Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-09


EheOry-Building In the City and
Suburbs-The Poisoned Belts in
the Gulf-Brudder WfderspoOn-
Sawdust.
JACKSONVILLE June A half dozen or more
various railroad enterprises are now occupy
ing the attention Of the people Of Florida, and
are being pushed with greater or less purpose
and energy. Great hberallty was displayed by
the last Legislature in the granting Of charters
and if all the projected routes are constructed
this State will need no others for the next half
century. 1t is a remarkable feature of them
all, that each passes through the finest portion
of the State, and develops perfect garden Of
Paradise. Each locality contends Justify that
it is the veritable Eden. and that those who
seek its bhssful retreats will have most of their
earthly wants supplied.
There is, however, huge railroad boom
now In progress IN Florida, and internal i'm
provements are manifested in every direcs
ton. Money is abundant at the North, and
much is seeking investment at the South The
distrust of this section that prevailed so long
after the close OF the war is giving way to
feeling OF confidence and security, and capital
proverbially prudent and cautious. has discov-
cred that money ca1 be safely and profitably
invested in the land of Dixie. It is coming,
and is being put into railroads, canals. orange
groves hotels and many other descriptions Of
property. 1t bears good interest also, aad
beats United States four per cent. bonds out
of sight.
a few years hence the map of Florida will
show perfect network Of railroads in opera
ton. The two backbones, east and west, from
Jacksonville to Pensacola, and north and
south. from Fernandina to Tampa. will have
their short ribs reaching out to every locality
OF importance, and linking every portion into
one homogeneous whole.
Harmony of interests and gantimanta will
spring from such close and frequent inter
course, and the general welfare will be pro-
moted. Local jealousies will be crushed out,
and sectional prejudices will disappear.
Among the roads that will probably soon be
commenced are the Jacksonville and st. Au-
gustine, the Palatka and Indian River the
Green Cove Spring and MelroSe, a branch of
the Transit Road TO Suwannee river the Live
Oak and Ro wland'S Bluff, aud perhaps Others
These enterprises will furnish work for those
induStriOusly disposed for months to come,
and will put a large amount OF money into cir
culation. Roads can be built here more cheap
ly than In any other portion of the country.
The grades are low, timber is abundant, and
little or no rock is to be encountered. Those
who have secured charters for railroads should
strain every nerve to effect organizations and
commence operations while the present mania
for investments of this character continues.
Strike while the iron is hot," and make hay
while the sun shines Let not the golden OPP
portunity slip by, but grasp it with manly vigor
and the firm determination to succeed.
Among the pedestrians upon Bay street,
this morning, were Governor BIoxham and ex-
Governor Stearns. The former gentleman is
on bis way to Sumter county. to look after a
young orange grove on Lake Panasolkee. His
appearance denotes health and cheerfulneSs,
while hope and encouragement tinge his views
as to the future of Florida Like many of the
prominent citizens of Middle Florida, the Gov.
ernor has cast an anchor to windward, in the
shape of an investment in South Florida, which
will be worth more in ten years than the net
profits of any three cotton plantations in Leon.
Ex-liOVprEOr StaaTng lO0EQd p0Ol and Euia-
dued His former aVocation as q factor in
Florida politics has completely played out, and
he is now without either local or general in
1uence. Many of his old associates have
sought other fields. and the qlIOTddnt dignita-
tary is a comparative stranger. Whether he
will ever again appear on the political chess
board remains to be seen. He can flatter him
self with having been the very last of Flordas
Republican Governors.
Brother Billy Hicks is announced as the pas
tor Of a Methodist Church in Washington
That unfortunate flock deserve sympathy
Rev. Hicks will perhaps deliver orthodox dis
courses for the ensuing year or fifteen months,
but so soon ss the next election occurs. the
pulpit will b9 abandoned for the stump, and
the political document will tske the place of
the Bible. IL the task OF revising the scrip
lures had only been delegated to Brother
Hicks, wouldn't he have gotten out an extra.
ordinary version? As an instance of his views
the sacrilegious parallel that he drew last sum
mer at Gainesville, on the occasion of the Re-
publican State Convention wherein he COM
pared the Saviour and General Graut, will be
remembered. 1t is sincerely to be hoped that
Rev. Hicks, in the self-sacrifcing spirit of a
broad and noble patriotism. has permanently
abandoned Florida.
