Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-11


! JACKSONVILLE, FLA, August 10.-One Of the
rapidly increasing industries of our city is the
| lumber business. During the month just end
ed there was shipped from this port the hand
some amount of 6 6,375, 600 feet of lumber being
more than double the quantity exported dur
ing the month Of July, 1850. For the first
seven months Of the present year the ship
ments of lumber have been nearly II, ,OOO OOC
feet in excess OF the corresponding period OF
last year.
These facts mean a demand for labor at
good wages, employment for muscle. work for
the railroads, good freight for vessels, money
in circulation, and prosperity for the mer-
chants. A pine tree, cut down and converted
into building material contributes as much to
the resources of the country as gold nugget
OF the same value extracted from the placers
of California ~
Our magnificent virgin forests of yellow pine
are fast attracting the attention OF capitalists,
not only on account of the intrinsic merit of
the material which they furnish, but because
the supply of lumber from other sources is
fest being exhausted. The man who now pur-
chases timber lands in Florida, to be utilized in
the future, carries a level head, and is putting
mis- money into mighty safe institution.
With the present and prospective growth of
the State itself. the home demand for lumber
from the wants of other communities When
ever jstty improvements at the mouth of our
noble river are completed, and square rugged
vessels: drawing twenty feet OF water. are able
to reach our wharves, Jacksonville will soon
be to the Atlantic coast what Pensacola
is to our Gulf frontier. Splendid mills
will line both sides of the river for
miles, and the flags of other nations
will futter to the winds from the mastheads of
many a gallant blue-water vessel. Mill logs
will be hoated down by the river and its many
tributaries, while the numerous railroads, now
centering in our city, will contribute their aid
in keeping up the supply. Millions upon mill
lions OF our broad acres. now covered with
stately trees, have never been invaded by the
woodman's axe, and hold out rich rewards for
enterprise and industry. In the noble forests
of Florida will be found for years to come
work Tor the laborer and employ ment for
capital.
In conversation not long since with we'll
known gentleman of South Florida, who is
better acquainted with the Indians than any
other man in the State and whose avocations
frequently bring him into contact with them,
L gathered some little items of interest con-
cerning the savages. My informant is satisfied
that all told they do not exceed one hundred
and fifty, men, women and children. Their
numbers are gradually increasing. As the set
Elements of the pale faces continue to en-
croach upon their hunting grounds, they are
beginning to yield to the inevitable. and visit
their white neighoOrs more frequently, and are
evidently disposed to cultivate amicable rela-
tions. They understand fully their own weak
ness and inability to cope with the white race,
and nothing is more unlikely than that they
will ever again take up arms against the gov
ernment. Occasionally they commit a few
depredations upon the cattle feeding in their
vicinity, but these little oRenSes are wisely and
prudently overlooked by the COW drivers.
There is no truth whatever in the rumor that
negroes are still owned by them and that the
institution of slavery is still prevalent. AS a
general thing they are very fearful of remov-
al across the Mississippi, and regard govern
off All al
picion. 1t is always a difficult undertaking for
person of this class to obtain an interview
with the chiefs.
These simple children of nature have but few
wants, which are easily supplied by the trad
ers. In such a mild climate they need but
scanty clothing. They affect gay colors. and
the calicos and turbans which they wear are
or the most gaudy character. Having learned
that th-re is demand for the plumed birds of
that region, they now bring in for barter or
sale quantities of such articles.
One of their young lads is now attending
school at Fort Myers, and is fast acquiring an
ordinary education. This deviation from their
customs was regarded at first with exceeding
dislike by those in authority, and the boy life
was frequently threatened This purpose
would have been executed had they not been
restrained by the fear of punishment 1t is
hoped that the Indian student. when he returns
to his people, will be able to WELD a salutary
influence.
In the course Of year or two now Lake
Okeechobee will be traversed by a feet of
| steamers, ana Ble QaS1Ing bellies and beauX OF
our Northern cities will enjoy new seusa-
tlon by being enabled to hold interviews with
the wild dwellers of the forest. Barnum will
send down an agent to secure a company for
eXhlOltlon, ana the artists of Harper and Les
lie will seek for subjects among our native red
men.
