The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-20

For a third Of a century, if not
longer, there has been talk of a divi-
sion of Florida that would put the part
of the state west of the Apalachico!a
river in Alabama. For a number of
years the idea was confined to West
Florida and then something akin to it
began to be talked about in South
Florida. We have never considered
1t worthy of notice and have never
felt more like discussing it than we
would have felt like discussion the an
nexation of the moon to Florida.
But the question has gotten promi-
nent enough now to permit of discus
sion as a possibility. Whether it is a
probability or not is another matter.
The first question is: Does Alabama
desire to annex the territory? This is
settled. The last Legislature of Ala
bama passed an act proving for the
annexation of this territory if Florida
consents. The next step is to secure
the consent of the Florida legislature
and the matter will be brought before
the legislature now in session. 1t is
safe to say that if the members from
the counties west Of the Apalachicola
ODJSCL THAT Will emu Tie 41IdIiCI" IL
they favor annexation that will bring
on more talk. If the Florida legisla-
ture hands the question down to the
people of this state they will vote on
it and If the majority of the people of
Florida consent it will still be neces-
sary to get the consent of congress. So
we see there are quite a number eli
Ifs" in the way.
It is generally believed that the ma
jority of the people west of the Ap4-
lachicola river will favor this move
ment. 1t will be strengthened by the
feeling in South Florida that the state
is not permitting that part of Florida
to exercise the power that belongs to
1t rightfully. There are probably quite
a number of men in South Florida who
would vote for the division of the state
on the idea Of moving the center oil
population and Of influence further
south.
Then if a legislative apportionment
is made taking from a number of
counties one of their members of the
legislature the division of the state
would restore this representation to
most of them without any constitu-
IlOudl amendment lACISdSlLlE ILS 1AOAA1~
Der of members.
So the proposition is not as inCon- |
ceivable as it was a few years ago. If |
it goes through, instead of failing, it
would add to Alabama and take from
Florida about $500 square miles, MAX |
ing Alabama the largest state in area |
east of the Mississippi river, and raise |
that state from eighteenth to fifteenth
I1%S fnv- I FOL L "a
about 165, 900 people from Florida and
add them to the population of Ala
bama. This would reduce Florida |
from thirty-second to thirty-fourth |
place in population.
The text of the act adopted in 1919
by the legislature of Alabama author
izing negotiations for the purchase of |
the nine counties of Florida west Of
the Apalachicola river follows:
Alabama General Laws, regular
session 1919. No. 625. H. 692
IAN act to provide for the annexa-
ton Of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia,
Holmes, jackson. Okaloosa, Santa
Rosa, Walton and Washington coun-
ties in West Florida to the State of
Alabama, with the assent of the State
of Florida and the congress of the
United States.
BE it enacted by the legislature Of
Alabama
81. Believing that it will be of 1nu-
tual benefit to both the state of Flor
ida and the state of Alabama to
the boundary line between the
said states from it's present location to
the Apalachicola river and include
within the state of Alabama the coun-
ties of Florida known as Bay, Calhoun,
Holmes, Jackson, Okalosa,
Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington,
the governor of Alabama is hereby
and directed to appoint
three commissioners, to be known as
the state boundary commission, on the
part of the state of Alabama, to act
with a like commission on behalf of the
state of Florida whenever the legisla-
ture of Florida shall pass a similar
act, for the purposes described in this
act.
2. That the said commissioners
and their successors be and are here
by authorized and empowered, in be-
half of the state of Alabama to de-
termine the state boundary line be-
tween Alabama and Florida to be the
Apalachicola river from the Georgia
state line to the western boundary line
Of Franklin county, and then. follow
ng the present county line between
he counties of Calhoun and Franklin,
Or along the line as they may deter
mine.
-. That the said commissioners
md their successors be further en- ,
powered to do and perform all acts ,
and necessary to perfect and ,
any agreement for tina. :
session of the aforesaid territory, now =,
part of the state of Florida, TO the .
tate of Alabama, and that, whenever !
n agreement has been reached by the y
aid commissioners it shall be COM
nunicated by them in writing to bo,h :
he governor of Florida and the rnu-