Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-29

ing to market the productions OF those
who may settle thereon. II is well
known that it has been cherished idea
of the citizens of the Land of Flowers
for years past to have g line of railway
running through the entire length OF
the State, east and west, from Jackson
vile to Pensacola, with the expectation
OF the line being eventually extended to
Mobile, thus making it grand trunk
line connecting the principal cities of the
whole country, north and west, with the
waters Of the gulf. This would be lit
orally the making Of the State. 1t would,
as our Jacksonville correspondent, in
one of his letters q short time since, ex
pressed it, form the great railway back
bone" of Florida, from which innumers-
bic ribs in the shape Of short line feeders
would be extended in all directions, thus
permeating the entire State with iron
roads. and opening up immense sections
Of rich country to settlement, which are
now practically worthless. It is
scheme fraught with vast benefits to the
future OF Florida-benefts so manifest
that they need only to be alluded to to
be fully recognized
The beginning Of this line, which.
when completed, will work such revolu
ton in the wealth and importance OF our
sister States, has been in operation for
some years. It consists Of the Florida
Central, running from Jacksonville TO
Lake City, and the Jacksonville, Pen
sacola and Mobile Road, now run
ming from Lake City to Tallahassee, and
from thence on to Chattahoochee, its
present terminus It's projected extern
sion from Chattahoochee TO Pensa-
cola, and from thence to No
bile, has heretofore been delayed
by complicated and vexatious law suits
to which both roads have been for years
subjected. Last week, however, the
Supreme Court of the United States-to
which these much discussed Florida rail
road cases had been carried after passing
through the various subordinate courts
rendered final decisions IN favor of
what are known as the Dutch bondhold-
ers, and ordered the roads sold to satisfy
their claims. This looks as il the litiga
ton, which has proven so disastrous 10
the best interests Of the roads and of the
State, is st length approaching its end, and
the great question now is, Will the long
cherished scheme Of extending the line
be carried outi
The Tallahassee FIorididn thinks the
indications are that it will. In its last
issue. discussing this question, that pa
per says:
Articles Of association have been
fled with the Secretary Of State by Mr
SherwIn and his associates for the in
corporation of this new company, notices
of which appear in our advertising
columns. The names of the incorpora-
tors signed to these articles seem to
promise well, some of them being, &C.
cOrding TO our best information. among
the wealthiest and most energetic bust
ness aud experienced railroad men OF the
North west-men able to perform what
ever they may promise. Nathaniel K.
FairbAnk, whose name heads the list, is
the President Of the Chicago Board Of
Trade, and the head Of the great lard
exporting firm of n. L. Fairbank &
Co., and one of the wealthiest and most
prominent citizens Of Chicago. James
NJ. Walker was formerly President, and
is now leading Director and General
Solicitor Of the Chicago, Burlington aud
| Quincy Railroad Company. He is man
of large wealth, and is extensively in
Ierested in coal mining and railroads
VIM. B. Strong is the Vice President
and General Manager OF the AtchisOn,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Com
pany He was formerly Superintendent
Of the Michigan Central Railroad,
and Is regarded as one of the ablest rail-
way managers in the West S. A. Kent,
of the Chicago Packing Company, is
one of the largest operators in Chicago,
is very wealthy, and is director in the
A. T. and S. +. Company. Frank r.
| SherEin is now the President Of the
Maxwell Land Grant Company, corpo-
ration owning two million acres of Goa,
grazing and mining land in New Mexico,
and composed of Dutch and American
capitalists. That Mr. Sherwin is a man
OF untiring energy and great executive
ability is amply evidenced by his success
in establishing the claims of the Dutch
bondholders to the Maxwell Land Grant
and his organization Of that company in
their interest.
1--WE are assured that it is the intention
Of this company, as soon as possession
of the roads now completed can be OBJ
tanned, TO put these roads in thorough
repair, and to commence and actively
prosecute the work of extension through
| West Florida, with the ultimate view of
connecting this line with the now rap
idly extending railroad system of the
West, and of Mexico: Of which the At
Gibson, Topeka and Santa Fe RoBd is an
important line. We most sincerely
trust that this scheme may be realized at
an early day"
Every friend of Florida, and in fact
of the South, will heartily re-echo the
wishes Of our Tallahassee contemporary.
We have no doubt the State authorities
will do whatever they can to assist the new
company in concentrating Its proposed
enterprise. When carried out the vast
area Of the State now but little more
than a wilderness, will tesm with busy
population. and the land of Flowers will
speedily rush forward to the front rank
among the commonwealth which COM
pose the Union.
New York Sun: with that foresight
for feathering his nest, which has always
distinguished him, the outgoing Ohio
man at the White House is doing his