Population-Property wrecked-Fisheries-Land Statement. 327 the year 1860, her population will be quadrupled, her resources and wealth augmented in still greater ratio; and the most exposed and defenceless section of the Union rendered impregnable. By even yielding to the state merely the lands made valuable by the works she may construct, and with the means thereby afforded for the employment of labor in the construction of such works, she will be enabled to do much. Grant her all the vacant land, and, (excepting the "ship canal,") she may effect all that her own interests, or those of her sister states demand, now or hereafter. A reference to the map of Florida now sent to you, made at the Bureau of Topographical Engineers in 1846, and to a chart of the light-houses of the United States also inclosed, will show you that with upwards of 1,200 miles of dangerous sea-board, there are fewer light-houses in the state than there are appurtenant to the cities either of New-York or Boston. Property of upwards of two hundred millions of dollars in value, it is estimated, annually passes along a large portion of the Florida coasts, which are in many places as much exposed and dangerous as the coast of any section of the Union. In the document referred to in note (E), annexed hereto, you will find stated the value of the property annually wrecked on the keys and reefs and coasts of South Florida, and which is carried into Key West for adjudication of the salvage, for each of the ten years last past. A large amount wrecked elsewhere, on the upper coast, and that which is totally lost, is not estimated; nor is the great loss of human life adverted to. The average value of all the property annually wrecked and lost on all the Florida coasts and reefs cannot be less than a million of dollars! You are referred to the statements procured from the treasury department herewith sent to you, and to the documents specified in note (F), for the tonnage and foreign exports and imports and other statistics of the state. You will find in some of the documents I send you, authentic information as to the fisheries on the coast of Florida. It is predicted, that before many years, these fisheries will become a source of profitable employment to thousands of seafaring men, who will be in duced thereby to become residents of the islands and coasts contiguous to them; and they will be looked to, particularly by the inhabitants of the great western valley for the supply of that article of subsistence; and other sections of the Union, and foreign countries may likewise be furnished from them. They pertain exclusively to the state, the constitution whereof asserts its right; and they are regarded as destined to be of as much importance and value, as the fisheries on the coast of the British Colonies at the north-east end of this continent. In addition to the documents above mentioned, I inclose you a letter (G) respecting the State of Florida, from that intelligent officer J. C. G. Kennedy, Esq. of the "Census Bureau;" and also a statement (H), compiled from the laws of all the appropriations of money or lands made by Congress since the acquisition of the Floridas, in any wise, in aid of public improvements therein. Though hundreds of invalids and valetudinarians annually resort to Florida from the north and west during the winter months, the state has been slandered as being insalubrious. The letter of Mr. Kennedy proves that on the score of health she stands ahead of any other southern state, and is exceeded by but two states of the Union. Some transient visitors to Florida, ignorant of the ordinances of Providence for the preservation of health in tropical regions, and ignorant of the genial effect of the climate upon the soil; and comparing the soil of Florida with the rich bottom lands of the western and middle states, denounce the lands of Florida as "barren sands," as "worthless," &c. Mr. Kennedy's testimony, founded on the unerring test of official statistics of facts, disproves all these notions, and establishes the fact that in proportion to the improved lands, and in proportion also to her population, her agricultural products exceed in value those of any other state of the Union; and so also in proportion to her slave population, they exceed in value those of any other of the slave states. APPENDIX.-C. Statement compiled from Report of Commissioner of General Land Office as to public lands in Florida, June 30, 1851, and other documents in the General Land Office: Area in square miles... Area in acres. 59,268 37,931,520 22,314,689 Unsurveyed... Offered for sale. Sold..... Surveyed and not offered. Grants to individuals ("armed occu- Reserved for "live oak" for Navy [This does not include sites for forts, light-houses, &c., or town lots of U. S. in Pensacola and St. Augustine, nor the Keys and Islands on the coasts, all of which are reserved for the present, the departments having decided that an act of Congress is necessary to release a reservation by the President for any purpose.] Reservation for town of St. Mark's Confirmed private claims (Spanish grants, &c.).... Swamp lands returned to June 30, 1851, Reserved temporarily for Indians, under 15,616,831 The territories of Oregon and Minne 17,043,111 1,780.322 1,000,407 sota, it appears, had fewer deaths in 1850, 5,271,578 in proportion to their population, than 21,314,282 any state. This may, in some degree, be accounted for by the fact that emi954.583 gration thither is mostly of male adults 20,924 in the vigor and prime of life, and there 500,000 are in these countries comparatively fewer aged and infirm persons and 52,114 fewer children than in the old settled 6,240 states. The entire area of Florida, in acres, is 31,240 37,931,520, and of this there were in 1850 163,888 only 349,049 acres of improved land. The official average valuation of these improved lands, made by the returning officers, is $18 per acre, being much less than the average valuation of improved lands in any other state or territory. 