Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-17

JACKSONVILLE, FLA May H. "A glance over
the acts and resolutions adopted during the
late session Of the Legislature. enables me to
make the following summary of the work that
was accomplished
The volume contains one hundred and ninety
four acts, ten resolutions and twenty eight me.
MORALS.
OF the acts twelve relate to the incorpora-
tion of as many new railroad companies, and
two to the construction of canals. Thirty-one
come in under the head Of relief bills. and
twelve restore different individuals to the
right Of citizenship, forfeited for the.commis-
sion of various offenses.
Only eight of the memorials to Congress
specify the sums of money required to carry
into effect the improvements contemplated.
These aggregate the amount OF four hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars. OF course
the remainder are entrusted to the generosity
of the National Legislature. 1t is to be hoped
that that body will be sufficiently liberal to
rendered navigable for the passage of three
inch catfish, and that the plscatory propensi-
ties OF some Of the sovereigns Of Florida may
be gratified.
MORALS has become a fashion that should be
more honored in the breach than in the OBJ
servance." They consume time, create ridi-
cule. and accomplish no good whatever A
committee should be appointed early in each
session, to whom all such matters should be
referred. with secret instructions to consign
the great bulk of such papers to the waste
basket. At the same time, 1t is necessary to
pay some Difference to the demands of bum
combe.
Judge J. NJ Baker, Of the Fourth Judicial
Circuit, is winning golden opinions. The court
for this county is now in session, and it is very
gratifying to see the celebrity with which busi
ness is transacted under the new regime. The
grand jury, for instance adjourned after sit
ting only ten days, a circumstance that has not
occurred for several years previously. Judge
Baker firmly, yet courteously, refuses to per-
NIT tedious arguments upon points long set
tied, and nips much windy eloquence, as we'll
gratuitouS di displays of dull erudition His style
of managementis decidedly acceptable TO the
tax payers. Iii said that several thousands Of
dollars will be saved to the county this year in
the shape of court expenses.
About twenty South Carolina editors paid
our State flying visit last week. They were
necessarily too much hurried to make more
than hasty examination, and like the great
majority or tourists. confined themselves to an
inspection Of the st. Johns river. The opinions
formed were generally favorable, and their
impressions, pro and con, will doubtless be
given to their readers 1t is to be regretted
tnat sufficient notice had not been given of
their intended visit, to enable our citizens to
have given them more attention. 1t was a
hop. skip and jump with them from the mo-
menu OF t06Ir dTf1Vdl TO Llelf departure. i
they could have passed a week in the State
and gone into the interior, where they could
have seen our rich cotton, corn and sugar
lands, they could have formed much clearer
idea of our great natural resources. The
country bordering on our noble river does not
comprise al of lorida that Is worth seeing
although such appears to be the estimate
of many of our visitors. Hurrah for every
railroad that leaves path through our sombre
pine forests, bearing with it the cheering and
cheerful signs of growth, progress and improve
ment! Wo Id that every portion of this spien-
did state OF ours was intersected in every di-
rectiOn by those mighty arteries of peace and
commerce, and that all sections were advanc
ing, pdTi pGSsU, to wealth and greatness The
more nets the more fish, and the more rail-
roads he more immigrants.
Some thirty Germans were here day or two
since, on their way to Volusia where they have
been engaged to clear one hundred acres of
land, and plant an orange grove. They were
hearty, rudy fellows brawny and muscular
and well adapted to such labor. Their EN-
ployer, a wealthy Western man, proposes to
bring on much larger number of Teutons
this winter, and it is to be hoped that accessions
of this desirable element viii become frequent
The colony Cf Swsdes planted in Orange
county some years since has been success
and most of Them have realized a comfortable
independence. During the coming fall q large
number OF Italians Is expected who will be
located upon the estate of the Duke de Castel-
luccia. Thus il will be seen that Florida is se-
curing some fragments from the immense
food of iInni ration now flowing so steadily
towards this country just so soon as her
great natural advantages are thoroughly un-
derStcod, a large portion of the tide will be di-
verted in this erection.
Mr.. Dave Wilson, a gentleman well and IA
vorably known throughout the State, who has
just returned from an extended trip up the
river, informs me that he has encountered 10
the course of his travels numerous parties from
Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Ken
lucky. who had just purchased lands, or who
we're in search of suitable locations Hestates
thar fha mi in rpol ra
and heavy, especially in Orange and Voiusia
counties, and that the people were elated over
their cheerful prospects.
Just here it is as well to correct the preya-
lent error that the valley of the st. Johns Is
filing up altogether with Northern settlers
This is a mistake. While the local papers
trumpet the purchase of an orange grove by a
wealthy man from the North. at ten, twenty
or forty thousand dollars, as the case may be,
they do not note the constant arrivals of men
from the surrounding Southern States. who
buy their forty acres, or more, of public lands
and soon convert the wilderness into a smiling
farm. Neither do the journals notice the CON
slant additions made to the population
by those who come into the State bringing
their families and household effects 10 carts
and wagons. II the number of these humble
immigrants could be ascertained, the amount
would be surprising. This is the class who be-
co ne permanent citizens, and who endure all
the labor and privations of pioneer hfe-who
build churches, erect school h0uses and turn
the waste places into gardens. While we
heartily welcome the rich Northern man. who
comes among us with his progressive IDEAS
and who Is doing so much for The advancement
of our State, let us not forget to do honor to
his poorer Southern brother, who, in a loWlier
sphere and with limited means il vet
also playing his part manfully. All
are welcome come tstey from the North,
South, East. West or foreign countries Our
lands are rich, broad and capacious enough to
give homes and employment to millions Not
only will they ind here relief from physical
ailments, but also for attenuated purses
While thousands have been enabled here to
take fresh lease upon existence, and again to
explt in the consciousness OF restored health
and vigor, there are other thousands who have
found here the long sought FL Dorado and
who have joyfuly elected the grim, gaunt
skeleton, Poverty, from their family closets
What has been done in the past can hs re-
peated in the future Colossal
fortunes are nos to be made
or lest here II Jew hours. as in the Stock Ex.
change on Wall street, but the opportunities
for acquiring competence and indenendeace
are within the reach of all who come here
with proper industry aud energy. There
never was 6 letter time to come than the
present. All portions of the State are yig0r-
ously pressing forward works of Internal i'm
provement, and viii soon Se linked together
in chain of coIprlon uterest and sympathy.
'Progressp is he watchward of the hour.
and Fortune holds out many tempting rewards
for the Industrious ambitious ana enterpris
ing. Although the soil of Florida is sandy her |
prosperity is based upon the solid bed rock of |
aStaal worth and value, and her pledges to |
pay all investments made by mind, muscle and |
money will be amply redeemed.