The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-05-15
GOVERNOR JENNINGS
AND HIS CRITICS
he has Saved for the People of the State While Gov
enOr and Special Attorney for the l. l. Fund


fund, and 100000 acres additional"
What has been the policy of the
trustees beginning 1902
1T has been the established policy,
faithfully pursued by the trustees
since 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 reclaim
ing them, thus saving the lands to the
people of the state instead of convey
ing them to the railroads"
Governor" inquired the cores
pOndent, upon whose suggestion and
opinion was this change of policy ia
augurated and based?"
The governor said that modesty for
Lade him to reply.
Governor" inquired the repOrte',
your figures show that more lands
had been decided and contracted away
by the trustees prior TO 1901 than hal
actually even been received by the
fund, to the extent of 100000 acres.
When were the present lands of the
internal improvement fund patented
to the state by the federal government
and who procured the patent?"
The patent was procured in 1903
to approximately 100000 acres"
What disposition has been made
of this 100000 acres?"
''37S,000 acres from this patent were
decided to the L. & n. r. R. Co. in
1907. in the compromise recently re-
ferred to, in compliance with contracts
made for such deeds by the trustees
in 1888. Approximately 100000 acres
Henderson under a contract with him
for services in selecting lands for the
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 the
fund, and carrying on its drainage
operations. 26.O00 acres Of said pat
ented lands haze been previously dis
posed of prior to 1901 by the trus-
tees 10 the DisstOn Land company"
what acreage remains in the fund
at the present time?"
In round numbers, 100000 acres
in the Everglades. and possibly $780,
geo acres of scattered lands in differ
ent portions Of the state in small
areas.
What did the railroad companies
demand in their suits?"
That all of the lands of the fund,
those under certificate, as well as
those under what is styled open
grants be decided by the trustees to
the railroad companies under the land
grants; likewise all the moneys of the
fund"
What did these claims and de-
mands of the railroads aggregated"
More than 100000 acres of land
claims, and S25O,OOO cash that the
trustees had in bank"
What have the railroads obtained
from the courts during the seven years
of litigation?"
They have procured, under a COM
promise based upon d contract with
former trustees. that Judge Swayne
held to have been formerly adjudicat-
ed in his court. $4,000 acres in one
case. They procured a decree in
Judge Swaynes court for $4,000 in
money, which was the proceeds of
sales of land reserved by former trus-
tees for railroad companies"
''Was this money paid to the rail
road company under this decree?"
1T was not. An appeal was taken
to the court of appeals, and before the
appeal was heard the settlements re-
ferred to were accomplished"
Were any lands decreed by any
court 10 be conveyed by the trustees
during the seven years litigation, to
railroad claimants, as the six million
acres so cIaimed?"
mo such decree was rendered, ex-
cept as stated"
Have all the suits been settled and
dismissed?"
They have not. There are two
suits now pending for claims aggre-
eating upward of two million dollars"
We'll now governor" recurring to
the recent compromises, what has
been accomplished by these settle
ments?"
Prior land grants have been con-
veyed TO the state board of education,
aggregating 100000 acres, equal to
the entire acreage owned nv fund Of