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 Swamp lands returned to June 30, 1851, 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. Wool, pounds of. Irish potatoes, bushels of.. Peas and beans, bushels of.. Value of produce of market gardens Hops, pounds of... Other grass seeds, bushels of Silk cocoons, pounds of. Value of home-made manufactures. 72,876 5,794 182,415 23,311 209,453 $2,880,058 1,027 1,152 1,996,809 66,586 1,075,090 998,614 45,131 23,247 135,359 7,828 757,226 55 1,280 10 $8,721 371,498 18,015 2,510 2 14 50 6 2,752 352,893 18,971 $75,582 $514,685 It seems that in proportion to the quan tity 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 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 estimated, 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 DEpartment, Register's Office, August 25, 1852. DEAR SIR-I have caused a clerk to compile the memoranda desired by you of the statistics of commerce and navigation in Florida in 1850-1, which is as follows: 1851, 66 66 1850, imports from foreign ports.. 1851, 66 $95,109 94,997 2,607,968 3,939,910 Tonnage in 1850, 9,365 tons; in 1851, 11,272 tons. from Apalachicola, and in 1851 there Of the exports in 1850, $2,546,471 was 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. Öf 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 The exports, foreign and coastwise, products of the state. This you will perceive by comparison of the census office returns, and estimating them with the statistics you can procure from the chamber of commerce of each port, or merchants, of the coastwise exports, adding the latter to the foreign exports above fact that a large amount of the products given. This is accounted for by the of the States of Alabama and Georgia is sent to the Florida gulf ports for ship ment. 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 agriculwith 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 Fines. bosom of millions of her acres, susceptible of profitable tillage, is yet undisturbed by the hand of agricultural labor. License tax. Revenue of 1846 66 of 1847. of 1848 66 of 1849 66 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 in reimbursement of a Salaries.. "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 period amount to....... Jurors and witnesses Rent of Armory Fines refunded.. Interest due School Fund. $60,619 63 $1,292 65 2,300 27 4,391 24 Swamp and Table Lands-Gulf Slope-Variety of Soil. 331 14 21 150 00 306 80 1,120 19 5,525 44 5,000 00 stock water is rather scarce in this region. The gulf slope is intersected by nu40,474 08 merous short rivers, formed by single 44 75 springs bursting up all along the coast from five to fifteen, or twenty miles from the gulf. The Atlantic slope is divided $60,619 63 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 run9,470 25 ning north at the distance of some eigh4,864 58 teen or twenty miles from the Atlantic 9,658 77 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. $55,234 49 $20,000 00 SWAMP LANDS OF FLORIDA.. 1,842 42 500 00 218 40 2,000 00 "GENERAL LAND OFFICE." The table land is the most desirable portion of the country on many accounts -especially the counties of Alachua, $55,234 49 Marion and Hernando, (formerly Benton.) The rich land is better diffused, allowing better chance for good neighborhoods, likely to prove healthy-free mate pretty much the same as the slopes. from insects-soil quite as rich, and cliOn the Atlantic side there is but little and on the Indian river inlet. good lands, except near New Smyrna, 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. "SIR,-In accordance with your request, I have the honor to state that the total area of swamp and overflowed lands selected and reported to this office by the surveyor-general of Florida, as enuring to that state under the Act of 28th September, 1850, is as follows: In the Tallahassee District.. 66 66 Newnansville District. Total... Астев. 195,207 67-100 146,097 31-100 .173,178 25-100 .514,483 23-100 The true area may vary slightly from the above quantity, as the footing up was somewhat hastily done-but it is believed that the above statement is very nearly correct. With great respect, your obedient servant, "JOHN WILSON, 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 alluvions. The hommocks of the table land. are of various sizes, from half an acre to forty thousand acres. แ 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 The most wonderful appearance of into the Gulf and Atlantic slopes, and the these hommocks is, their elevation above table lands-a slightly elevated plain the pine and hickory lands. The whole between the two slopes. The table region is high and rolling, but in coming lands rise gradually from the Suwanee out of a hommock, which appears whilst river south, to the head waters of the you are in it, like a vast river bottom, Withlacooche; averaging in