Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/835

FLORIDA. The river and harbor facilities have recently been greatly improved as a result of the heavy Congressional appropriations for that purpose. Thus aided, the commercial development of the State advanced very rapidly during the last years of the nineteenth century. In 1899, 2840 vessels, aggregating 2,464,026 tons, cleared the ports of Florida. The places having the largest export trade were Pensacola, Tampa, and Jacksonville; other export centres are Fernandina, Key West, Punta Gorda, Carrabelle, Apalachicola, and Saint Augustine. Most of these export forest products and phosphate for both foreign and home markets. Pensacola has large foreign shipments of grain, cotton, and tobacco. Tampa and Key West have a large trade in cigars. Punta Gorda exports vegetables and fish, and Carrabelle large quantities of turpentine.

. The receipts for the year ending December 31, 1900, amounted to $989,058, and the disbursements were $936,915. Only $190,800 of the $1,032,000 bonded debt of the State were in the hands of private individuals.

. In October, 1900, there were 17 national banks in operation with an aggregate capital stock of $1,255,000; circulation outstanding, $642,000; deposits, $6,600,000; and reserve, $2,318,000. In June of the same Mar there were 23 State banks, with $4,643,000 resources, $742,000 capital, and $3,489,000 deposits. There was but one savings bank.

. The following is the population of Florida by decades: 1830, 34,730; 1840, 54,477; 1850, 87,445; 1860, 140,424; 1870, 187,748; 1880, 269,493; 1890, 391,422; 1900, 528,542—230,730 negroes.

The absolute increase from 1890 to 1900 was greater than for any previous decade. In 1900 the average number of persons to the square mile was 9.7. Cities exceeding 10,000 in population were: Jacksonville, 28,400; Pensacola, 17,700; Key West, 17,100; Tampa, 15,800. The foreign-born population numbered 23,832, most of whom were from Cuba and the West Indies. The tendency to segregate in cities is slightly more marked than in the neighboring States. There are six places of over 4000 inhabitants, constituting 16.5 per cent. of the total population.

. About one-half of the church members of Florida belong to the Methodist Church; more than two-thirds of the remainder are Baptists; other denominations represented are: Catholic, Presbyterian. Protestant Episcopal, Disciples of Christ, Congregational, and Lutheran. Of these the Catholics are the strongest.

. Education in Florida is in an unsatisfactory state. The average length of the school year generally falls under 100 days, which is true of but few other States. The average expenditure per capita of population is only one-half that for the United States as a whole, and less than one-third the average for the States, excluding those formerly holding slaves. There is a recent decrease in illiteracy attributable to the dying off of adults rather than to improvements in educational methods. In 1900 the illiterates ten years of age and over were about 22 per cent. of the total number of that age, a larger per cent. of illiteracy being shown in but eleven other States and Territories. The educational status is attributable to the presence of a large negro population, though the burden of

negro education in itself is not so prominent a factor in the situation as is usually supposed. A process of transportation of students and consolidation of schools has resulted in a decrease in the actual number of schools, but the per cent. of attendance is slowly increasing for both whites and blacks. There are about thirty public and private secondary schools in the State, and two public and three private normal schools. Other higher State institutions of learning are as follows: Agricultural College at Lake City, East Florida Seminary and Military Institute at Gainesville, West Florida Seminary at Tallahassee, and South Florida Military and Educational Institute at Bartow. There are also the following private and denominational colleges: John B. Stetson University at De Land, one of the institutions affiliated with the University of Chicago; Florida Conference College, at Leesburg; Rolin's College, at Winterpark; and Saint Leo Military College, in Pasco County.

. The State maintains an institution for the blind, deaf, and dumb at Saint Augustine, and a State Reform School at Marianna. There are a hospital for the insane and a Confederate Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Tallahassee. The number of State convicts in recent years has averaged about 700. Of these nearly six-sevenths are colored. Florida, in common with some other Southern States, still follows the questionable method of farming out convicts to contractors, thus avoiding the heavy expenses incurred by other penal systems—indeed, actually making them a source of income to the State. In 1900 the convicts were divided into 13 camps, 7 of which were engaged in mining phosphate and 6 in the manufacture of naval stores.

. The present Constitution was ratified by popular vote in November, 1886. An amendment may be adopted by a three-fifths vote of each House and the approval of a majority of the electors of the State voting at a general election. A constitutional convention may be called if demanded by a two-thirds vote of each House and the approval of the majority of the State electors voting at a general election. Suffrage is granted to male persons of twenty-one years, who are citizens of the United States, or who shall have declared their intention of becoming such, and have lived in Florida one year and in the county six months. Since 1880 there has been an educational qualification for voters. The registration of voters is required.

. The Legislature meets on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April of odd years. There are 32 Senators chosen for four years, and 68 Assemblymen for two years; legislative sessions are biennial, and limited to 60 days; members have $6 a day and mileage. A bill may embrace but one subject, and may originate in either House. All impeachments are made by the House and tried by the Senate. A two-thirds vote of the members present in each House overrides the Governor's veto.

. The Governor is elected for four years and cannot succeed himself. There are also elected for the same term of office a secretary, comptroller, attorney-general, commissioner of agriculture, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. The first four of these, together with the Governor, may remit fines and