The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-06

SAVED ABOUT $4,000.
In letting the contract to the Furst-
Clarke Construction Co., for the ex-
cavation of about 1874 miles OF canal
IN the Everglades their bid was by far
the lowest. being 20 and a fraction
over cent for rock and and q fraG-
ton over q cent for other material. n
insisted that the contract be let for
even money 20 and s cents It was
claimed by at least one OF the trus-
tees that II was undignified to dicker
as to price. The contractor stated
that this reduction would amount to
$4,000. They agreed to this reduc-
ton.
Under two previous administrations
the trustees held that the land was
frrevocably vested in the trustees by
the act of 1855 and that no subsequent
legislature had any right to dispose Of
the same. 1t was during the latter
part OF the Jennings administration
that the minutes of the trustees were
first published. These minutes were
placed upon the desks of the members
OF the legislature Of 1905 Up to that
time but few knew anything about the
action of the trustees. Expecting to
be candidate for governor in 1908,
] took home my set of minutes and
carefully examined the same. Through
no fault of the other governors do
not think it any reflection ON them in
stating that I was the first one to be
augurated governor, who was posted
on the affairs Of the trustees. This
was because I was the first one who
had the opportunity to become SO post
ed. In the early part Of my admin
istration, 1909, / took the ground that
subsequent legislatures did have a
right to convey the lands hello by the
trustees the same as the legislature
Of 1855, unless vested interests had
accrued. Accordingly, upon my rec
cTnmendation the legislature Of 1909
passed an act amending the act by
which one could secure so acres Of
land at % cents per acre, a settler
erecting a building and fencing and
cultivating not less than one acre"
This was amended so as to exclude
lands in the Everglades district from
the operation Of the same.
- LEGISLATURES HAVE RIGHT.
In the Root case VIC. the trustees,
the supreme court has recently decided
that each legislature has as much
right as the preceding legislature to
1eglslate in relation to these lands, ex-
cept where vested interests have ac-
crued. Unless this act had been
amended 1t would readily appear that
the trustees would have been much
hampered by parties selecting so acres
Of the best located land, on Lake Okee-
chobee, on the canals and elsewhere.
The supreme court also decided that
the first trusts to which the land
should be applied was under the act
OF 1S55-drainage and reclamation.
After that, the claims of the rail-
roads would come in. 1t would thus
appear that after the lands were
drained and If there was any left, they
would go to the railroads and after the
railroad claims were settled, the claims
Of the settlers would have come in.
etc, according to priority.
A COMPROMISE EFFECTED.
The Florida East Coast Railway
Co., was suing the trustees for $780,
900 acres, claiming that 100000 acres
Of the same was within the six mile
limit OF their railroad. At the request
of the trustees, I visited Jacksonville
twice-f1rst seeing one of the vice.
presidents Of this railroad company,
the president then being away, and an
other trip at the request of the trus-
tees, meeting the president. The COM
promise was arranged, which in De-
cen1ber 1912, was confirmed by the
trustees. by which the claim OF this
railroad company was conveyed to the
school fund, the railroad company re-.
ceiving deed to 2i0,0 acres below
township So and about $4,000 acres sit
uated on the eastern boundary of the
Everglades and northward OF Fort
Lauderdale. On February 16, 1898 the
former trustees had reserved for this
company all the lands south of town
ship So. OF this reservation sebse-
qient trustees had decided 81 $50 acres.
On December 81, 1912, the trustees
entered into an agreement with the
representatives Of the Tallahassee,
Thomasville and Gulf Railway Co.,
Whereby this company is to convey to
the state school board all their claim
No. 513,005 in consideration OF their
receiving 22,40o acres, the same being
situated in the southeastern portion OF
the Everglades. AS you know, ] in
IL instrumental In pushing it through.
In all these however, all the other
trustees assisted me very materially.
HOLD OVER 100000 ACRES.
ST understand the trustees now
hold something over one million acres.
Our attorney has made report upon
the claims of other railroad companies.
From such report the railroads would
hardly be able to secure any more
lands. It may be such. however, that
1t would be well to compromise on a
very reasonable basis, rather than go
to the expense, worry and uncertainty
OF q law suit.
At the request OF the trustees, in
September, 1912, I attended q confer
ence in New York City, of the gentle
men representing the large landed In
terests, situated in the Everglades.
Since a certain onslaught of the lands
of the trustees, it has been very diff
cult to sell any lands and it has been
dif1fcuft, therefore, to finance, the prop
osition Those owing the trustees
have found difficulty in paying the
same. At this New York conference,
the captains of industry and their rep
resentatives were anxious for the great
work Of the reclamation of the Ever
Slades to be continued. They were I'M