The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-05-15
Jacksonville. May IL. 1908.
To the Editor Ocala Banner.

10 the Editor Ocala Banner:
/ No public man in the state has been
the subject of more misrepresentation
not TO say misrepresentation, than
former Governor William s. jennings
and the latest manifestation of this
carplng spirit has crept out in ill-aI-
NlSed and Uniformed criticism of the
trustees of the internal Improvement
Iuhd Tor paying TO the former govern
or additional compensation for ser
vices rendered in the settlement Of
/ the land grant suits of such unusual
and extraordinary proportions. The
personnel OF the trustees is much too
nigh 10 Justify for a moment the arr
less assumption that the trustees are
! making ducks and brakes of the peo-
pies money, and though it is a pity TO
knock the props from under any as
plrant for Office, the truth is mighty
and will prevail, even at the fag end
! of a chaotic political campaign, when
! the cheerful prevaricatOr is putting
the finishing touches to his fine work.
/ With a view of getting in on the
/ ground floor of this little matter of al
legged extravaganza called graft" ny
one that might be considered a Judge
OF that anomalous article, a Jackson
vile correspondent of this paper made
! 1t his business to see Ex-Governor Jen-
nlngs. and put TO him squarely AMI
fairly many questions, which he has
answered in his usual calm, lucid and
candid manner. and furnished full in
formation on the subject.
After showing to the ex-governor
some of the alleged facts and figures
! regarding the state lands recently pul
forth by his critics, the correspondents
inquired:
about how many acres of lanI
have been patented to Florida under
the swamp and overfowed land
grants of congress?"
A little upward of 10000 acres, re-
piled the governor. referring to his
statistical data.
What disposition was made of
these lands prior 10 your administr.,-
) ton. beginning in the year 1902"
/ There was decided and approved by
/ railroad companies. without a dollar
worth Of consideration to the state. as
donation 10 aid in the construction
of railroads. S.2f2.3I7 acres. To canal
/ and drainage companies. 2.252,Sl6
acres. Under the DisstOn sale, 1000
! 900 acres. In payment of coupons or
railroad bonds, Sol .66G acres, all Of
/ which was, of course, in payment OF
judgments obtained by railroad claim
ants. The number of acres decided in
the ordinary course of sales and ap-
piled, as will appear by the minutes.
amounted to 2,2O0,13O acres, making a
total disposition of 17,O56.932 acres,
finally disposed of and lost to the
l fund"
During whose administration were
| contracts entered into with railroad
companies. agreeing to convey lands
when patents therefor should be IS
sued by the United States?"
In answer to that question" 30
piled Governor Jennings, Il shall con
tent myself with stating that no ce--
tiffcates for lands have been issued,
nor contracts made promising to con-
vey lands to railroad companies dur
ing 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
ministration of 1901, and for which
suits have since been instituted 10
the United States cOurts?"
1882 acres"
What is meant by legislative land
grants?"
Briefly. it may be understood as
acts of the legislature, beginning with
] 1879, granting the reSlduary interest
of the state in the public lands. though
claimed by the railroads to be abso-
lutte grants of lands"
What number of acres of land are
embraced in such legislative grants?''
My answer to that, subject to verif-
cation said Gov. Jennings, "is 12,-
100000 acres, or approximately 1000.
600 acres more than the total acreage
of the fund"
What has been the leading con,
tention between the railroad compan,
les and the trustees involved in the
suits in the United States court?"
Generally speaking. the railroads
contend that the legislative land
] r~,w-, -