| 1901. to observe the provisions of the
! grant to Florida, and the law vestinG
! them with the swamp lands and the
! duty of draining and retaining than,
! thus SAVING the lands to the people OF
I the state instead of conveying them To
/ the railroads..
| Governor inquired the correspond
ent, upon whose suggestion and
opinion was this change of policy in
augurated and based?"
| The governor said that modesty for
| babe him to reply.
! Governor inquired the reporter
| your figures show that more lands
had been decided and contracted away
by the trustees prior to 1901 than had
actually even been received by the
! fund. to the extent of 100000 acres
/ When were the present lands of tn
internal improvement fund patenta
| to the state by the federal govern
ment, and who procured the patent?"
| The patent was procured in 1870:
to approximately 2.S00,000 acres"
1918. 200 acres From this patent were
decided to the l.. & n. r. r. Co in
! UfIr~-o1IIT 5reI-~-4-~ re
I TefTed to, in compliance with contracts
made for such deeds by the trustees
in 1888 approximately 100000 acres
were decided to the heirs of John A
Henderson under a contract with him
| for services in selecting lands for Ire
| trustees, contracted by the trustees
! long prior to 1901. Approximately
! 100000 acres have been sold by the
| trustees to Scott Brothers and joseph
! Jennings, the proceeds of which are
! being used in the management of TIL
! fund. and carrying on it drainage
! operations. $4,000 acres of said pat