Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-17


tics of the State Press - FIOFIdu
Sustains Fifty Papers-A Boom fol
Our Long COttOn-An Opinion Thai
Means SOmething-"FIOrida Day.
at AGlanta-Let the Hall BE Filled
OkeechObee SOII-Odds and Ends
JACKSONVILLE. FLA, November 16.-Quite &
hutter has been occasioned among the gam
blers by the late action of the grand jury
Several indictments have been found, and the
parties concerned have been held for trial
Others, who feared punishment have left 10
hot haste, without standing upon the order Of
their going, and will, it is to be hoped, remain
away, like worthy patriots, for the good OF
society. Jacksonville Is afflicted every winter
with an undue percentage OF the sporting fra
ternity. They gather here like flies around
sugar. to prey upon the rich and idle tourists
who annually collect, with each returning sea
son, to escape the wintry blasts Of the North.
1t is astonishing, too, to know how many vic
tins they find and from what classes they are
taken. Grey headed merchants, astute bank
directors and shrewd financiers are smone
those who are taken in by these sharp swim
dlers.
In a majority of these cases the dupes are SO
mortified at the result that their losses are
never made public. They would meet with but
little sympathy, and would incur the rick OF
being made a target for ridcule Hence they
rarely seek the aid Of the police, but quietly
submit to the infiiction. 1t is bad enough for a
man. who has always prided himself upon his
Sagacity, to lose his money, but 1t is far worse
to have the world learn that in spite of his
years and experience he has been a consum-
mate simpleton. 1t is upon this very trait of
btIm these
and thus the game is usually safe and profita-
BILE one when they can inveige man OF this
description.
Bunco or confidence men, have been very
successful here in past seasons, and in spite of
the repeated warnings Of the press, they con-
tinue to find prey upon which to wax fat and
vigorous. One of the most noted members of
the fraternity who made this city his head
quarters for several seasons Chas. p. Miller,
has recently been murdered in New York.
Miller was young In years, but old in iniqu1t ?,
and had he devoted his remarkable natural
abilities to any legitimate business, would
have achieved signal success. OF fine ad-
dress, polished manners and excellent con-
yersational talents, it was a comparative easy
task to win the confidence of strangers and to
deliver them into the han1s of his trained con-
federates. So sl1llfuly and adroitly was the
pluckiDg effected, that the Innocent pigeons
never knew the delicate touch of the master
spirit in the transaction.
These hawks intuitively follow in the wake
of the stream of fashion and wealth that
takes this direction each winter. and Jackson
vile has its full quota of such adventurers.
Fortunately we have now at the head Of mu-
nicipal affairs an officer who has both the
nerve and intention to have the law faithfully
executed, and the knights Of the green cloth
will be apt to encounter rough weather. They
will be vigilantiy watched and vigorously held
to punishment.
Dade is now the only county In South Florida
without paper to portray her attractions and
advantages. All OF the others can claim a
trumpet that sounds the praises of their re-
spective sections vigorously. Fifty journals are
now published in the State. These are all
weeklies with three exceptions. The Union, of
this city, is at present the only daily, and Pen
sacola boasts of two semi-weeklioS IT would
seem that there should be no dearth OF intelli-
gsnce on general topics. as Florida is amply
provided with the levers that move the world.
No journalistic luminary has yet arisen in
the counties of Walton, Holmes. Washington,
Calhoun, Liberty, Wakulla, Lafayette, Taylor,
Baker and Dade. The remaining twenty nine
counties are each enlightened by one or more
editors Orange exults in the possession OF FIVE
papers. Leon, Duval, Alachua, Hil!sboro,
Monroe and Volusia in three each. Escambia,
Nassau, Marion. Manatee, Putnam and St.
Johns are each content with two, while the
remainder Of the twenty-nine need but one at
present
West Florida sustains five papers, Middle
Florida eight, and East Florida thirty-seven.
About forty of the entire number stand on the
Democratic platform, while the remainder are
Republican, Independent and agricultural.
Florida has not a single denominationaI paper.
