Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-13

Ianta-They are COming-HOn. CO.
lumbus Drew-FruIt Statistics of
Putnam County.
JACKSONVILLE. FLA, October 12.-An entirely
new field, and one, too, of exceeding interest,
will be opened to touris;s this winter Hitherto
few Of our visitors have ventured higher up
the river than Sanford or Enterprise. Beyond
those points, facilities for transportation were
scanty, and the accommodations offered insult
cient. Now and then some disciples of the
double barrel and fishing-rod would brave the
hardships and Inconvenience of the immense
region lying beyond the head of navigation, but
to the majority that section was sealed book
At last the gates to this vast and wonderful
country are about to be unlocked, and its
mysterious recesses will be opened to the in
spection of the curious. Energy, aided by
capital has not been idle during the past
summer, and by the first of January excur-
sion parties for Lake Okeechobee will be in
fashion You will ask how this is to be
effected, and will, perhaps, come to the con-
clusion that l am drawing too strongly upon
your credulity.
The South Florida Railroad has been graded
to LAKE Tohopekaliga, and the iron will be
laid and the cars running to that point by the
1st of November A sufficient quantity of rails
are ready, and the work of track laying will
be carried on with the utmost expedition
town, to be called Kssimmee, has been laid
out en- the lake by the South Florida Railroad,
and the Okeechobee companies and two saw
mills will soon be in operation. Here also
large hotel is to be Immediately erected. A
couple of passenger steamers will at once be
built by the railroad and steamer and dredge
boat by the Okeechobee Drainage Company.
The timbers for the dredge are now being got
ten out by the contractors.
AT the southern extremity of Lake KiSsim-
NEE, about forty miles south of Lake Tohope-
kaliga is an island OF considerable size, called
Brahma Island. Upon this another hotel will
be erected by New Years for the especial &C
commodation of sDortsmen. 1t is said to be a
veritable paradise for hunters, and the adjoin-
ing country teens with deer, bears, wild tur-
key and ducks, with few wolves and an occa-
sional panther by way of variety. Of course
the waters abound with fish, while the inevita-
BILE alligator is as yet too unsophisticated 10
know how to dodge a rifle ball.
The KiSsmmee river leads from Lake Toho-
pekaliga to Lake Kissimmee, and thence to
Lake Okeechobee This is a navigable stream,
and any distractions now existing will soon be
removed. A small steamer has been plying
this route for the last two years for trading
purposes. Occasionally this little craft leaves
the Kissimmee river and takes a run up to
Lakes Istokpoga and Arbuckle, in the vicinity
of which there is sprInging up quite settle
ment.
You can see by the solution given above,
that the problem ''how to reach Okeechobee,"
has been solved. This wierd and mysterious
lake, whose waters cover an area of, one thou
sand square miles, will not much longer be per-
mited to remain in obsc1rity, and the artists
of HdTpeT'S and Frank LeStieS WeekLieS will
soon furnish the readers of those journals with
sketches of its peculiar scenery. The fantastic
sinuosities of the Ocklawaha lriver will find
powerful rival in this new claimant upon the
popular favor, and the field of exploration has
been greatly amplihed
Saratoga and Newport bellies will gaze with
admiration upon the athletic figures and gaily-
turbaned heads of the Seminole warriors, while
their attendant beaux will bring their eye
glasses to bear upon the charms of the dusky
dam. els of the forests. These simple people,
in their turn, will be amaz at the appearance
of their visitors and will wonder at the latest
products of civilization.
Vassar graduates will have the finest possible
opportunity of gratifying their aesthetic in
clinationS, for the utter bitterness of Okeecho-
bee is perfectly indescribable. It is vast,
trackless, untrodden wilderness. The great
solitude of the Everglades a region of which
nothing is definitely known. surrounds the lake,
and shelters the few Indians that remain.
Much of this wilderness will doubtless be re-
claimed and opened to settlement by the pera-
tions of the drainage company. which will soon
have its powerful dredges at work These
lands are said to be most admirably adapted to
the cultivation of jute, rice and sugar cane,
especially the latter staple, and these crops
will be tested on large scale by the company
next summer.