It is to be hoped that the little handful of In
dians, now in the State. will be allowed to re-
main undiSturbed. They are too few in num-
ber and too timid even to become the aggres-
sors, and the people upon the frontier have no
nf fnfnro diff1PnlfV ThQU
will make the best of guides for the sports
men, who, ere long, will be penetrating the
dark recesses OF the mysterious Everglades in
quest Of strange and unaccustomed game.
Gradually they will become civilized, and be
brought under the ennobling and humaDizing
influences of Christianity. The government
can, when the time arrives place them upon a
reservation and give them chance for prog
ress and improvement.
This is truly the railroad era for Florida,
Another is projected from Rome, in your State
to St. Marks, and bill charter1ng company
for this purpose is now before your Legisla-
ture. Still another, to be known as the Florida
and Alabama Northern Railroad, is projected
between point on the Tennessee river, at or
near Guntersville, to Chattahoochee. The
articles of incorporation will soon be fled in
the office of the Secretary of State, in Mont
gomery. A deviation of forty miles from the
route, as contemplated, will take the road
through Montgomery, and vigorous effort
will be made to carry it through that city.
South and West Florida will soon be trav-
erSed by the wonderful locomotives that bring
growth and progress in their train, and those
noble portions of our State will awake at a
bound to a development that will be astonish-
ing in its results and bewildering rapidity.
Tampa and Pensacola will be near neighbors,
and every portion of our widely extended
State will be cemented by the ties of common
interest. 1t is a very plea ant picture to con-
template, and the near future of Florida is
brilliant with the promises, may say of the
certainties, of limtless prosperity.
There is not another State in the South, with
the exception of Texas, that will make such
strides towards greatness within the next ten
wears as Florida, No other State has been
more abnndantly endowed by nature with the
resources and advantages that attract popula-
tion and invite the joint employment OF labor
and capital No other State is drowning such
splendid material from the population Of other
communities. They come from IL directions.
and will continue to come, for here they find
an unusually large proportion Of those matters
that go to make up human happiness and com
fort.
The negro, Ben. Bird, convicted of the muir
der of Policeman Nelson also colored, on the
occasion of the mill riots last summer, is to be
executed on Friday. strong effort is being
made to obtain Communication of the sentence
to Imprisonment for life. 1t is not known what
action will be taken by the Pardoning Board,
who now have the subject under consideration.
The recent lynching OF young Dickson, at
Leesburg, and the assassination of Crowder
and Rhodes, in Volusia, were shocking instan.
ces of law leSsneSs, and have aroused the in
OlgndClOn OF Lno DeCGer Glasses very BoH0Taly.
Such deplorable occurrences must be checked
promptly. vigorously and hGrshly, or the State
Will suffer seriously. Tne communities where
these events occurred owe it to themselves to
take active steps to bring the perpetrators Of
these outrages to speedy and condign punish
ment.
a new line of telegraph wire is being
stretched between your city and ours along
the line of the WaycrOss Railroad. This, Of
course, increases our facilities, and is a sub
ject for congratulation.
Much uneasiness has been 0ccs stoned by the
necessity of a seaond operation for the relief
of the President. and the hopes of his early
recovery have been greatly diminished Many
are disposed to take a gloomy view Of the
stu alton, and fear that the Presidents
strength will not endure the strain to which it
is subjected.
Mr. McCallum, of the Union. leaves this
morning for trip to East Tennessee, In
spite of long-continued and wasting disease he
has managed the columns OF his paper with
rare ability and fidelity to the interests Of
Florida. After a long struggle with adverse
circumstances, he has succeeded in placing his
paper upon sure basis of prosperity, and q
general hope is expressed that he may long he
spared to reap the rewards of his arduous ef-
forts.
The piles for the foundation of the waycross
depot are being placed in position to sustain
the superstructure, which is to be of immense
size. aud not only elegant in appearance, but
provided with the latest improvements for the
comfort Of passengers.
Immigrants and prospectors are constantly
arriving and all signs point to a large increase
of actual settlers as well as to an unpreceden-
ted influx of tourists next winter. w. H. B.
-%*-e-.<----
KILLED BY A LITTLE BoY.-John
Noehan Nau MavioO IaonaroIo ~ -