The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-06
THE GOVERNOR s MESSAGE
TO THE STA TIE LEGISLATURE

as the shellfsh commissioner, who is
now charged with the administration
of our oyster and saltwater fish laws.
The fish and game are natural re-
sources belonging to all the people of
the state and certainly substantial rev.
enues should accrue TO the state
through the use and enjoyment of this
reasource.
State Prison Farm.
4 I believe that a state prison farm is
necessary, and we have at Raiford, in
Bradford county, an institution which,
4 If properly handled, can be made to
efficiently serve the purpose of it's
creation. We have 1888 acres of land
and nearly 1000 acres of which are
now under cultivation, the remaining
acreage being largely pasturage and
woodland. The maintenance of such
a farm, in my opinion, Is necessary in
order that some place may be provided
for those aged and decrepit who are
not physically fit to perform hard
manual labor. This is the only reason
for the maintenance of such an insti-
tuition. The people of Florida very
justly feel that the convicts who are
physically At should perfrom manual
labor and certainly no better place
for the performance of such labor
can be provided than upon our public
roads. In the meantime, we should re-,
quire those not able to work on the
public roads, that they in a large meas
ure sustain themselves on the state
farm, without the financial burden to
the state which it has borne in the
past.
The institution at Raiford has grown
to such proportions that it requires a
large percentage of convicts there to
maintain the farm, resulting in a bur-
den upon the state finances, which I
believe should not continue. Each year
there Is large deficit in the expendi-
lures over the income derived from
the receipts of the farm. The opera
ton for each year of its existence
shows a large deficit-that of 1920 ap-
proximately 100000. The state can
not operate an institution of this char
acter with the same economy as an
individual. In fact, the primary pur-
pose of the farm was not to launch
the state out into private enterprise in
competition with the citizens. Our
work there should be only incidental,
as a means of taking care of the pris-
oners who are not physically able to
perform manual labor upon the public
roads. The operations are upon too
large a scale and the more convicts
retained upon it, the more will be the
expense of the people of the state in
maintaining it.
Pubic Roads.
The creation of the state road de-
partment by the legislature of 1915
was necessary If the state would uti-
lie it's share of the fund which the ma
tional government has appropriated
for road construction. It's creation was
essential then; its continuance is nee
essary now. 1t has not performed in
the past as effectively and efficiently
as the people have desired, and wheth-
er II will do so in the future will de-
pend largely upon the personnel of the
department and of the policies which
they adopted. AS is we'll known, the
federal government will pay so per
cent OF the cost of any road which has
been designated as a federal aid prof.
ect, and provided that the construction
Is in keeping with regulations pre-
| scribed by the national government.
No funds are received whatever from
the national government except for
work upon federal aid projects, and
4
state of Florida has not utilized the
appropriations OF the national govern
ment TO any considerable extent. There
is to the credit of Florida nearly So
100000 now held by the national gov
eminent for road construction in our
state, none of which, however, is avail
able except for work on roads desig-
mated as federal aid projects, and only
then when the state contributes a like
amount as the national government.
1t is readily apparent that If we are to
utilize the above funds from the ma
tional government, then we must take
steps to raise considerable money for
the state road department. And the
state road department will be obliged
to expend the funds so raised upon
the federal aid project. Evidently, the
work must be largely conferred upon
the roads approved as federal aid
| projects, and which will connect the
different sections of the state, as dis
| tinguished from the localities of the
state. However the board should, and
/ am advised that they will do so, use
every effort to have designated as fed
eral aid projects roads which traverse
those counties which have contributed
funds to the state road department.
The only funds at the command of the
department is the mill tax, which will
provide little more than 100000, 900;
the tax on gasoline, which provided
last year about $4,000: also Is per
cent of the automobile license tax,
same being used for the maintenance
of the department. Eighty-five per
cent of state automobile license tax be-
ing apportioned by the state to the
counties.
The Everglades.
In 1850 the congress of the United
States passed an act known as the
/ Swamp and Overlooked Land Grant
Act" Through this act there has come
20 this state more than 20,000,000 acres
OF swamp and over1owed land, among
which are the Everglades. One OF the
conditions of the grant was: THAT the
proceeds of said land, whether from
| sale or by direct appropriation in