1850. being, who shall be, ex-officio, members thereof, and one member from each of the Judicial districts of this State, to be elected by the Term of office. General Assembly, to serve for two years, and until their successors shall be elected, which said members, ex-officio and elected, shall constitute the Board of Internal Improvement of the State of Florida, and shall hold an annual meeting on the first Monday in December in each year. Annual state: ment of Treasurer. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the Treasurer shall keep a separate and distinct account of all moneys or bonds received from the sales of all swamp or overflowed lands, and shall make an an nual statement of the same to his Excellency the Governor, to be laid before the General Assembly at their regular session, SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That the said Register shall report When Register biennially to the Governor, at least ten days before the meeting of to report. the General Assembly, to be laid by him before them, upon the several matters committed to his charge, the progress made in securing the said lands, and such other matters as may be deemed proper in connection therewith, and shall report at all other times to the Governor when he may think the public interest may require it to be done. Pre-emptions. Canal-where authorized. SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That settlers on said lands shall be entitled to the benefit of the present Pre-emption Laws as on other lands. [Passed the House of Representatives, January 23, 1851. Passed the Senate, January 23, 1851. Approved by the Governor, January 24, 1851.] CHAPTER 333.-[No. 22.] AN ACT to authorize William H. Chase and Albert Golay to cut a Canal connecting the Waters of Perdido River and the Grand Lagoon. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That William H. Chase and Albert Golay, of Escambia County, be and they are hereby authorized to cut a Canal to connect the waters of the Perdido River and the Grand Lagoon. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the said Chase and Golay Right of way. shall have the right to cut the said Canal through any lands lying in the route thereof, and if they cannot agree with the owners of such land as to the price thereof, it shall be the duty of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Escambia County, upon the application of the said Chase and Golay, to issue a writ of ad quod damnum, di, rected to the Sheriff, commanding him to summon a jury of five dis interested resident freeholders of the County, to assess the damage to ensue from the cutting of said Canal, and the said jury shall make a return of said assessment upon oath to the said Clerk; on the return of said assessment, it shall be the duty of the Judge of the Writ of ad damnum. Circuit Court of said County, at the next term after said return, to enter judgment corresponding to said return, which judgment shall vest in said Chase and Golay all the rights and privileges necessary for the construction and maintaining of said Canal: Provided, No part of this act shall authorize the taking or using any property by said Chase and Golay, unless the same be previously paid for, or adequate security given for the payment thereof. 1850. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That if the said Chase and Golay Limitation. shall fail to complete the said Canal within two years from the passage of this act, the rights and privileges hereby granted are to be void. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the said Chase and Golay Toll. may charge and receive such rates of toll on said Canal as they may deem proper, not exceeding in any one year twenty per cent. on the cost of said Canal. SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That, at the expiration of twenty years, the State of Florida or the County of Escambia shall have Duration. the right to purchase the property in said Canal, at its cost. [Passed the House of Representatives, December 10, 1850. Passed the Sen ate, December 17, 1850. Approved by the Governor, December 24, 1850.] CHAPTER 334.-[No. 23.] AN ACT to provide for the opening of a Road from Miami, in Dade County, to WHEREAS, Dade County, stretching along the Atlantic sea-board SECTION 1. Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representa tives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That Appropriation, the sum of one thousand dollars be, and is hereby, appropriated out how applied. of any money belonging to the Internal Improvement Fund of this State, not otherwise appropriated, to be applied for the opening and constructing a proper wagon road, with the necessary bridges over the streams, from the Miami River, in Dade County, to Indian River, in St. Lucie County, under the direction of his Excellency, the Governor of this State. Commissioners SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That his Excellency, the Governor, is hereby authorized to appoint four Commissioners in said Counties, whose duty it shall be to let any contract or contracts which may-duty of. be necessary for the opening and constructing said Road, and after the completion of any work under any contract or contracts as aforesaid, the said Commissioners shall inspect the work, and if said work has been done according to contract, then the said Com 96 1850. CHAP. 335-336. Suwannee River. Agriculture, Board of. missioners shall give a certificate to that effect to the contractor or contractors, which certificate shall be approved of by the Judge of Probate of Dade County. Upon return SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the Governor, upon receipt of of certificate, said certificate, approved of in the form and manner prescribed in warrant to is- the foregoing section, shall certify the same to the Comptroller, who shall audit the same, and issue his warrant upon the Treasurer, in favor of said contractor or contractors, for the amount of said contract or contracts. eue. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That hereafter when a general sysInt. Im. Fund, tem of Internal Improvement may be adopted by the Legislature of when distribu- this State, and a distribution of the Internal Improvement Fund may ted, &c. be provided for by law, the amount appropriated by the first section of this act shall be deducted from the amount which would be distributed to the Counties of Dade and St. Lucie. Repeal, Board established. of. [Passed the House of Representatives, January 17, 1851. Passed the Senate, January 21, 1851. Approved by the Governor, January 23, 1851.] CHAPTER 335.-[No. 24.] AN ACT to repeal An act to improve the Navigation of the Suwannee River. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That an Act to improve the navigation of the Suwannee River, approved 8th January, 1848, be, and the same is hereby repealed. [Passed the Senate December 7, 1850. Passed the House of Representatives December 13, 1850. Approved by the Governor, December 17, 1850.] CHAPTER 336.