Quite compliment has been paid to the long
cotton OF Florida at Atlanta. The foreman of
The Willimantic Thread Company last week in
spected bale of sea island on exhibition in Flor
ida Hall. After very careful examination he
pronounced it the most suitable for his special
purposes that had ever come under his observa-
ton, and equal in quality to such as he had pui
chased at 6Oc. pound. He also expressed the
hope that he would be permitted, before the
close Of the Exposition, to manufacture the
contents of that bale into thread. If permis-
sion is granted, as it doubtless will be, the re-
suit will be watched by the producers of this
grade of cotton in our State with great inter
est. Should the test prove as favorable as is
anticipated, hrstclass permanent market
will be opened to our growers and they will
be stimulated to plant the finer varieties, as
well as to bestow greater care upon their
preparation. There is no reason why Florida
should not raise fine staple as that grown
upon the sea islands of South Carolina Our
soil and climate are equally as we'll adapted to
its cultivation while the extent of area favora-
BILE to its production is far wider,
Should our long st pie be brought to the IA
vorable consideration Of the great Northern
manufacturers, in this respect alone Florida
would be amply repaid for the expense and
trouble of her exhibit at Atlanta
1t is in contemplation to get up ''F1orida
Day." at Atlanta, during the early part of next
month. Steps are being taken to effect this
purpose. By that time full line of fruits can
be procured in a matured condition. that will
htly illustrate the peculir products Of Florida.
The different railroads here will no doubt is
sue one-cent-a-mile tickets as do the Georgia
roads, and large excursion party will be or
ganzed. Numerous dignitaries will be invited
to grace the occasion with their presence, and
a general good time may be confidently ex-
pected.
The accounts from Florida Hall are verv en-
couraging. Articles are arriving in such guam
titles that it may become necessary to con
struct an annex to the main building to con-
tain the more bulky portions of the display A
very handsome collection has Just been re-
ceived frsm Key West which will be univer-
sally admired. Their exhibit at the State Fair
held in this city three or four years since, was
the feature or the week and the centre Of at
traction. Alachua has also contributed a car
load OF her varied and valuable products, and
will win reputation and induce immigration.
Other counties are now preparing their offer
ings, and by the first of December Florida Hall
will be place of beauty, around which visitors
will linger with delight and astonishment.
A general effort should be made throughout
the entire State, during the next two weeks, to
forward everything that is rare. curious and
instructive. December will be the important
month of the Exposition, and our people
should make every effort to adorn their State
building at Atlanta. The fruit tables should
be kept well supplied with succession or our
finest and most tempting specimens, and they
should be sent on in sufficient quantity to ad-
init of judicious, gratuitous distribution Hith-
erto the North and East have consumed our
surplus cr0p-hereafter we should also have a
market in the mighty West
At last we are to have city time-piece. The
enterpriSing proprietors of the Everett House
are makiug arrangements to place IN the lofty
dome of their fine hotel massive clock of the
most improved construction. Its elevated
position will enable 1t to be seen from every
part Of the city, and it will be an improve
ment long and greatly needed
The Synod of South Georgia and Florida
closed very interesting session of nearly a
week on Sunday. The various services were
largely attended, and the repor.s indicated
a progressive condition Of the church
Generally speaking stream two hundred
miles In length, and for fifty miles of
that distance navigable for steamers of light
draught, would be considered aud called a
river. As this is the case with Peace creek
running through Polk and Manatee counties,
change should be made IN its appellation The
removal OF some distractions would open this
thoroughfare, it is said, for one hundsed and
eighty miles, and afford an outlet to a prosper-
GUS ana rapidly growing section This matter
Is or sufficient importance to enlist the hearty
cooperation Of thoae whose interests are af-
fected
The Waycross Road has done wise thing in
building upon their wharves an extensive ware
house for packing oranges. The bulk of the
fruit shipped from this establishment will be
consigned to Western cities Fifty thousand
boxes are named as the probable amount that
will be shipped from this point At one hun
dred and sixty to the box, this will aggregate
ton OF the entire crop.
An effort is being made to throw the Central
and j., z. q NJ Railroads back into the courts
again for another merry -go-round of five or ten
years. This litigation will probably cease when
the rails have rusted into dust and the cross.
ties have rotted. There is still some good pick
ing about the old carcases.
Sir Edward Reed and the Dutch burgomas-
ters nave nad run up to Chattahoochie and
to st Marks. 1t is not known vet how large
an amount OF sovereigns and guiders they