Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-23
GEORGIA.
Items of Interest from the Tropics.

EDITOR LEDGER :-Retreating be.
fore the blighting breath of the in
truder last summer, when Memphis
was in her highest fever of excite
ment, your correspondent finds him
self safely ensconoed in the delightful
little city of st. Mary's, Georgia, with
in stones throw of the Land of
Flowers" 1t was not, however, until
he had passed through all the trying
ordeals, the continuous msrchings and
restings of the fugitive refugee, that
he reached this little elysium upon
the seacoast.
Here, amid the many luxuries of
semi-tropical region, he will lay down
peacefully Gas he CAM to the stirring
music of the festive musquito, coupled
with the neighborly, but mereiless,
pesky sand-fy. 1t is here these
migratory insects have sought an
asylum from the rigors of Northern
winter and here they are determined
to remain, despite the abnormal visi-
tation of polar wave" Without
them, life would become somewhat
monotonous, as the spirited angler
would grow stupid and lazy, in the
absence Of his active gyrations of war
fare, while the irrepressible hunts
man, from the far North, would be
deprived of the sweet consolation to
'cuss the darn pests"
This city affords the same advan-
tages of climate and health, as that of
Northern Florida, and in many re-
spects it can Offer superior facilities.
Hitherto, no effort of consequence
has been made to induce a part of the
annual flow of visitors to Florida to
turn aside to st. Mary's, but 4his win
ter an elegant hotel has been opened
here, which will draw many to this
locality Already the influx has be-
gun, though the majority will not come
until after the holidays.
The preliminary heralds of Santa
Claus are filing the shop windows
with Joyful" fascinations, while the
little ones indulge in rich dreams over
their prospective donations from his
majesty.
The momentous question which is
absorbing the public mind here, as
elsewhere, is the Florida Ship Canal,
which is proposed to cut this vas
peninsula half in two. Already the
preliminary survey has been made
and the public are anxiously awaiting
the result. 1t is proposed to utilize
st. Mary's river as far as Camp Pinck.
ney, a distance Of over ffty-seven
miles, thence in a southwesterly di,
rection through the 0kefenokee swamp
carrying it above the head Of the
upper Suwanee river, thence to St
Marks. The contemplated project Of
using the Suwanee for slack-watel
navigation is thought to have been
abandoned, Accordingly, the canal
from Camp Pinckney to ST. Marks
will be less than one hundred
and fifty miles. The probable cost Of
this great scheme has not yet been
computed, but will take several mil
lion dollars, though a steamboat and
barge canal can be constructed at
nearly one seventh the cost of the
former, as the ship canal would require
several immense locks, at an enor-
nous cost.
The benefits of this great enterprise
to our commerce and navigation and
in developing the great agricultural
resources of the country are incalcu-
liable. Its benefits would be instan-
taneous to the vast region of
the Mississippi valley. Mex
leo and the Central American repub-
lies will readily feel the beneficial
effects of the enterprise, whilethe vast
food of trade which must necessarily
pass upon the new railroad across the
TuhuantepeQue, will find rapid and
active transit to its destination
through this great canal. The enter
prise, when completed, will prove an
achievement Of American industryand
perseverance, as grand in its beneficial
results as the great Suez canal.
When active operations shall have
begun, shall again presume to afllict
you with letter. With best wishes
ito your valuable paper, l am
Very truly, A, j. NJ.
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