Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-22


is claimed that such highway through Florida
would prove remunerative.
That dangerous navigation around the nu-
merous keys of our Southern coast, upon whose
hidden coral reefs so many gallant vessels
have heen stranded, would be avoided and
millions would be saved in the way of
premiums to underwriters and in the dimin-
lshed length Of voyages. 1t is claimed that the
economy in these two items alone would in a
few years, furnish a fund sufficient for the
construction of such passage
senators C<.,f and Jones have taken the pre-
lminary steps to bring the subject before the
National Legislature, and resolution of the
latter gentleman has just been adopted asking
Tor all the information that has been obtained
vestigate the matter.
Among the teeming millions of the active,
pussy. INDUSTRIOUS population that line the
panks OF our great river the question has taken
ueep roos, and is gaining strength daily as one
OF the utmost consequence and magnitude
Ihe lettleS at the mouth of the Mississippi
nave been so successful that the trade of the
river I mas immensely increased, and very
large percentage Of the products of the West,
thaG once sought ports on the Atlantic, now
form the cargoes Of the vessels from New
Orleans.
The movement in favor of this scheme must
commune TO grow and strengthen as it's great
possibilities develop. The wants of the great
west and Northwest must finally be needed,
ana When combination is effected, as it must
SeCBlOlS
The South. the force Of such movement Will
be irresistible.
The convention that assembled last summer
in ST. Louis, to take action with regard to the
improvement of the navigation of the Missls-
sippi, asserted the necessity of such a gate
way. So too the National Cotton Planters
Convention that assembled in Atlanta on the
Sth inst, passed with enJire unanimity series
Of resolutions favoring the project. The
bodies represented powerful constituencies
and as their influence can be brought to bear
upon Congress, good results must eventually
attend the agitation of the question
The Atlanta resolutions declare that the
losses annually by wrecks upon the Florida
reefs amount to five millions Of dollars, and
that the rate OF insurance is per cent greater
to ports on the Gulf than to those on the At
iantc The assertion is also made that the
2J0OCOOO worth OF produce that now per
lshes annually for the want of means of trans
portatlon would be saved to the Western
states, and thereby that immense sum be
added to our productive wealth.
Such canal could soon be constructed it the
millions now paid out to bogus pension claim
ants we're allowed to accumulate for ten wears
Water routes are always the cheapest and
ei when these can be reduced hundreds of miles
in distance, they will defy all Opposition
The tenth resolution, adopted at Atlanta ra.
iates exclusively to Florida, and reads as fol
lows: TO the State OF Florida it will DrOve of
lncalculaole value for the development of her
commerce and vast natural resourcee in
crease or population, agriculture and MANI
factures. It will establish great CITY at each
terminus OF the canal, and will secure To tht.
State al the ADVANTAGES of direct trade with
the markets OF the Northern cities and States.
and with foreign countries; and it will greatly
promote the drainage of the Internal ImDrove-
ment lands of Florida"
Your correspondent makes no pretensions to
the glft or prophecy, but he is fully impressed
with the belief that the necessities of the world
demand such short cut, and that ere the cIoSa
OF the nineteenth century stately vessels. filled
WIN Ine SILKS teas and spices of the Orient,
ana with the cotton, grain and bacon of the
great west, Will be passing in rapid Succession
through the peninsula of Florida and retnrn-
ing laden with the varied manufacturers of
busy Europe - "a
AS rule, the witnesses for the o,ovarnroant
In the various trials for alleged election frauds
now progressing in the United States Court are
negroes, and many of them very disreputable
negroes, heiong1ng to the very lowest order OF
gutter and grog-shop politicians. Little credit
would De given to the evidence of many of
these fellows in State court where their gem
eral reputation for want of veraoity was re-
cognlzed Many of these prosecutions are the
result OF malice-otbers are undertaken at the
lnstlgat1on OF low white Radicals too cowardIv
themselves to appear from under cover A
Ot3cH mask Is the favorite disguise of these
poiCroons ana mlscreants, and behind secret
hiding places they ply their hideous trade of
assassins OF character and liberty. These are
me gentry who write anonymous letters of
ooutnern ouvrsges 70 order during political
porters with blood-curdling accounts of hair
breadth escapes from murderous gangs of saw
age Ku-Klux.
