Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-05

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, January a. That "bliz-
zard'' from the northwest last Wednesday
night gave Florida serious black eye A re-
duction Of forty-six degrees in the tempera-
ture Ia about fifteen hours is usually attend
ed with serious results. At IL M on Wednes-
day the thermometer in this city stood at 65
degrees, and at daylight Thursday morning
had fallen to 10 degrees The steamers from
all directions arrived during the day with their
guards and warehouses ornamented with
lengthy icicles while servants were hurrying
in all directions to obtain water from open
wells, that in the pumps being frozen
solid. Thin blooded FToridians piled on all the
clothes they could muster, and then shivered
as II under the influence Of an ague while our
Northern visitors jeeringly ASKED: rs this the
balmy elm ate of which you have boasted?'
Our only method to repel the insinuation was
to ask these tormenterS if they had read the
telegraphic news and had instituted compari-
son between the weather here and that in va
rious Northern localities Il
Since the celebrated winter of '35, when
every orange tree in the State was killed, there
is but one lower temperature recorded than
that of the S0th ult. Dr. A. s. Baldwin who
has kept faithful record of the weather for
thirty years, up TO the period when the Signal
Office was established here in ~, informed me
that In 20 the mercury fell to IS degrees, and
ice two inches thick formed along the edges of
the st. Johns river. Some young men in this
city who owned skates strapped them on and
enjoyed this sport, so novel in this latitude.
In 1879 l saw ripe tomatoes gathered in a
garden in Gainesville; on the 23d December to
be sent to friends in Americus, Ga. sudden
change occurred the thermometer the follow
ing morning marking 1870 deg. and the vege-
tables intended to astonish our Georgia friends,
werefrozen when they reached their destination
on Christmas. a~
There was probably not single specimen of
the orange, lemon, citron, or grapefruit hang
ing on the parent trees In this city that has
escaped the blighting touch of Jack Frost's
fingers. The destruction in this city was uni
versal, and many of the trees. with their
shriveled foliage, look as If they had been ex-
posed to the action OF intense heat. Very seri-
GUS Injury has been inflicted upon young trees,
and on those budded last summer very
exuberant growth was made during the
season, and the tender and succulent branches
From the best information that have been
able to obtain only about one-third Of the
orange crop has been gathered. Hundreds of
the growers have been holding
later period. and these untortunates,
instead of cornering the market have been
cornered themselves. There Is a gentleman
across the river who has been offered eighteen
dollars thousand for his fruit, but who held
| it for twenty dollars To-day his crop, estima.
ted at eighty thousand oranges, is almost
worthless The effect of frost upon the orange
is rather singular. The fine. aromatic flavor ID
| much impaired, and the juices are rapidly
evaporated. Outwardiy they still present q
tempting appearance, while within they con
tain little besides pith and integument. After
a few sunny days they drop like acorns before
the breeZeS of autumn.
AT some points up the river large fires were
kept up all night around the groves. while in
other places. favorably situated, water protec
tion was effectual Well Informed persons
however, freely express the opinion that the
entire hanging crop has been badly damaged
everywhere. There is also some nervousness
as to the amount of injury inflicted upon the
bearing trees Since the freeze the weather
has been cloudy, with light rains, which condi
tion is regarded as favorable. The tempera-
ture had been sufficiently cold previously to
check the flow of sap and to retard growth. II
l Is believed that while the older trees may
undergo slight set back no lasting injury has
been occasioned.
just two years ago, in the early part of Jan.
uary. 1872 all the trees as far south as Orange
county, were encased in thick coat of sleet
and much alarm was created. The tops OF
/ many were pressed to the ea'th under the
unusual weight, aud yet, very greatly to the
relief of all intere ted, the III effects were
scarcely apparent 1t may be that this ''cold
snap" may prove benefit. 1t has most
probably disposed OF myriads of tho insects
prejudicial to the citrus family, and msy
LEAD to taking efectual steps to prevent simi.
lar losses in the future. With the increase OF
the telegraphic wires it will not be long before
1 INC uoWS OI u coming serious reduction IN the
temperature can be conveyed to distant points
at least twenty.four hours In advance Of its ar.
rival. Such information, by preconcertsd d ar.
rangement, could be rapidly disseminated, and
steps could at once be taken for gathering the
fruit. or for affeFding it the necessary prott @
tion.
There are some croakers who predict that
the interest now attached to the cultivation OF
| the orange will be greatly lessened. Why
should its Do not the peach growers Of New
Jersey and Delaware occasionally lose their en-
| tire cropy Is not tho apple crop of New Eng,
land and the West often failure? How often
| have the cotton regions Of the South
| during the past fifteen years, been
devastated by the caterpillars Ev-
cry product of the fields and orchards
| is subject to these occasional vicissitudes. II
| is folly to take fit of the blues, and predict
all sorts of trouble, because a stray Polar wave
has reached our shores The cultivation of the
orange is, and must continue to be. the surest
road to wealth and prosperity in Florida. We
/ must expect clouds. as well as sunshine. Let
no man be discouraged by the experience OF
last week. 1t may not be repeated again for
| twenty years. Lessons, and profitable ones
/ can be learned from every such disaster.
| Many Of the members Of the Legislature
| have passed through Jacksonville during the
past week on their way to Tallahassee. Gov.
| Bloxham is to inaugurated tomorrow, and the
| capitol will be the scene Of an immense gath
1 ering. Our two military companies, artillery
/ and infantry, viii participate in the cere
monies: and the display of our citizen soldiery
II
1 Governor Bloxbam has been remarkably
reticent as to the composition of his Cabinet
1 and great Is the desire among the several aspi
1 rants to learn who will be the members OF his
| official family. There need be no doubt that
4 he llsmake his selections wisely, and with all
| proper discrimination, and that the people will
Il acquiesce in his Judgment.
| New Years day came in with dripping skies
and gloomy horizon. Some OF our Northern
residents keep up the custom of making and
receiving calls, but the practice is generally
\ disregarded.
In q few days now the rush of travel will
| commence, and our smiling Bonifaces will be
worried how to accommodate their visitors
The severity of the weather In higher lati
\ tudes will doubtless largely augment the com
| ing tide.
My next letter will probably be dated at Tai
| lahassee W. HB