The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-01-31
BEND Sold Too chsao.

Since the State, through t. legisla-
tive and executive departments, Is
committed % the scheme for draining
the Everglades the editor Of this paper
has hoped that the enterprise would
prove 3 success, but il already appears
that extravagant promises made In con-
nectiOn with the scheme are not 90 be
realized. Ii is claimed that a small
area Of the lands have already been
drained and made tenable and these
lands are now on the market at from
Sl5 to so per acre, which falls some
what short Of the original proposition
that the lands would ~ worth and
would bring from $50 to 400 per acre.
II Is explained that the lands are really
worth 500 per acre, but that the Trus-
tees of the Internal Improvement Fund
have decided to give the people the BEN
EFT Of good lands at reasonable prices
and have therefore put the price down
20 less than 20 per cent. Of the real
value Of the lands This explanation
does not appeal to us as a well-founded
business proposition, nor as an equitable
division Of the proceeds Of the scheme.
The State has gone into a gigantic bus
mess enterprise and II ought 10 get
from il the largest profits obtainable
and extend its operations to other lines
Of internal Improvement IL the persons
who buy these lands pay full value for
them and their money is invested In
such improvements as the cOnstruct ton
Of good roads they will be beneftted in
common with the rest Of the citizens Of
the State, but If they buy their lands
at the cost Of drainage the few hundred
thousand citizens Of the State who do
not buy lands will receive absolutely no
benefit, further than the indirect bene-
fit that would result from the settle
ment and cultivation of the reclaimed
lands This indirect benefit would be
an unsatisfactory return for the amount
OF money arising from the sale Of lands
in all parts Of the State which is now
being and will hereafter be invested IN
the drainage enterprise. Bradford
county, for instance, has been denied
the money for the redemption Of some
railroad bonds in order that the drain
age scheme might be financed. This
self-denial on the part Of the Bradford
county citizen would hardly be recon-
pensed by the knowledge that John Doe
AID a whole lot OF other fellows were
growing wealthy on lands that his
money had paid for reclaiminR.
In view Of the agitation against
grants and cheap sales Of lands we are
more than surprised that the u /. Board
should go right ahead selling lands
worth 500 per acre for the ridiculously
low price Of $50. From the standpoint
Of q business man we think Il Is mex
cusable 10 entail this loss upon the
whole State 20 favor and Accommodate
the small percentage Of our citizens
who are 80 inordinately partial 10 TO-
mato soup that they must have lands
that will do the turn from seed 20 soup
over night. Such lands are q luxury
and people who are bound 10 have them
ought not 10 expect those Of us who
must be content 10 plOd along and make
only two or three crops D year 10 pro-
vide them ct cost. -starke Telegraph.
The Index begs 10 suggest 10 the Tai.
lahassee True Democrat that II Il will
consult the minutes Of the !. /. Board,
Il will discover that 40, 900 acres Of State
lands hAye recently been sold at 81 per
acre. To be little more explicit, Il
was bought for the cypress on Il. Now
Bro. Collins, ask permission 10 see the
records; or enquire Of some one who can
tell you whether this Is not q fact. -
Lake City Index.