1938: Florida

Admitted to statehood March 3, 1845, Florida ranks 21st in size among the states, with an area of 58,666 sq. mi. In population it ranks 31^st, numbering 1,468,211 according to the census of 1930; 1,670,000 according to a Federal estimate in 1937. The largest cities are Jacksonville, 129,549 (1930 census); Miami, 110,637; Tampa, 101,161; St. Petersburg, 40,425. The capital is Tallahassee, 10,700.

Of the 1935 population whites numbered 1,130,063; Negroes, 463,205; and all others, 4,574, including 578 Seminole Indians.

Mineral Products.

Among Florida's mineral products in 1937 phosphate rock continued to be by far the outstanding item. Production in 1937 amounted to 2,996,820 tons, with a value of $9,142,985 as against 2,624,900 pounds in 1936, valued at $8,528,523. These figures represent about three-fourths of all the phosphate rock mined in the United States.

Education.

For the year ending June 30, 1937, the total enrollment in Florida public schools was 385,763. Of these 284,483 were white and 101,280 were Negro pupils.

Events of the Year.

The Florida news event of 1938 which attracted the widest attention was the kidnaping for ransom of James Bailey Cash, Jr., five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Cash of Princeton, Florida, on Saturday night, May 28, and the subsequent arrest, conviction and sentencing of the kidnaper. After payment of the $10,000 ransom with no result, the efforts of Sheriff Coleman of Dade County and of Edgar Hoover, chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led to the arrest and confession of the kidnaper, Franklin Pierce McCall, a truck driver of the vicinity, and to his admission of the death of the child, possibly through accidental smothering. McCall was promptly sentenced to death in the electric chair, and a plea for commutation was denied, but his lawyers later obtained a writ of error and a review of the case by the Supreme Court of Florida.

On April 21 a fourth and final hearing was held by Special Master, John S. Flannerty, in Miami, concerning which of four states, Massachusetts, New York, Texas or Florida, each claiming to be the place of residence of the late Colonel E. H. R. Green, should collect the large inheritance tax due from his estate.

In the statewide Democratic primary of May 3, United States Senator Claude Pepper, then serving the remainder of the term of the late Senator, D. U. Fletcher, won by more than 72,000 majority in a race over four opponents — Congressman Mark Wilcox of the fourth district, Ex-Governor David Sholtz, H. Finley Moore of Lake City, and T. C. Merchant of Madison. There had been wide criticism in February when James Roosevelt, vacationing in Palm Beach, informally advocated the reelection of Senator Pepper as a supporter of the Administration. Congressman Wilcox had been a critic of the New Deal, and especially of the Supreme Court enlargement plan. It was generally felt that Pepper's nomination and subsequent reelection were an endorsement of the Roosevelt policies.

The week ending June 23 brought the freeing by a court in Bartow of the last of a group of men charged in 1935 with the kidnaping and flogging of three men who were being held in the police station in Tampa on accusation of Communistic activities. One of the victims died as the result of the flogging.

When Henry Flagler's 'Overseas Railroad' to Key West (completed in 1912) was practically demolished by the 'Labor Day hurricane' of 1935, no attempt was made to reconstruct the destroyed portions. Since that time, however, a highway has been built from the mainland to Key West at a cost of $30,000,000. A formal opening was held in Key West on July 4, 1938. It is said that even before the tourist season opened as many as 1,200 automobiles traveled over the road in one day.

On Sept. 27 it was reported that a contemplated $48,000,000 highway construction program for 1939-40 had collapsed, because Governor Cone was opposed to involving the state's gasoline tax over a period of ten years in order to obtain Federal aid.

On Oct. 2 the first school ever requested by the Florida Seminole Indians was opened at Brighton.

For drainage of the Everglades, see RECLAMATION.

Finance.

According to the comptroller's report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938, Florida's regular receipts during that period totaled $53,719,383.54 and the regular disbursements were $52,721,229.74. Expenditures on public health, hospitals and correction, and aid to special classes amounted to $8,564,536.53.

Banking.

On Sept. 28, 1938, deposits in Florida's state banks totaled $71,463,153.30; and in national banks within the state, $147,413,000. On December 1, 1937, deposits in state banks had been $75,903,460.29.

State Officers.

Governor, Fred P. Cone; Secretary of State, R. A. Gray; Attorney General, George Couper Gibbs (appointed in May to succeed the late Cary D. Landis and elected in November to fill the unexpired term); Comptroller, J. M. Lee; Treasurer, W. V. Knott; Superintendent of Schools, Colin English.

United States Senators.

Claude Pepper (reelected in November), Charles O. Andrews.