The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-06
3 Good Compromises.


Good Compromises.
The recent administration has set
tied some compromises as to legal
suits brought against the Internal In
provement Fund. The trustees made
good compromise and for the best
interests Of the state.
Eight or nine months since one of
the dredges operating near FIT. Lau-
derdaie was visited by myself. The
land through which one of the canals
is being cut was examined. The quail
ity OF the remaining lands of the
Everglades is unknown to me. The
lands on this canal, as far as it was
then cut, about one and a half miles,
! will surely produce They can be
cleared for 81 to So pc FacTe. Other
lands cost to clear $25, $50 to 800 per
acre.
If the reclaimed lands will produce
only vegetables, the present markets
could be overstocked. Their product
iveness would be limited to a limited
market. If the lands will successful.
ly produce sugar, as many believe,
greatly increased. In that event, their
reclamation would lead to the first
double tracking Of a railroad in Flor
ida, the East Coast system.
The most of our people are deeply
interested in the advancement of our
schools and in the education of our
people. The United States census for
1900 shows that the illiterates of the
state is rapidly decreasing. To the
total population, the per cent. of illit-
crates in Florida was, for 1880, 43.4;
for 1890, 27.S; for 1900, 21.9. This
compares favorably with the percent
81 Tn f11T IN
Southern states for 1900: In Georgia,
3O.5, South Carolina 35.9, North Caro-
lima 2s.7, Virginia 22-S, Alabama 81,
Mississippi 80, Louisiana 3S.5. The il
literate native white population in
Florida shows a great decrease: for
1880, the illiteracy was 2O.7 per cent,
1890, 11-3 per cent, 1900, Sc per cent
This compares favOrably with the
illiterate native white population of
the above mentioned states; for the
year 1900, Georgia II.9, South Carolina
1876, North Carolina 1875, Virginia IL L,
Alabama 14.S, Mississippi 8, Louisiana
17-3. The percentage of the illiteracy
for the negro population for 1900
shows favorably also, for Florida, 80
per cent, for Georgia 52.4, South Caro-
lima SIS, North Carolina, AIS, Virginia
44-6, Alabama 57.4, Mississippi 49.1,
louisiana GIL.
Money for Education.
There is no state in the Union in
which more money, in the proportion
to the taxable property, is collected
for school purposes than in our state.
There is the one mill tax for the pub
lie schools, the state appropriation for
the higher institutions of learning and
the state appropriations for the high
schools. Then there is the one dollar
capitation tax, all of which goes 10 the
free schools. Then the constitution
provides that no county shall assess
less than three or more than seven
mills for free schools. This was
limited to five mills, until an amend.
ment to the constitution raised it to
seven. 1t also provides for school
sub-districts, in which special tax
of not more than three mills NAV be
levied. In many counties these school
sub-ifstrictS embrace the entire coun.
ty. In addition to the foregoing. there
is the net proceeds of all fins col
lected under the penal laws of the
state" and the interest on the state
school fund. All this would represent
millage of between eleven and
twelve mills, in many OF the counties
OF the state for educational purposes. I
There is no people in the world who
so willingly assess themselves for
school purposes as they do in Florida.
There ha been quoted statitics show
ing that beneficial results are being
obtained.
White Poole Rule.
We have, as in other states. two
races, the white and the coIored.
Wherever thrown in any number with
other races, the white race rules. A
handful OF our forefathers thought
that il was right to rule the country.
when it was owned by the noble red
man" A handful govern South At
RIGA. A handful govern the teeming
millions OF India We are mighty apt
to govern this country. Whilst gov
erning it, we are under obligations to
tote fair" and to be just In our
state the relationship between the
two races is harmonious. II is to be
hoped that it viii continue. There is
a cemene of kindness between the
two races which may be best under
stood from the following extract from
a letter recently received by myself:
when I tell you that my father and
mother were the slaves of your father
and mother in the days of slavery,
you can readily see why I take the
liberty OF addressing this humble
epistIe TO you For there is a tie, IN
seen apd inexpressible between the
master and the slave that death only
can sever Ny father and mother are
still alive, and enjoy the high hope of
seeing you when you take your seat
at Tallahassee From the time they
heard you were running for governor
of the state Of Florida they prayed for