The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-07
G|LCHR|ST IS
AFTER PARKS IN
TALLAHASSEE
SAYS CITY HAS NO RIGHT TO
THEM, AS THEY BELONG TO
THE STATE-ALSo SAYS Gov
ERNoR'S MANSION SHOULD BE
SOLD, AS 1T is IN A NEGRO
QUARTER.
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAI


Tallahassee, Fla, Jan. 6.-Governo-
Gilchrist today submitted the following
communication to the board Of COM
missioners of state institutions:
Tallahassee, Fla, Jan. s, 1913.
Gentlemen of the Board OF Commits
sioners of State Institutions:
l would invite your attention to tbs
status of four certain squares, known
in the city of Tallahassee as parks.
You will observe from the map that
all four of them have corresponding po-
sitions with reference to the square on
which is located the capitol. They are
situated on the street running north
and south, the same bounding the cap
itol square. another the same distance
northwest of the capitol square.
The plat of the city has been ex-
amined. There is no record of the said
squares ever having been dedicated As
parks. They occupy the same status
on the plat as does the square on which
is located the capitol. 1t is quite evil
dent that those who laid out the city
of Tallahassee expected the city 20
grow and the state TO grow. These
squares were evidently intended for the
future use of the state. On one OF
these squares the one to the northeast
of the capitol, is now located the court
house of Leon county. / presume that
it would not be we'll to try to dis
possess the county OF that square.
Belongs to the State.
On the square located to the north
west of the capitol the city has huilt
upon the same a fire station. I think
that the city of Tallahassee should he
notified that this square belongs to the
state, and the city should be required
TO pay rent or move off.
The supreme court, railroad commits
sion and library building, construction
of which was authorized by action OF
the legislature of 1911, has been placed
on the square to the southwest. With
out detriment to the states claim, the
city of Tallahassee executed quit
claim deed to the same. In using this
square, the state building commission
saved to the state fully fifteen to TWEEN
ty thousand dollars. BY so doing, the
commission was enabled to erect a fire
proof building.
The beautiful square to the southeast
is still unoccupied. The records show
that the state owned the land on which
the city of Tallahassee was built. The
plat of Tallahassee was made by au-
thority of the state. BY what authority
the city of Tallahassee and the county
of Leon occupied the two squares IS
unknown. Sufficient to say. that even
had these squares been originally ded-
icsted as parks, the use of the same
for other purposes than parks would
have caused them by operation of law,
to have reverted to the original owner
the state of Florida.
1 would recommend that the Office OF
the state chemist and the little build
ing adjacent to the same, be moved@on
the square located northwest of the
capitol. These buildings are now an
eye-sore to the capitol square.
The governors mansion is located on
the edge of the city. In fact. it was
located outside of the city's limits. It
is located on side streets, and in the
vicinity of a negro quarter. 1t is very
incenveniently located. not only to the
governor and his family, but also 20
the public. II 1t is possible TO sell the
governors mansion for anything like Il
reasonable price, / would recommend
that the same be done. In such an
event, would recommend the erection
of a new governors mansion on the
square located to the southeast of tbs
capitol.
Very respectfully,
ALBERT W. GILCHRIST,
Governor.