305 1,939,789 Florida has less improved lands than any state except Rhode Island and California. Land sold in year ending June 30, 1851, 27,873 acres; receipts same time, $34,842. The expenses in Florida of the United States as to the public lands for some years exceed the receipts. (G.) CENSUS OFFICE, WASHINGTON CITY, August 23d, 1852. DEAR SIR :-In compliance with your request, I enclose you sundry printed statements compiled in this office in January last, from the official returns, relating to the population, products, &c., of Florida, and also of other states, so far as is necessary to verify the comparisons made below. The statements are generally correct, but typographical and other errors, which exist to an inconsiderable extent, will be rectified in the official publication soon to be made. These corrections will not change materially any of the results given. It seems: That the number of deaths in Florida in the year ending June 1st, 1850, was 933, the population being 87,400. This is but 1 in 93 (and a fraction) in that year, and is less in proportion than in any other state of the Union, except Vermont, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Milch cows. Sheep.. Value of live stock. Indian corn, bushels of. Rice, pounds of.. Ginned cotton, bales of 400 lbs. each. Wool, pounds of. Irish potatoes, bushels of.. Peas and beans, bushels of.. Hops, pounds of. Silk cocoons, pounds of.. Beeswax and honey, pounds of.. value of animals slaughtered.. 349,049 1,236,240 $6,323,109 $658,795 10,848 5,002 72,876 5,794 182,415 23,311 It seems that in proportion to the quantity of improved lands, Florida produces more cotton than any other state. So also in proportion to the slave population she produces more cotton than any other slave state. So also in proportion to her entire population she produces more cotton than any other state of the Union. Cotton-Sugar, &c.—Imports and Exports-Finances. She produces more sugar (from cane), in proportion to the lands in cultivation, in proportion to her slave population, and also in proportion to her entire population, than any other state of the Union, except Louisiana and Texas. Florida raises a greater quantity of tobacco than any of the other states except Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri; and in proportion to the lands in cultivation, and to the population, greater than several of those states. She raises a greater number of bushels of sweet potatoes than any state of the Union, in proportion to the land in cultivation, and slave population, and aggregate population. The number of cattle in Florida compares with that of any state in the same way. No account of oranges, figs, olives, plantains, bananas, yams, or other tropical fruits, or of the coompty or arrow root, or sisal hemp, or other tropical productions, can be given at this time from this office. There is great difficulty in estimating the value of the different products of the different states, and of the same products in different states; but from a general and hasty estimate from the best data I can refer to, and, from comparison, I am satisfied the value of the agricultural products of Florida (of course in the state), in proportion to the area of improved lands, and to the population, slave or free, and both, will compare favorably with the value of the products of any state of the Union. When, therefore, the lower value of the land and of the agricultural implements used is esti mated, and also the superior health of the state is considered, your anticipations of the comparison being advantageous to your state will be realized. (F.) 329 TREASURY DEPARTMEMT, Register's Office, August 25, 1852. DEAR SIR-I have caused a clerk to compile the memoranda desired by you 1850, imports from foreign ports. 46 66 64 1850, exports to foreign ports. 1851, 66 66 $95,109 94,997 2,607,968 3,939,910 Tonnage in 1850, 9,365 tons; in 1851, 11,272 tons. Of the exports in 1850, $2,546,471 was from Apalachicola, and in 1851 there was $3,858,983 from the same port. In 1851, the foreign exports from St. Mark's were $61,755. Much more than half of the tonnage of the entire state is from Key West. Of the value of shipments of foreign or domestic merchandise, or products from and to Florida ports coastwise to and from other ports of the United States, no returns are made to the Treasury, It ments of cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar, is presumed that the value of the shiplumber, tar, turpentine, and other products of Florida so shipped coastwise, vastly exceeds the value of the foreign importations. from Florida ports, greatly exceed the ment. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, N. SARGEANT. Brown, of Florida. Florida is behind many of the states in her corn crop, and she raises but a small quantity of wheat, rye, or oats; and it appears the value of all investments in the State of Florida in cotton Extracts from the last Message of Governor manufactures is $80,000, which is of cotton goods, making 624,000 yards of sheeting annually. It is impossible, at this moment, to furnish the statistics of the lumber business in Florida, which amounts to a large sum annually. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Jos. C. G. KENNEDY, Supď't. Hon. E. C. CABELL. "It is a melancholy reflection that while the spirit of improvement is pervading every other state-opening new sources of wealth and comfort, and stimulating human industry in all its varied departments Florida alone, like the slothful servant who buried his talent, seems well nigh content with inaction and repose on this vital subject. We do not transcend the limits of truth when him to make judicious appointments; we claim for her natural advantages, and as no salaries are provided, it is not resources, and capabilities for improve- presumable that persons could be found ment, unsurpassed by those of any other to perform the duties prescribed without state of the Union. She is the fifth in compensation; consequently, no appointterritorial area-the third in health- ments have been made; but an agricul with some 1,200 miles Atlantic and gulf tural society has been organized in the sea-board-a fruitful soil-a genial cli- county of Leon, with the view of conmate, extending within the tropic of stituting a central society for the state, Cancer, and