in the United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of Florida in which cause
Francis Vose et al was complainant and the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund
et al were defendants And whereas, by the terms of the said Decree appointing the said
Aristides Doggett Receiver he was authorized empowered and directed to receive demand
and compel the said Railroad Companies to pay unto him instead of the said Trustees
of the Internal Improvement Fund of Florida the said one half of one percent Semi
annually upon the outstanding bonds of the said Company. And Whereas the said
Railroad Company neglected and refused to make the said payments after due
demand upon them by the said Receiver And Whereas the said Aristides Doggett
Receiver did commence suit against the said Atlantic Gulf and West India
Transit Company in the United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of
Florida to compel the payment of such semi annually instalment upon the
bonds outstanding: And Whereas an answer was duly interposed on behalf of the
said Railroad Company and proofs taken and a final decree was had, dated
the 23rd day of February 1881 directing the sale of the said Railroad property its
privileges and franchises and all of its property by which decree James
B.C. Drew Esquire was appointed a Special Master to sell the said Railroad
property its rights and franchises and all its property thereto appertaining
to the highest bidder on the 4th day of April AD 1881 And whereas the said James
B.C. Drew did by virtue of and in pursuance of the terms of the said decree expose the
said property at public auction to the highest bidder on said day at which
sale Edward N. Dickerson and Charles D. Willard Trustees were the highest
bidders and purchasers of said property railroad and all the rights privileges
and franchisers and all of its property of every kind and nature whatsoever:
And Whereas said Sale was duly reported to the Honorable Circuit Court of
the United States for the Northern District of Florida by the said James B.C. Drew
Special Master: And Whereas the said Circuit Court of the United States in
open court did then and there make its decretal Order confirming said Sale
in all respects: and did then and there by Special Decretal Order direct the
said James B.C. Drew Special Master under said decree to convey the said
railroad its property rights privileges and all its property connected therewith
unto the said Edward N. Dickerson and Charles D. Willard Trustees subject to the
conditions imposed upon them as purchasers under said decree and said Internal
Improvement act approved January 6th 1855. And whereas the said James B.C. Drew
Special Master as aforesaid did on the 14th day of April 1881 convey to the said Edward
N. Dickerson and Charles D. Willard Trustees the said Railroad property its iron
equipment depots work-shops rights privileges and franchises: And whereas
the said Edward N. Dickerson and Charles D. Willard Trustees and as purchasers
of said railroad property under said Decree did on the twenty seventh day of April
1881 in pursuance of the powers vested in them by the Laws of the State of Florida
organize the Atlantic Gulf and West India Transit Company: And whereas the name
of the said Atlantic Gulf and West India Transit Company has been changed under and
by virtue of the law of Florida to the name of the Florida Transit Railroad Company:
Now therefore for and in consideration of divers good and sufficient consideration
and of the sum of One Dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the
second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged at and before the ensealing
and delivery of these presents the said Edward N. Dickerson and Charles D. Willard