Contrary to general expectation, the street
cars have been financial success. At first
only two cars were placed on the line. 1t was
soon found necessary to double this number,
and still another increase is demanded For
the first few days every negro gamin who
could raise nickel had his grinning visage
framed in window of the cars, and the sable
Cfn trOFl hr1Ci
man told me that the stock was good for a six
per cent. dividend at least. This is a good
promise for the future
Colonel Hopkins, who has Just returned from
South Florida. has handed me for ibspe ction a
silver medal exhumed from one of the Indian
mounds near Lake Okeechobee. The relic is
Of the siZe Of half dollar, and convexo.
concave in shape. Upon the convex surface
appears in bas relief the rudeiy embossed bust
of female. Long tresses flow over her shoul-
ders, and crown with four points surmounts
her head while her neck is encirced with a
carcanet. Upon each side of the figure is a
flower. Upon the concave surface are stamped
the letters 'B. P" This relic was probably
worn around the neck as an ornament as the
rim has been pierced for the passage or a
string.
My own theory is that the figure is designed
to represent Queen Isabella, and that the relic
was obtained from Spanish soldier and buried
with its Indian owner. This may conflict with
the generally conceived opinion as to the great
antiquity of these burial mounds, while the
that the relic at least, was of comparatively
modern origin. The savants may reconcile
these incongruities,
Much building is going on in and around the
city, and the new structures are large and
handsome. Mechanics of all descriptions are
employed constantly, and considerable ad- |
ditlon will be made to the taxable property OF
the city during the present summer That the |
resident population is steadily increasing / :
shown in the small number of houses offered
for rent, which is an unusual feature at this |
season.
East Jacksonville Brooklyn and La Villa, |
three of our hourishiDg suburbs are feeling |
the influx, and the sound of the saw and ham, |
mer awakes the echoes within their borders |
Real estate is advancing within their limits
and many are seeking homes, as they thereby |
escape the city taxes, while enjoying many OF
its advantages
Some interest was given last summer to the |
existence or belts of poisonous water in the |
Gulf, which caused the death Of numerous
ash. An analysis by the Smithsonian Institute |
numerous eggs, crustacia and vegetable mat |
ters. The presence OF pine pollen would seem /.
to indicate that the deposits had drifted into |
the sea from the mainland. Future research |
will doubtless determine its origin.
brudder WlddefSpOon has abandoned the /
very doubtful prospect of a seat in Congress |
for the more certain position of an inspector |
in the Pensacola custom house. Three dollars |
b day sure is much better than 'snlalnin de- |
gospil" or ''stumpin' do desstrick, and Geo. |
W., II he il as bright as he is considered will |
Atv w V1lo hOuC5 MS lACOlO8lCal ana political
pursuits George was pretty well strapped at |
tne close OF the campaign. He was out at
least dollar and a half his Sunday suit Of |
clothes and two pair of brogans. He ia 90 be |
congratulated upon this Opportunity of re-
pairing his shattered fortunes.
AotaiEg has been heard recently Of DIR. Con-
overs prospects.
me public schools of the city have closed
ior the summer, and teachers and pupils will
doubtless enjoy the vacation.
For creator convenience the convict camp
naS been removed to Callahan, about twenty
miles from the city. TwentY-one deaths ia
Jacksonville during the month of May estab-
ilsh the city's reputation for health. Only
naIt OF this number we're natives Of the State.
Fernandiaa is about to build a large hotel
On the beach of Amelia Island two miles from
the depot We predict a success for this en-.
terprise and a large list of guests from Jack
sonvile. Fernandina will now be able to
compete with Mayport
Senator Cau has returned. looking hearty
and speaking cheerfully. w. II. R.
THE NEW YORK STOCK MARKET.