Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-18

SensatIOn-Gen. Ben Butler In
FlOrida-Then and NOw-variOus
Scraps.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, April 14-The survivors
of Perry's and Finnegan's brigades, of the
Army of Virginia.w viii be glad to hear something
of that noble Christian lady, Mrs NJ NJ Reid
the matron of the Florida Hospital In Rich
mond. Her name will bring back to the mem
bers of the above commands many a scene in
which she figured as an angel of mercy, and
where she displayed all of the qualities that
illustrate and adorn humanity.
How often has the writer seen her moving
quietly through the crowded wards, filed with
the sick and wounded, ever ready to do good
and relieve suffering She shrank from no
6uty. however trying, and was always prompt
to respond to any demand for her services At
one moment dressing wound with skill and
tenderness-ae another. writing a letter home
for some poor fellow, too feeble to do so him.
self-again reading the sacred promises TO one,
lowering between the two worlds, or giving a
word of cheer to the despondent. She left
peace and comfort wherever she went and the
steps, and will soothe her last moments
! had the great pleasure of meeting Mrs
Reid, last week, in Fernandina, and of finding
her in excellent health. She is leading a peace
full, useful life in the family of a relative in
that city. She is a splendid type of the South
ern genuewoman. and possesses the highest
attributes Of a pure and exalted womanhood
Floridians hold her in the utmost reverence
and regard, and no woman in the State has
won clearer title to their love and venera
ton. May Time deal lightly with this noble
lady
l also had the pleasure of encountering in
Fernandine DR.. T. NJ. Palmer, of Monticello
surgeon OF the Second Florida Regiment of
Infantry, and afterwards in charge of the
Florida and Howard Grove Hospitals in Rich.
mond. DIR. Palmer is ian eminent and Skiilful
physician, and an upright Christian gentle
man, honored and esteemed throughout the
entire State. He is still actively engaged in
his profession, and enjoys a large and remu-
nerative practice. His old patients of the
Army of Virginia will rejoice to hear that he
is hale, hearty and cheerful.
You are aware that Jay Gould, the great fl
nancier and railroad king, passed few weeks
here during the past winter. As he is general
ly regarded as a man of wonderful business
capacity and great and varied experience, bis
opinions as to this State are entitled to weight
and deserve consideration. The following ex-
tract from an interview with a reporter of tbs
New York World will be read with interest:
For three hundred miles south from Jack
Sonville, along the st. joins river, and still
further north and east the country is dotted
over with orange groves of from twenty to
twenty five acres in extent. 1t takes about
five years for an orange grove to mature so as
to produce fruit for the market. but neverthe-
0us
are looked to as a sure source of revenue. When
an orange grove begins to bear fruit it appa.
rently never wears out. heard of one tree
which bears annually from six to eight thou
sand oranges but that is above the average"
What is the cost of an orange grove?'
las said, replied Mr.. Gould, ''they vary in
extent from twenty to twenty-five acres, and
are worth from $4,000 to $t00,000. But they
yield handsome percentage. For instance,
Mr.. Hart, who lives just above ME here owns
a grove of about twenty-five acres. and he in
forms me that it yields him net income of
from $l5,OG0 to $4,000 year"
Is this interest growing?f
Decidedly so, and think that within the
next five years Florida ought to be able to
supply the entire demand of the United States
for oranges. believe that the sweet orange
Is not native or Florida but has to be grated
upon the tree which bears the sour orange
On one tree you sometimes see oranges, lemons
and lines growing together. Of course the
several fruits have been grafted but it is in
teresting and peculiar to Northerner to see
these fruits growing in happy family on one
tree. 1t suggests horticultural paradise -
is orange growing the chief industry of
Florida?"
live oak and the like, you must not forget the
alligator, said Mr. Gould, smiling and evident
ly thinking of his alleged alligator farm
But is the alligator sufficiently valuable
animal to make his cultivation remunerative?''
