286 



FLORIDA. 



bill. The last measure provides for the organ- 

 ization of not more than 10 companies of volun- 

 teers, to be called the Florida State troops, es- 

 tablishes armories for them, and prescribes their 

 equipment and discipline. Before the passage 

 of this act the State militia was disorganized 

 and almost defunct. New charters were grant- 

 ed to the cities of Jacksonville, Tampa, Fer- 

 nandina, Palatka, and De Land. The St. John's 

 Conference College (Methodist), and De Land 

 University, in the city of De Land, were in- 

 corporated. The regular appropriation tor the 

 year 1887 was $470,293 ; for 1888, $405,900 ; 

 and for the first quarter of 1889, $51,400. 

 Other acts of the session were as follow : 



Appropriating $10,000 to pay the debt of the East 

 Florida Seminary, and $1,000 for each of the next 

 two years for its support. 



To repeal all laws or parts of laws that impose a 

 license tax upon commercial agents or " drummers." 



To supply deficiencies for the years 1885 and 1886, 

 viz. : for expenses of the Constitutional Convention 

 of 1885, $20,500 ; for expenses of the census of 1885, 

 $6,000 ; for contingent expenses of the Supreme Court, 

 $2,600 ; for jurors and witnesses during 1886 and pre- 

 vious years, $76,000. 



To provide, in accordance with the new Constitu- 

 tion, that on petition of one fourth of the electors of 

 any county an election may be had, not oftener than 

 once in two year?, to decide ^yhetherthe sale of intoxi- 

 cating liquors shall be prohibited therein, and regu- 

 lating the procedure at such elections. 



Fixing the date of elections, the officers to be voted 

 for, and the procedure at such elections under the new 

 Constitution. [By this act a complete set of State of- 

 ficers legislative, executive, and judicial are to be 

 chosen on the Tuesday after the first Monday of No- 

 vember, 1888, and a general election is to be held 

 every two years thereafter. Members of the Lower 

 House of the Legislature are elected for two years. 

 Justices of the Supreme Court for six years, one of 

 them retiring every two years ; all other State officers 

 hold their places for four years.] 



Requiring all railroads in the State to be fenced. 



Prohibiting the consolidation of parallel or compet- 

 ing lines of railway in the State. 



Giving mechanics, artisans, laborers, and persons 

 furnishing materials, a lien on the property construct- 

 ed, or upon the property of the contractor for such 

 work or materials. 



Forbidding the purchase of seed cotton at night. 



To protect the fresh-water fisheries of the State. 



Fixing the age of consent in females at 17 years. 



To suppress gambling-houses and gambling. 



The following new counties were created : 'Osceola, 

 from portions of Orange and Brevard; Lee, out of 

 Monroe ; De Soto, out of Manatee ; Lake, from por- 

 tions of Sumter and Orange ; Pasco and Citrus coun- 

 ties, from portions of Hernando. 



To authorize the Savannah, Florida, and Western 

 Railway Company to construct and operate a railroad 

 from Tallahassee, and also a railroad from Monticello 

 to the Georgia and Florida State line. 



Granting to certain persons the right to dig and 

 mine in the beds of the navigable streams and waters 

 forphosphate rocks and deposits. 



To incorporate the Florida Normal School and Busi- 

 ness Institute at White Springs. 



For the incorporation and regulation of building and 

 loan associations. 



To provide for the incorporation of colleges, acade- 

 mies, and other institutions of learning. 



To provide for the appointment of a board of ex- 

 aminers, and to regulate the practice of dentistry. 



Amending the procedure in taking lands of private 

 individuals or corporations for the use of railroads or 

 canals. 



Providing that the county judges shall issue mar- 

 riage licenses, and that these shall be recorded. 



To prescribe the rules of pleading and practice of 

 the county courts of the several counties of this State 

 in civil and criminal cases. 



Forbidding free passes or special rates for members 

 of the Legislature or any salaried State officer. 



Finances. The bonded debt of the State, at 

 the beginning of the year, consisted of $350,- 

 000 seven-per cent, bonds of 1871, and $925,- 

 000 six-per-cent. bonds of 1873, making a total 

 indebtedness of $1,275,000. Of these bonds, 

 $218,800 are held in the sinking fund of the 

 State, and $625,500 by the various educational 

 funds, leaving only $430,700 in the hands of in- 

 dividuals. No provision being made for re- 

 funding them before maturity, the State is un- 

 able to take advantage of the lower rates of 

 interest now prevailing. During 1886 the to- 

 tal State expenditures were $407,806, and the 

 income from State tax and licenses $423,679, 

 of which $296,323 was the State tax. In 1887 

 the same tax was $328,038, an increase caused 

 by a law raising the rate from 4 to 4| mills. 

 This act was rendered necessary by a provision 

 of the new Constitution, throwing upon the 

 State the cost and expenses of criminal prose- 

 cutions, which were heretofore paid by the 

 counties, and which amount to about $100,000 

 annually. At the same time, the county tax 

 was reduced one mill, making a general re- 

 duction of taxes to the people of half a mill. 

 The total county tax in 1886 was $662.067; 

 in 1887, $666,879. 



Statistics. The population of the State, now 

 over 350,000, is increasing more rapidly than 

 at any previous period. In two years from 

 March, 1885, the city of Pensacola gained 

 3,684 people, increasing her whole population 

 to 14,220. One city, Gainesville, containing 

 5,038 people, has gained 1,200 in a year. 



The following figures are taken from the 

 assessment rolls of 1886: number of acres of 

 land assessed, 19,888,091; number improved 

 and cultivated, 709,950 ; value of city or town 

 lots with improvements, $16,314,568 ; value 

 of other real property, $41,159,728 ; number 

 of horses and mules, 40,217; cattle, 464,454; 

 sheep and goats, 111,093 ; swine, 177,137 ; 

 value of all animals, $5,466,243 ; value of all 

 personal property, $18,436,045 ; total valuation 

 of real and personal property, $76,611,409. 



Charities and Prisons. The superintendent of 

 the State Insane Asylum reports an increase 

 of patients for the two years ending Jan. 1, 

 1887, from 157 to 192. An additional three- 

 story brick building has been erected. There 

 is a large farm connected with the institution 

 in successful operation. The total cost to the 

 State for the support of its lunatics in 1886 

 was $44,954. 



At the State Blind and Deaf Mute Institute, 

 15 pupils were in attendance at the beginning 

 of the year. 



The convicts are hired out and cared for, 

 without expense to the State, under a four 

 years' contract ending in December, 1889, with 