width about you are astonished to find yourself going twenty miles, with but few streams of down hill into the pine barren. running water, and an occasional fresh The soil is a mixture of lime, sand, water lake-varying in size from that of alumina and vegetable matter. a mere pond, to one of twenty to thirty some places the sand largely predomi miles circuit. These lakes are few, and nates, in others the clay; both in the In pine barrens and the hommocks. In unknown among us, and according to the the hommocks, the soil, which is of every color, has vast quantities both of lime and vegetable matter; rendering them vastly productive and almost inexhaustible. A singular feature in the country generally is, that the higher portions are almost invariably the richer. This part of Florida is evidently an upheave caused by a subterraneous fire. In traveling over the high lands you see at every step traces of workings of the great deep. The rocks sticking up, and lying strewed over portions both of the pine barrens and the hommocks, are evidently submarine-such as may be found at the bottom of the gulf, all covered with sea periwinkle, oyster and clam shells. These shells of ten being incorporated in the formation; in fact, the beholder is no doubt as sensibly struck with the evidences of the country's having been submerged as could have been the children of Israel, when, walking through the Red Sea, they saw the waters heaped up on either side, and trod under foot the floundering fish. last census returns, the deaths in East Florida is only a quarter of one per cent, less than any other portion of the United States. If that fraction of a per cent. could be abolished, the whole world "and the rest of mankind" would soon be here. As it is, we expect many of them here this fall and winter. There is a white stratum of shell-lime under the surface of the whole Peninsula at various depths. In all this there are shells only partially decomposed. The hommocks and high portions of the open country were no doubt basins, while the sea was over it, into which were poured for centuries, the washing of a thousand streams from ten thousand hills, rich! rich! rich! And they being a thinner portion of the layer above the raging fire, were thrown higher in the eruption. The climate in the summer is more pleasant than higher latitudes or than in any country in the same latitude not similarly situated in contiguity to the ocean, in the winter milder than any other portion of the United States. We but seldom have frosts that kill vegetation before the last of November, and in the southern portion of the Peninsula, seldom any at all. This portion of the Peninsula is destined some day to become the resort of the invalids of half our continent. The diseases of the country are few, simple, and easy of treatment. The debilitating effect of long summers is remedied with us by the cool nights which we have all the summer. The cholera, that death-plague of other countries, and the most of our states, is The productions are various and valuable, comprising sugar-cane, Cuba tobacco, cotton, long and short, corn, arrow-root, sisal hemp, and tropical fruits, all of them growing luxuriantly, as well as you could expect anything of the vegetable kind to grow in a rich soil, and in a warm and damp climate. Every thing of the vine species flourishesmelons of 60 to 70 lbs. are not uncommon. In traveling through the country, along the road, the stranger forms an unfavorable opinion of the land; the roads passing generally over the poorest portions. But let him not be disheartened, but look around and he will soon be pleased well enough to move to the Land of Flowers. And though he may object because of the small proportion of hommock, and in fact of the large proportion of poor land; he will soon be reconciled upon reflection; if the entire peninsula were rich hommock, though all were high land, it would most likely become a mere grave-yard. As it is, it is the healthiest country in the world. THE SALT OF FLORIDA.-In 1829, the easterly half of the island of Key West, consisting of a series of salt-water ponds, was leased out by the proprietors to the Lafayette Salt Company, who put up works on it, principally consisting of covered pans, after the plan adopted at Cape Cod and New-Bedford, from which the company must have taken from 15,000 to 20,000 bushels of salt annually. until 1846, when the hurricane almost entirely destroyed the improvement. The wreck of the materials was sold to Chas. Howe, Esq., who bought the landed property and rebuilt the pans and vats. He also constructed ground pans, after the manner of those in the Bahamas, from all of which he took, in 1848 and 1849, an average of over 38,000 bushels. The years 1849 and 1850 were not quite so successful, from the wetness of the season; yet there was still made in those seasons an average of 20,000 bushels. |