Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-11

| lALLAHASShE, teDFuGry S.-IuhG DIX 6cntu1t
! for draining Lake Okeechobee. and efrecting 9
safe land-locked route from that point to the
mouth Of the st. Johns river, has lost the
shape of mere project, and is fast assuming
the form OF reality. The managers are prac
ticaI, long headed men of business, and they
have long purses to back up the enterprise.
Just consider its Importance also! A com
munieation opened up for four hundred miles
into new and virgin country, rich In soil and
teemins with opportunities for the industrious
and ambitious. A land capable Of producing
/ all varieties of tropical fruits. and the great
staples that freight ships and build factories
cotton, corn and sugar cane, pineappIes, cocoa
nuts, oranges and coffee. Forests abounding
/ in game-rivers end coast teeming with their
| flnny inhabitants.
| Millions of acres of magnificent lands are to
| be- redeemed and thrown open for the benefit
! OF culrvators. Then too what field it will
present Tor the curious tourists always on the
| lookout for a new sensation. The Ocklawaha
| begins to pail somewhat on their fastdious
| tastes, and they pine for something strange
and startling. They will find il among the
| prineval sohtudes that line the shores of
! Florida's great lake. and amid the wierd and
| mysterious depths of the Everglades. Artists
| from Frank Leslie and the Harpers will soon
! be on hand to give to the world the wild and
! region.
The contractors mean business Theirs is no
| idle Vagasy, but step taken after long and
| patient delberation, with full knowledge of
! the cost, difficulties and probable results.
The agreement entered into is q square and
| honest transaction, profitable to both parties,
| TO the State and to the company
Civil engineers will be at once placed on the
] line to survey the route and to prepare esti-
mates. when immediate steps will be taken to
! construct the necessary dre 1Ring machines,
| which If iS nPOnOSed N nn0ratiOn with
| the utmost possible expedition. No time is to
| he lost and the work is to be pushed from its
| commencement to its completion.
The FlOridtGn publishes the following main
features of the contract:
/. Sixty days are allowed from the date OF
the contract for perfecting surveys.
z. Six months are allowed from the date OF
the contract to begin work
3. deposit of S5, 900 with Messrs. B. O. Lewis
& Sons, bankers, Tallahassee, Fla, as a forfeit
to ensure the performance of the contract.
4. The contractors are to keep force equal
to one hundred men constantly employed on
the work.
5. grant to the contractors of fifty per
cent of all lands reclaimed now or hereafter
belonging to the State.
6. Partial payment in lands as the work pro-
crosses.
Durkee and District Attorney Stickney arrived
a day or two since for the purpose of holding
the egular term of court. There were only
few motions to be heard, however. and the
SNNA" 10 PASSesSiJ ONJoNAAO0 W 0eJ Va ~
morrow.
A number Of important railroad charters are
now occupying the attention Of the Senate,
and the members of that body are watching
each other very closely, to see that his neigh
bors do not obtain too large slice of the in
ternal improvement funds. The true and cor
rect policy is to provide for the two great
backbones running to Tampa and Pensacola.
The little feeders will flow into and unite with
these as readily as creeks with rivers
A bill has been passed for the protection of
f1a n MIA 0nt
cious fruit is to be taken up at Cedar Keys and
planted at Fernandina and the mouth of the
st. Johns whereby 1t is hoped that the qdality
will be greatly improved. The bill furnishes
security to those engaged in the enterprise,
and Furnishes infringement upon their rights.
1t Is thought that several will avail themselves
OF the privilege afforded.
Up to the week ending to-day, there had
been 6,513 bales of cotton shipped from this
depot Price for low middling, nine cents per
pound. There cannot be much money In the
staple at these figures. No long staple cotton
Is raised in this section of the State.
Mr.. D. M. McAlpin, the efficient Assist
ant Secretary, OF the Sentae. and
the Live Oak Bulletin, proposes for
awhile to retire from his labors as quill
driver for the pHrposs e recFperatlpg h15
month, the paper will hs leased TO Mr.. W. Il.
Whitfield for the period Of one year ensuing.
Quite spirited debate arose in the Senate
this morning upon the bill TO regulate the
The bill was again, by motion, placed on its
second reading, and numerous amendments
offered, which, we learn. were ably discussed,
and one by one defeated. Senator Robinson,
the Chairman of the committee reporting the
BILL made a bold and determined fight in favor
Of itspasssge, and was gallantly supported BY
It's friends.
more general discussion ensued than upon
any other measure introduced during the pres
ent session. Those opposing the bill contended
that it was radical and oppressive, and not cal
culated to produce the end desired-that IL was
in favor of the rich as against the poor-that it
would greatly diminish the revenue-that it
would not diminish the sale OF liquors, mas
much rs tbs article vculd be procured by the
devotees OF Bacchus, In larger quantities, for
home consumption. =
These arguments were all met and enmhat-
ted with asinuch ability ss they were urged.
On its final passage the bill went through by
vote OF Is to 12. What It's fate viii be In the
Assembly remains to be determined. but the
| general impression is that Its supporters are
In sufficient strength in that body TO send it up
to the Governor for his signature. In it's gen.
eral effect upon the community at large,
/ this Is the most important measure vet
| affopfGd ~ g. fS-rv eli
The murder yesterday of mir. Patterson, st
Madison, seems to have been brutal and un.
provoked. The last intelligence from the scene
Of war Is alarming, and befokens q serious
| state Of affairs. IL the negroes OF that section
continue madly TO defy and resist the laws the
! consequences of their folly must rest on their
own heads. What q pity thar the sancei6ed
| Hickalis not on hand TO head their coEnnnlis.
| e RH B.