Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-27

Jute and indigo COmpanY-AmIa.
BILE Editors, etc., etc.
JACKSONVILLE FLA, October 2i.-Among the
railroads that have donned seven-league boots,
and are making giant strides towards compile
tion is the Florida Southern. This new high
way is now running regularly between the
thriving towns of Palatka and Gainesville, ira
versing fine and rapidly growing country.
and doing a very encouraging business. Along
its pathway are springing up brisk little settle
ments, large mills and all the many evidences
Of civilization brought into existence by the
magical influence of the locomotives whistle
AS yet only portion of the original plan has
been perfected. The entire programme con-
templates Tampa as the southern terminus,
while it is to be continued west to Lake City,
with a probable ultimate extension to the
Georgia line. The southern prong diverges at
point in Alachua county, not far from the
former residence of Gov. Perry, and the grad
ing party is now within few miles of Ocala
Its President, Directors and attaches are men
Of wonderful push and energy, and the rapid
ty with which the work moves demonstrates
their fitness for conducting such an enterprise.
They now have under consideration the
proposition OF prominent firm of railroad
contractors from the West, who will undertake
the construction Of the road from Ocala to
Tampa, and from Gainesville to Lake City, a
distance of 175 miles, and complete the same
by the first of next July. Such a contract
would require one mile of the work to be fin
ished daily. This is rapid progress, but there
are but few obstacles to be encountered, and
but few difficulties to be surmounted This
company has now on hand sufficient supply
Of rails to lay the track to Ocala, and ten miles
beyond.
Within a very short period the entire penin-
IN Of will ba Tuit
re ads, and an astonishing development will be
witnessed. The most remote corners and
recesses will be opened to the eyes of curiosity,
and new order of things will arise Already
some of the less intelligent of the cattle men
are wondering what is to become of their
horned pets, and are swearing that the ranges
will be ruined by the blanked railroads. To
such men COW is the queen OF animals, and
to their minds the whole earth was designed as
pasture. To these persons there are two
refugees left-the boundless plains of Texas or
the illimitable steppes of Russia.
Yes, the rough log cabin must give way to
the neat, trim, comfortable cottage, embower-
ed in fruit trees which the church spire and
school house will be the harbingers Of the new
regime.
The very air is thick with rumors Of other
embryotic railroads. Their name is legion, and
they increase and multiply with a speed that
is bewildering. Among the most recent con-
ceptions is that of road from st. Aug ustine
via Palatka to some point on the Indian
river, in Brevard county, traversing St
This is a stretch of two hundred
miles. Rumor hints at another between
Lake City and Fernandina And thus we CO.
each succeeding week. Matching out some new
scheme of internal improvement, until the
prospect seems fair that every township in
South Florida will be intersected by railroad
eventually. Two epidemics are now raging
furiously, the orange mania and the railroad
fever and it is difficult to say which counts the
greatest number of victims. Both are highly
contagious, and the diseases spread and widen
continually
A note from friend announces that work on
the Apopka branch of the South Florida Rail
road was commenced on the 18th instant. Con-
Struction trains will be running to Kissimmee
the new town on Lake Tohopokaliga, by the
18th of November, and passenger trains by the
1st of December. 1t is expected that the road
to Apopka will be in readiness by the 18th of
January.
hope to be among the first to run down to
the sandy shores of Lake Okeechobee and to
examine its primeval wonders before they are
trimmed up and rounded off by the busy fin
gers OF civilization. For it will not be long be-
fore great changes will be wrought in its sur
roundings, and on the close of this decade
broad fields OF sugar cane, indigo and iute, and
tropical trees will line the borders of Florida's
great lake. These transmutatiOnS will be as
sudden and surprising as those effected by the
genli of the Arabian Nights. There is no State
in the South, with the exception Of Texas. that
is advancing with the same rapiditV and upon
f1rmer, sounder basis than Florida The next
census will give some amazing and startling
figures of her growth and prosperity,
A dealer informed me recently that he had
received an order from Louisiana for car load
OF oranges. This is one OF the results of the
severe weather of the last winter, and is a con-
vincing proof of the superiority of this State,
over any other, for the production of semi
tropical fruits. This is her peculiar and espe-
cial province, and one in which she need fear
no competition.