Ii an example was made of some of these
swift and telescopic-eyed witnesses who saw
ana know so much more than other people.
ana dozen or two were convicted of perjury
and put to building railroads for the next ten
years, quietus would be put upon the busi-
ness, and some individuals might be forced ia
appear IN front of the curtain and receive the
contempt that they merit
JackSonv1lle now boasts of a ''Board of
Trade" and those disposed to WOO the smiles
of the tickle goddess can take deal ia cotton.
grain or provision futures. MIR. Prince, the pro
pr1etor, is from Savannah. and is e gentleman
OF noe business qualifications. there are nu-
merous persons here during the winter who
possess the leisure, means and inclination to
engage IN snis pastime, and the esta bIshment
is apt to do well.
Only two deaths were reported last veab
this, too, with the hotels and hOardino bousag
crowded with strangers, many Of thep suffer'
ing from ailments OF serious nature The
mortuary record OF our city for the past vear
Is or tee most satisfactory description. and
Iully establishes the claim of JacksonviIIa ~
be regarded one of the healthiest citias n, tta
entire country,
Several robberies have been recently COM
mltted IN hotels and boarding houses AS
sharks follow shoals Of herrings 40 do Thieves
and swindlers follow in the walk of onr annual
horoe OF visitors. Gamblers and confidence
men are also here in abundance to prev upon
tne unwary, and adventures of Both sexes
and all conditions are ON tae alert for victims
Jacksonville presents all the features Of q cos.
mopoItan city, and there is no community in
tne South, with perhaps the exception of New
orleans, that can claim a more Heterogeneous
population. Bay street already looks as cav
and lively as it usually does in February and
tne season has opened several weeks earlier
than is customary
The Enights OF Honor are growing rapidlv
in favor throughout Florida ALTHOUGH but a
months mir aIOs 1sr,af 70
lodge was organized, the order has mace such
strides that Grand Lodge has been inaugu.
rated At : meeting of the various lodges
held in this city last week, the grand officeTS
were installed, and the machine put ia o. S,'
ing operation; The principle Of YEk Ifsc
insurance that underlies he, anutnaI i, NE
always render 1t no, with the midSle snd w
ra,.-|- .ases of society. The order is now
: esented by sixteen lodges in different
localities throughout the State.
Various offenders, convicted of sundrv
crimes and misdemeanors before the Circuit
Court OF this county, will aid in the construc-
ton of the different railroads for the aggregate
period Of twenty-six or eight years Larceny
is the popular offense. and its frequency does
not appear to abate in the slightest degree.
1t is intimated that Florida will bear off nu-
merous valuable premiums at Atlanta when
the awards OF the judges are made public and
that her people will have good cause for self
graduation at the general result Of the part
they have taken in the great Exposition To
bnlS cause may Oc hlbrlDuGeQ 10 q considerable
extent the unprecedented amount OF travel
already witnessed.
The capacity Of the express company is
now severely tested in the carriage of hun
dreds Of boxes of oranges intended for holi-
day presents ard for general consumption.
Truly box OF this rich, juicy, delicately fla
vored golden fruit from the Indian river CON
stitutes gift appropriate and always appre-
ciated
distinguished naval officer said to me late
~ that in the course of a long term Of service
he had been pretty generally over the world.
and had wintered in Italy and the south of
France, but that in all his experience he had
found no climate superior to that of Florida
The charming weather Of the past few days
has well deserved such eulogism.
Notable individuals are pouring in upon us
in such numbers thet the city papers are con-
strained to devote a column day more or
less, to the subject Of Personals" There are
few 'nobodies" in this democratic country.
The first jury that went out on an election
case in the United States Court have been
locked up over twenty -fours hours without
finding a verdict
The Everett House date Grand NationaD
opened last night With new furniture, ali
modern Improvements, and under its assured
good management, it will be popular.
To the proprietor, staff and readers Of the
MORNING NEWS my most cordial wishes are
rendered for the enjoyment Of a genuine old
fashioned Southern Christmas WHB