No; his hide is the valuable portion of him,
and even that is worth comparatively little.
though believe they make it into boots in Eng
land -
But does Florida cultivate these reptiIesY,
That is not necessary. The alligator cult
Yates himself and produces quickly and nu-
merously. The whole swamp and river coun-
try is filled with them"
And are they dangerous %
well" said Mr.. Gould, lit is as we'll not to
get in the way OF their tails think they strike
their victims chiefly with their tails Never
theless, the eleven-inch jaws of some of them
or mot al Mxr I.1
resembled whale on four legs. Our party
killed over thirty of them. Whether killed
any myself or not is difficult question for me
to answer. saw some live ones just before
fired and some dead ones just afterward; but
as several rifles went off at the same time. 1
cannot assume that it was my gun that killed
an alligator. But alligator shooting was not
what interested me in the South; the blossoms
our wedding blossoms of the North, you know
were on the trees. and yet the ripe. golden
fruit was there too"
Tom Scott, the Pennsylvania Railroad mag
nate, preceded Mr.. Gould. The visits of these
distinguished gentlemen to our State elected
much attention, and gave rise to much COM
ment among the quidnuncs These gossips
are yet in some doubt as to the purposes and
intentions of this pair of illustriouS visitors
Some insist that bridge is to be erected from
Key West to Havana, while others contend
that a tunnel is contemplated between the two
cities. All agree, however, that some great
public enterprise, of unparalleled magnitude
is to be undertaken, stupendous in its charac-
ter, and wonderful in its effects
You can't make body around 'these dig
gihgs" believe that Jay Gould came to Florida
merely to suck oranges and shoot alligators
No sir. not for one minute. We know better
and newspaper men are on the qtLt Uive TO
gather the first inkliug of the vast enterprise
Your correspondent expects not to be behind
his coTlfreres.
Twenty-one years ago, in 1860, / saw General
B. F. Butler, at the Charleston Convention.
Last week saw him again in Fernsndina. He
was attired In suit of navy blue, rather the
worse for wear, while Commodore's cap en-
circed his struggling white locks His weather
beaten countenance. memorable half.closed
eye, always looking to windward, rolling gait
mariner. Few besides himself have navigated
so boldly and confidently the angry sea of
public opinion, and treated with such Contempt
its swelling and threatening billows.
1t is beyond the power Of any of the artists
of the celebrated papers to cdrtcdture General
Butler. His appearance speaks for itself. and
any effort to represent it more ludicrously will
always result in signal failure
He appeared to be much interested in the
various amusements, and mingled freely with
the crowd of spectators, apparently totally in
different to the attention which he attracted.
Who can say that the South is still unrecon-
structed when Ben Butler can go amongst its
people without insult or injury2
A movement has been commenced by the
Epscopal1anS OF Fernandnia to erect another
church, the present building being too small
a
the congregation has donated two thousand
acres of land, lying along the route of the
Transit Railroad, as his contribution These
lands will be sold at one dollar per acre. cash.
Titles are perfect The present price at which
such lands are held by the railroad company
is 81 25per acre.
But few oranges will be made in Jackson
vile this season. The cold weather of last
winter destroyed most of the young wood. and
but few blossoms are visible. This city was
fast becoming large orange grove, almost
every yard containing more or less bearing
5rees. and the supply from this source was con-
An immense crop of the golden
'rut is indicated in the up-river counties, and
,he growers in that section will reap rich har-
rests
The committee appointed by the late Legis-
ature to investigate the issue, origin and dis
position of the bonds of 1873, held session
his week and examined several witnesses
Thev adjourned yesterday to meet again on
he 26th inst when they expect TO Complete
heir labors. The investigation will be com
)rehensive and thorough, and will it is hoped.
esult in throwing some light on a dark sub
ect.
Only ten or twelve miles of the gap on the
Faycross Railroad remains to be closed
Working parties are engaged on both extremi-
les, and the distance is very rapidly diminish
ng.
Our winter visitors. who have left for home
n such numbers recently, must regret the
udden trasition. As general rule. they
cave too early, and many lose all the ad7an-
age they have gained b. their sojourn in
florida.
Most of the hotels, however. are still we'll
lied, and will not close their doors before the |
st OF May. w. H. B.
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