This new route must become very popular
as it combines adventure with rovelty, and l
predict for the steamers crowded cabins and
heavy receipts. A visit to Florida will, here
after, not be considered complete unless a
flying trip is made to the shores of the great
lake of Florida.
The average depth of Okeechobee is nine
feet, and as the drainage company expect to
reduce this three or four feet, its present pro-
portions will be very greatly curtailed An ex
tensive area OF rich and productive land will be
FOR fTNTafT hon ft1a
pioneers axe, which will soon attract settlers
The company does all the work Of drainage,
bears all the expenses, takes all the risk of
failure, and shares equally with the State in
the lands that may be reclaimed.
No fears appear to be entertained of the sue
cess of the project Surveys demonstrate that
there is sufficient fall both towards the Gulf
and Atlantic coasts, to render the scheme en-
tirely practicable, and science and capital
stand ready to open an outlet for the impris-
oned waters.
An excellent map has just been issued by the
company, showing the location of the lands
purchased by the Disston syndicate, the recla
nation area in which the dredging operations
are to be conducted the route of the Gulf
Coast canal, to connect the st. Johns and In
dian rivers, and the lines and directions of the
FIVE railroads projected through the peninsu
la. This map has been largely circulated. and
is in great demand, as it supplies want that
has been greetly experienced
Green Cove Springs is coming to the surface, |
as the Northern termiuus of a railroad, to be
constructed to Melrose. a small settlement in
Alachua county. Eventually the road may be
extended to Gainesville, a distance of forty
eight miles from the initial point. The road
passes through flne timbered region
A corps of surveyors arrived a week or two
since, and grading will be commenced as soon
as the route is located. All the capital required
has been secured, and the building of the road
can be regarded as settled.
1t is said that the running time between this |
and your city over the Waycross road. is soon |
to be reduced from one and a half to two |
hours This can easily be done, and with en- |
tire safety. Much of the treste work has been |
filed in during the summer, the requisite tanks |
have been constructed, the road bed has set
tied and the powerful locomotives can accom-
plish the work without the slightest diff ulty. |
This road, under the able manage ment of its |
pushing Supe -intendent, Colonel H s. Haines |
is displaying great activity and enterprise |
Bay street. from Brooklyn bridge to the Grand /
shells by this company for the accommodation |
of those receiving freight from their depot. |
To the same source are we also indebted for |
that great convenience, the street railway.
An encouraging feature Of the times is seen /
in the steadily increasing valuation of the /
assessments in the respective counties. In /
several the gain is notably large and gratifying
sure test is thus afforded of the gain in /
wealth and growth in population. General /
Gordon, of your State is reported as having i
become one of the taxpayers in Marion county, |
having, it is said, bought half interest in one /
of the finest orange groves in that section.
Cannot Governor Colquitt Senators Hill and |
Brown, General Toombs and other prominent |
Georgians be induced to do likewise? The in /
vestment is safe, and unites profit with /
pleasure.
The Florida building at Atlanta will be COM
pleted about the Goth instant. A large number |
of exhibits are ready for transportation to /
that city as soon as the hall is finished It will /
be the middle of November, however. before |
satisfactory display of the citrus family can /
be expected. Round trip tickets from Jack /
sonviIle to Atlanta good for thirty DAYS, have /
been fixed at $15 IS, a price which is sufficient |
ly reasonable,
A glance at the long line of inquirers at the |
window of the general delivery clerk every /
morning, and Of the numerous new faces in |
dicates with unerring certainty that the winter |
travel to our State has commenced, and that, |
too at an earlier period by some weeks than |
has been customary. These are the advance |
guards Of the coming flood, and are either |
prospectors or inValids escaping from the first |
icy blasts Of the Northern winters. Painters,
plasterers, white-washers and carpenters are |
all busily engaged in the work Of renovation |
and various signs show the preparation that is |
being made for the comfort and accommoda- |
of the coming throDgs.
/ hear that one of our enterprising mer-
chants contemplates the erection of an eleva-
tor. and that the electric light win be intro
duced the approaching winter first-class
opera house is becoming a necessity and the |