Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-10

Hotels Opening - DistAng u1she0
VisitOrs-U Unexpected Postpone
ment-West Florida Fair-Vegeta-
bles I'm NOVember-FIOFtdam Museum
Paragraphs.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, November 9.-General
Sebring. Corresponding Secretary of the Levy
County immigration Society," has furnished
some very interesting statistics for the Cedar
Key Journal He estimates the present popu-
alton Of Levy at 6.776 an increase Of one
thousand since the late census was taken If
his percentage of increase holds good for the
next ten years Levy will treble herself by 1890.
The whites just double the negroes. Within
the past twelve months there have
been sold $69,32S of cattle, $4,000 of
turtle, fish and oysters. S250O0 of
sugar and syrup, S125. 900 Of long cotton
nearly six hundred thousand dollars of yellow
pine, red cedar and crossties This is fine
showing for this county. and should attract
attention. Some of the finest lands in the
State are to be found in the Gulf hummock,
most admirably adapted to the cultivation of
fruits, sugar and vegetables, and within that
immense wooded area can be found all varie-
boar down to the squirrel. A number of Eng
lish and Western people have recently pur-
chased lands in the Gulf Hummock. aud very
extensive improvements viii soon be effected.
That splendid body of fertile land will not be
neglected much longer.
An additional sum of five hundred dollars
has been donated by the Disston Company in
aid of the Florida exhibition at Atlanta. One
hundred and sixty acres of land are also
offered as premium to the inducing and for
warding the largest number of exhibits from
this State. This action of the company is ex-
ceedingly liberal, and in fnll keeping with the
generous policy which they have always dis
played.
Florida Hall should be filed to overfowing
with the peculiar and varied products of this
State, by the first of December, and earlier, if
possible. Every nook and corner should con-
tain something to arrest attention, arouse won
der and excite inquiry. There are hundreds or
little odds and ends so familiar to us as never
to receive a glance, that would be strange to
our Northern and Western friends. Such every
day and everywhere objects as the Spanish
moss and saw palmetto would be treasured by
many OF the visitors as curiosities, and priced
as parlor ornaments. Let every man, woman
and child endeavOr to contribute something
to the general stock, and the result would
be a most wonderful display. the
present month should see a very general move
ment throughout the state to render the exhi-
bition of Florida signal success, alike cred1-
table
profitable in its ultimate results. There should
be no more delay or hanging back among our
people. An amazing amount of practical
knowledge of our resources and capabilities
can be conveyed to the country through such
a medium, and thousands of eyes and ears will
be opened to receive the information. 1t is a
grand opportunity for Florida to appear IN the
character Of the schoolmaster, and the audi
ence will be large, attentive and sympathetic.
If the proper effort is made and interest
shown there can be no doubt whatever Of q
glorious success. We merely have to reach
out and grasp the innumerable articles to be
seen and gathered on every hand to accom-
plish the purpose sought, and to fill the hall
with noble collection.
A car load OF sundries was shipped from this
city on Monday for Atlanta. Among the arti-
cles was large number of bananas in bloom,
several fine lunches of that fruit, a quantity
of cocoannts cut from the tree, specimen tree
of all the varieties Of the citrus family, show
ing their products a number of rare tropical
plants some stalks of the Spanish bayonet,
etc A fine specimen of the century plant
about to bloom has also been forwarded. An
other car load will be sent on this week from
this point. Let everybody give a little help,
and Florida Hall will be the main attraction at
the Atlanta Exposition.
The steamers intended to run from Lake
Tohopokaliga, down the Kissmmee river to
| Lake Okeechobee, will be constructed of iron
and are to be brought out in sections, which
will be put together after their arrival. 1t will
be quite a novel experience to take trip
| down to Okeechobee, and the opportunity will
| be eagerly embraced by a large number of our
visitors l venture to say that not one native
| Floridian in two hundred has ever seen this
mysterious lake, whose shores have heretofore
| bsen about as remote as if situated in Brazil.
Tomorrow the Duval House will be opened
| under the management of Messrs. Scoville &
Lee, of the Kimball House, Atlanta New sup
| plies of linens, china and sllYerWare have been
| received and the entire building has undergone
numerous improvements. Next week the
| Carlton will be opeRed. 1t is always matter
| of rejoicing when our large notels are again
| in full blast. They present dull and gloomy
appearance with closed windows and empty
| piazzas, and the change to be wrought in them
| will be as great as the transition from chry-
| sails to butterfly.