Now that Florida Hall is completed, exhibits
from this State fast going on to Atlanta
There nFAmiIlmS w wa Oan
contend with good chance for success. Among
these are the premiums for forest productS,
the best bale or short and loLg staple cotton,
rice, oats, sugar. Syrups, textile material, etc.
Mr.. u. s Place, the manager for Florida at At
lanta, has been most diligent and faithful in the
discharge of mis- duties and has shown zeal and
perseverance worthy all commendation. saw,
day or two since, one dozen stout vigorous
stalks Of sugar cane, the product of a single
eye or JOINT, showing the great adaptabiity Of
this State for sugar This specimen is intended
for Atlanta, and will receive much notice.
There will not be many visitors from this state
previous to the first of December, as the ma
jority will wait until the display from Florida
will be full and complete. This cannot be until
our fruits reach maturity, which they will
scarcely do before that period.
The quantity Of freight taken up the river is
a cheering sign Of the e owth of popu-
lation in that region. Much of the freight for
Gainesville now goes by the way of Palatka.
Steamers ply daily up the river with heavy
lists of passengers and freight and the busi-
ness already is as brisk it usually is a month
later. Duval county manages to retain por-
tion of the amount passing through, and the
unusual increase in the attendance on the
public schools this term is attributed to the
presence OF new settlers. Immigrant tickets
to Florida from any northern or western point
can now he obtained at one-half the usual
rates, two or and half cents per mile, and
special rates can be had when the number of
immigrants is large. Such inducements will,
doubtless, swell the tide Of new comers,
Many of the orange growers are selling their
fhHU O1 fha traa rAnr
thousand, purchasers to lgather, box and ship.
This is a good price, and should satisfy the pro-
ducers, especially as they incur no risks, and
are put to no trouble beyond counting
the fruit and receiving the proceeds. By the
way, some genius has taken out a patent for
an invention for rapidly asserting oranges. AS
| understand it, the fruit, gathered at random,
is poured down an inclined plane containing
holes of different sizes, through which it drops
into bins arranged beneath. This makes the
process both expeditions and rapid. This
would apply to apples and other fruits.
Captain @. F. Smith, of this city, has also
patented an invention for distributing the
strain along the entire length of bridge-a
simple and practical arrangement applicable
alike TO truss or suspension bridges. A hand
some model has been prepared for exhibition
at the Atlanta Exposition.
company has been organized by an asso-
citation of Philadelphia capitalists for the pro-
motion OF the orange, jute and indigo interests
of this State, with its headquarters in Jackson
vile. 1t is understood that a large quantity Of
India, and the experiment will be fully tested
on large scale next summer. The gentlemen
composing the com pany are sanguine of
success, and will commence the enterprise In
the southern portion of the State, probably
upon lands obtained from the DiSston Com
pany.
just at present the State press is in con-
dition of unusual amiability, and fraternize ike
band Of brothers, There are no politics, local
or general, to be discussed and consequently
no political antagonists to be hayed alive.
The editors are in a state of high good humor
with themselves and the balance OF mankind,
and are bandying compliments to and fro
among each other with a prodigality and ap-
parent heartiness very pleasant to witness.
The annual crop of cane, oranges and Yam
KEGS is maturing, and the outlook in all direc
tions is cheerful and encouraging. Hence the
faces of the fraternity beam with kindly smiles,
and their pockets grow heavy with prospective
dollars.
No sales Of Confederate bonds have yet been
reported in this city. Those securities were
long ago used for shaving paper. II the de-
mand continues to be brisk. and the old plates
can be rummaged out from their hiding places,
an unlimited supply can be furnished
Several new hotels are going up in different
places at Tallahassee, Silver Springs Kissimee
Green Cove Springs. etc, and preparations are
being made all over the State to make the ex-
Dected visitors comfortable