-[No. 25.] AN ACT to organize and establish a Board of Agriculture for the State of Florida. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That there be and is hereby established a Board of Agriculture for the State of Florida, to be composed of three persons resident at Tallahassee, and one corresponding member from each County in the State, to be appointed by the Governor. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of such corresponding members to collect and report to the head of the BuMembers, duty reau at Tallahassee, by mail or otherwise, all information relating to the soil, production or climate of their districts respectively, in any way tending to advance improvement in the art of cultivation, to encourage emigration, or in any way promotive of the cause of Agriculture in the State, and also to transmit likewise any seeds or plants they may deem calculated for the same end. . 1850. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the chiefs of this Department to transcribe and arrange all such infor- Seeds, &C. mation in a book to be kept by them for that purpose, and in some who shall disconvenient form, at all business hours to keep the same open for tribute. public inspection and benefit, and also to distribute all seeds or plants they may receive for that purpose. paid. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the necessary cost of such Expenses, how books, and all charges for postage on letters, and transportation on seeds or plants, shal! be paid out of the Treasury of the State. [Passed the House of Representatives January 11, 1851. Passed the Senate January 17, 1851. Approved by the Governor January 23, 1851.] CHAPTER 337.-[No. 26.] AN ACT to provide for the establishment of two Seminaries of Learning. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That Seminaries of two Seminaries of Learning shall be established, one upon the east, Learning. the other upon the west side of the Suwannee River, the first purpose of which shall be the instruction of persons, both male and female, in the art of teaching all the various branches that pertain to a good common school education; and next to give instruction in the mechanic arts, in husbandry and agricultural chemistry, in the fundamental laws, and in what regards the rights and duties of citizens. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That said Seminaries shall be under the direction of a Board of Education, and shall be governed and supported as hereinafter provided. Direction Board. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That there shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, three persons for each Seminary, as members of a Board of Educa- Members tion, who shall hold their office for two years. At each regular session of the Legislature, the vacancy occurring shall be filled as above directed. The Governor shall fill any vacancy which may occur when the Legislature is not in session. The State superintendent, and the county superintendent of the County in which the Seminary is situated, shall, by virtue of their office, be members of said Board. The county superintendent shall be Secretary of the Board, and shall keep an exact and detailed account of their doings. He shall also communicate such reports to the State superintendent as are required by this act. The members of the Board shall annually elect one of their number President. The Treasurers of the Counties in which the Seminaries are situated, shall be respectively, by virtue of their office, Treasurers of the Board, and each shall give such security for the faithful performance of his duty, as the Board for which he is Treasurer may require of him. of 1850. Principal and Experimental Grounds and Buildings. Notice. Rules, &c. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That said Board of Education shall have power to appoint a principal and assistants to take charge of said Seminary, and such other teachers and officers as may be required in said Seminary, and fix the salary of each, and prescribe their duties. They shall also have the power to remove either the . principal or assistants, or teachers, and to appoint others in their stead. They shall prescribe the various books to be used in said Seminary, and shall make all the regulations and by-laws necessary for the good government and management of the same. Ratio of pupils SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That said Boards shall have the power, when in their opinion it is expedient to do so, to establish an experimental school in connection with the Seminary, and shall make all the regulations necessary to govern and support the same, and may, in their discretion, admit pupils free of charge for tuition. SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That said Boards shall have the power, and it shall be their duty from time to time, as the means at their disposal may warrant, to provide suitable grounds and buildings, instruments of husbandry and mechanical tools, either by purchase or lease, for the purpose of carrying out more effectually and experimentally the provisions of the first section of this act, to give instruction in the mechanic arts, and in the arts of husbandry and agricultural chemistry. SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That as soon as either of said Seminaries is prepared to receive pupils, the State superintendent shall give notice of the fact to each of the county superintendents, and shall publish said notice in every newspaper in the State. SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, The Board of Education shall ordain such rules and regulations for the admission of pupils to said Seminary, as they shall deem necessary and proper. Every applicant for admission shall undergo an examination in such manner as may be prescribed by the Board. Applicants of good moral character, and of capacity to make apt and good teachers, who will sign a declaration of intention to follow the business of teaching primary schools in this State, are in all cases to be preferred. The Board of Education may, in their discretion, require an applicant for admission to the Seminary-other than such as shall, prior to such admission, sign and file with said Board a declaration of intention to follow the business of teaching primary schools in this State-to pay, or secure to be paid, such fees for tuition as to said Board shall seem reasonable. SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, That each County shall be entitled to send pupils in the ratio to which it is entitled to send Representatives to the State Legislature, not to exceed such number as the Board may prescribe. SEC. 10. Be it further enacted, That after either of said Seminaries shall have commenced its first term, and at least once in each |