Quite number of dignitaries arrived last
week to attend the expected sale
of the Florida Central Railroad,
which did not come off according to announce
ment Among the party was Sir E. j. Reed,
| of England an eminent engineer and ship
| builder and the present chairman of the Mil
| ford Dry Docks. Some of the representatives
of the Dutch bOndholders were also in attend
| ance. Very greatly to the chagrIn of the en-
tire party it was stated when the hour of sale
| approached that an order had been obtained
| from Judge Pardee, at New o. leans, for post
| ponement of the sale until the second Satur-
| day in December. The laws delays are pro-
| verbal and its magazine in the way of inter
/ posing obstacles seems to be ineXhauStible
In the present case the movement seems to
have been entirely unexpected, and all were
| taken by surprise Rumor has it that the
bidding for the road will be brisk, spirited and
| obstinate.
My thanks are due the managers of the West
| Florida Fair for complimentary ticket to at
| tend the exhibition, which opens in Mariana,
| Jackson county, on the e h inst. Although
unable to accept their kind invitation this time,
| partly promise to enjoy that pleasure next
year, when the railroad will be fini he'd to their
pleasant little town. But a short time longer
| and we shall be exchanging visits with our
| Jackson county friends. 1t ought to be an
e ntNTn
places We should have a big excursion from
Mariana to this city when we are united by
| iron rails, for we are all anxious to know more
and see more Of the staunph and clever citi-
| zens of West Florida.
urAs an evidence Of the mildness of our climate
| squashes and string beans were shipped last
| week from Lake City and English peas are an
nounced in Gainesville Tomatoes are ripen-
Irish potatoes will soon be in readiness. A full
| exhibit of these articles should he sent to At
lanta where their actual presence would con-
vert more doubling than ten thousand verbal
statements. People will put faith in what they
can see and handle.
Quite a party of officials will soon visit
Florida, among them the Postmaster General
and several prominent subordinates in that
department. These magnates will do Florida
in the usual style, visiting the most accessi-
BILE points. Their sojourn among us should
be made as agreeable as possible
Itis to be regretted that there has never vet
been any provision made for State Museum.
Florida is rich in birds, beasts fishes. reptiles
and insects and very large and interesting
collection could be gathered at moderate eaS-
pense. The remains of prehistoric animals
are often discovered, and should be preserved
and suitably arranged, Only recently some
immense bones were exhumed from the
bed of the Finholloway river, in Taylor coun-
ty. Among them was a tooth, nine inches
across the crown seven and half inches long
that weighed five and half pounds 1t must
be acknowledged that this was something Of
av,A hot q dnA -
a set Of molaTs must have been Of sufficient ca.
pacty to have mastieated substantial trees.
There were nineteen deaths in the CITY
during the month Of October, a considers ~ =, 9 g
decrease as nI.. p. o. win the corresponding
month of 1880. Of the above nine were whites
and ten negroes. This, it Ilust be confessed,
is a remarkably good showing, and will COM
pare favorably with any place in the country
Of equal population. We have been blessed
with unusual health during the entire year, and
should all unite in observing the annual thanks
giving
The highest temperature for the month was
S8 degs and the lowest "a degs. Light frosts
were reported in some localities during the
cool snap Of last week but even that sensitive
plant, the sweet potato, sustained no injury.
The Florida Southern Railroad contemplate
branch from Palatka to st. Augustine. There
seems to he no want OF the sinews Of war with
this company, and they are pursuing their
plans with astonishing yigor and rapidity.
They are backed up with New England capital,
and the proprietorS of the Boston Herald are
said to have contributed largely to the enter
prise.
The synod of South Georgia and Florida will
assemble In this city tonight. Among this
body Of divines are several gentlemen OF dis
tinction, and the exercises are expected to be
of very interesting character.
Matters are fast getting on winter basis,
and general stir and activity denote th9 near
epproach Of the busy season. Strangers con-
tinue to arrive in unusual numbers, and rail-
and cfQ mi QnHnfg hQnnV