a range of agricultural pro- with auxiliary societies in the different ducts of unsurpassed variety and value. counties, which would lead to the accomShe has noble rivers spacious har- plishment of the objects contemplated bors-inexhaustible supplies of timber. by the act, with the assistance of a sciAround her floats, in endless succes- entific state geologist, to furnish the sion, a large portion of the commer- 'information relating to the soil, produccial marine of the civilized world, and tions, and climate,' of the various porshe lies in the direct line of travel tions of the state. The appointment of and transportation between the great such an officer would probably be marts of the northeast and southwest- attended with the most beneficial effects the Atlantic, the Gulf, and the Pacific in the development of the agricultural resources of Florida." coasts. FINANCES OF FLORIDA, 1851-52. fiscal year ending 31st October, 1851, $84,147 25 From ordinary sources: $5,164 54 "With all these advantages, her progress, if it deserves the name, has no The receipts at the Treasury during the parallel within the limits of the Union in feebleness and insignificance. Colonized 300 years ago, she is still weak in numbers-with very little greater comparative public or private wealth than less favored sections, and the broad bosom of millions of her acres, susceptible of profitable tillage, is yet undisturbed by the hand of agricultural labor. License tax. Auction" Revenue of 1846. of 1848. 66 of 1849. of 1850. 66 of 1851.. To which add amount received in re demption of land... 818 51 1,900 09 255 43 135 77 1,167 40 727 69 40,857 44 6,114 23 $57,141 10 274 03 Amount rec'd in loan from School Fund 25,000 00 46 66 in reimbursement of a period amount to.... "The last General Assembly passed 'An Act to organize and establish a board of agriculture for the state of Florida,' which provides that it shall 'be composed of three persons resident at Tallahassee, and one corresponding member from each county in the state to be appointed by the governor;' and declares, that it shall be the duty of such corresponding members to collect The WARRANTS issued during the same and report to the head of the bureau at Tallahassee, by mail or otherwise, all information relating to the soil, production, and climate, &c.; and, further, 'that it shall be the duty of the chiefs of this department to transcribe and arrange all such information in a book to be kept by them for that purpose, and in some convenient form-at all business hours to keep the same open for public inspection and benefit, and also to distribute all seeds or plants they may receive for that purpose.' All these provisions, it is respectfully submitted, are either impracticable or inexpedient. The governor could hardly be expected to possess such intimate knowledge of From auction tax. all the counties in the state as to enable Jurors and witnesses. 1,727 12 5 00 $84,147 25 $67,187 73 18,804 11 11,877 93 5,772 90 1,900 63 1,910 85 Salaries..... Orphan Fund.. The RECEIPTS for the year ending 31st fines.... 66 license tax. 500 00 250 00 1,000 00 414 68 159 18 486 12 478 42 731 84 $67,187 73 $60,619 63 $1,292 65 2,300 27 4,391 24 Swamp and Table Lands-Gulf Slope-Variety of Soil. 331 The gulf slope is intersected by numerous short rivers, formed by single 44 75 springs bursting up all along the coast from five to fifteen, or twenty miles from 5,000 00 the gulf. The Atlantic slope is divided $60,619 63 $55,234 49 $20,000 00 9,470 25 4,864 58 1,842 42 250 00 218 40 1,873 98 4,301 09 2,000 00 255 00 $55,234 49 "JOHN WILSON, "Acting Commissioner." Extract from the Tropical Farmer. East Florida is that part of the Peninsula from the Suwanee river, east and south. This region is naturally divided into the Gulf and Atlantic slopes, and the table lands-a slightly elevated plain between the two slopes. The table lands rise gradually from the Suwanee river south, to the head waters of the Withlacooche; averaging in width about twenty miles, with but few streams of running water, and an occasional fresh water lake-varying in size from that of a mere pond, to one of twenty to thirty miles circuit. These lakes are few, and by the St. John's river, a magnificent stream, averaging more than two miles in width, rising in the Okachobee lake at the head of the Everglades, and running north at the distance of some eighteen or twenty miles from the Atlantic coast-widening in many places into extensive lakes; and finally turning east, not far from the northern boundary of the state, empties into the Atlantic. The table land is the most desirable portion of the country on many accounts -especially the counties of Alachua, Marion and Hernando, (formerly Benton.) The rich land is better diffused, allowing better chance for good neighborhoods, likely to prove healthy-free from insects-soil quite as rich, and climate pretty much the same as the slopes. On the Atlantic side there is but little good lands, except near New Smyrna, and on the Indian river inlet. The St. John's affords but little first-rate land, though where there is a body of good land on this river, it is destined to be very valuable for sugar and tropical fruits. On the gulf side there is much good land, but in large and dense hommocks, all along the coast; only divided by short rivers. These lands will become immensely valuable for sugar; but will never be settled by a large white population. They will be owned by heavy planters, who will either reside upon the Keys, or in the interior. The soil is of every variety, from the poorest pine barrens to the richest allu vions. The hommocks of the table land are of various sizes, from half an acre to forty thousand acres. The most wonderful appearance of these hommocks is, their elevation above the pine and hickory lands. The whole region is high and rolling, but in coming out of a hommock, which appears whilst you are in it, like a vast river bottom, you are astonished to find yourself going down hill into the pine barren. The soil is a mixture of lime, sand, In alumina and vegetable matter. some places the sand largely predominates, in others the clay; both in the |