Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-27

Jay Gould has lately ordered from the in
ventor number of new car seats for his
Western lines which may revolutionize railroad
travelling. The seats are like those in ordinary
day cars. but at night it can be converted into
q comfortable bed by the passenger without
the Intervention of a porter. 1t is proposed to
use this seat on all passenger cars, and the rate
to be charged the passenger will, it is said be
merely nominal.s By an ingenious arrangement
an upper and lower berth can be made which
are distinct and separate. and curtain makes
either as private as necessary. Eventually Mr.
Gould proposes to place these seats in all his
cars, and the first-class pa senger and the emf
grant will be able to travel as comfortably at
night as in an ordinary sleeper"
Almost every traveller on night train would
gladly pay fifty cents extra for such a seat
while hundreds and thousands are unable to
meet the price demanded on a Pullman
sleeper. In this light, Jay Gould can justly be
regarded as public benefactor, and entitled
to the gratitude of our peupatetic population
So much capital is now finding its way into
Florida, and so much is being invested in rail
roads In this State, that the time cannot be far
distant when we shall hear that one has been
commenced leading from Tampa northward
The wants of the rapidly increasing population
of that fine section will, ere long, be needed,
and then another splendid region will be
opened for settlement and improvement.
There is one fact connected with Tampa and
the adjacent country that has rarely been
noticed. and that is its remarkable exemption
from destructive storms. While Pensacola, St
Marks and Apalachicola have often been Wis
tied by disastrous tornadoes, Tampa has
escaped. So healthy also is the climate that
the town has long been the summer resort for
the United States troops that garrison the forts
in and around Key West.
Hillsborough, fernando and Manatee coun-
ties offer to the settler fertile soi producing
all of the valuable semi-tropical fruits, broad
areas or noble forests waiting for the axe Of
the lumbermen, and numerous other avenues
leading to ease aud independence. Let but the
magic wand of quick transportation be waved
over this goodly land and marvellous trans
formation would speedily follow. Handsome
residences would soon line the shores of the
spacious Tampa Bay and our winter visitors
would discover that the st. Johns river did not
comprehend all that was desirable and pleas
ant in Florida. If once communication is
opened up to the southern counties on the
Gulf coast, their speedy growth and prosper
Gus future will be assured. Their great and
prominent natural advantages would imme-
diately be recognized, and the courteous but
inquisitive eyes OF capital would discover abun
dant opportunities for profitable investment
and the application of remunerative enter
prise. Sinews, brains and money will all reap
a rich reward in that fine region as soon as
the hoarse snort of the locomotive gives warn
ing of the march Of progress.
Having accepted an invitation last Saturday
to witness the completion of the WaycroSs Rail-
road, the hour of a. m found Messrs. G. r.
Foster, ID. II. Elliott. j. e. Drayton and my
humble self, perched upon fat car bound
for the seat of action. The train, consisting of
:,
der the charge of Engineer Albert Smith AL
though we had neither springs to our vehicles,
nor comfortably padded seats. the track was
so solid and well laid that there was no unpleas-
ant jarring or jolting, and your reporter would
have found no difficulty in taking legible notes.
The crosstits, twelve inches wide, are laid
twelve inches apart, making very firm and
substantial track, so that one half of the entire
road has solid wood foundation. Steel rails,
of the best quality, have been laid for the en-
tire distance.
When this road has been leveled, and has re-
ceived the finishing touches | venture the
prediction that it will be pronounced one of
the smootheSt and best constructed routes in
the entire country. No expense has been
spared in the locomotives and rolling stock
The engines are by the best makers, of I'M
usual power, and with all Of the latest improve
ments, while the passenger coaches and
sleepers are said to be marvels Of elegance and
comfort.
At Six Mile Branch the convict camp was
reached. While stopping to take on
the dinner prepared for the prisoners,
walked over the grounds. With the exception
of fifteen convicts sick with measles In the
hospital, and few cooks and guards, the
stockade was almost deserted. There were
two white female coDvictS engaged in making
garments, the younger of whom had managed
to obtain bright ribbon necklace as foil to
her otherwise sombre apparel.
AS general rule the country through which
we passed was fiat, monotonous and fearfully
uninteresting, succession of pine woods and
timber had been removed. Substantial trestles
were erected over Three Miles, Six Miles Trout
and Thomas creeks, which the company will,
ere long, fill in with earth, leaving the neces-
sary outlets for the passage of water. But
very few farm houses were encountered.
Soon we were at the small village of Gala
han, the only settlement of any size along the
road where we crossed the line Of the Transit
route On the other side of Callahan were
several cuts six or seven feet in depth
At last the large masses of workmen in the
distance Indicated that we were near the end of
our Journey. A few moments more landed us
among crowd of men whose zebra
suits and clanking chains at once denoted them
as malefactors. All were actively engaged,
some in bringing cross ties, others in carrying
rails, and others still in driving spikes. 1t was
a busy and stirring scene. At some distance
was another construction train and another
gang Of laborers similarly employed
For some days there had been
workmen to determine which party
would reach a designated point earliest
Shortly after our arrival the struggle
was decided 10 favor of the men who wore
striped suits and the result was greeted with
hearty cheers by the victorS.
was informed by those in charge that the
convict labor was not only more reliable, but
also more efficient than that obtained from the
hired operatives. Their rations are ample and
well prepared, and their physical condition has
greatly improved since their employment upon
the railroad.
the Savannah edge of Boggy Swamp. twenty
seven miles from Jacksonville and forty-seven
miles from Waycross. at station 644 south of
st Mary.s river, at u :55 o'clock p. m.
After a capital lunch, provided by Col Haiues
in his comfortable private car, we returned to
witness the finishing touches. A massive silver
spike, bearing the motto 'FiniS COrOnat Opats''
had been prepared for the ceremony The
planed and polished, were adjusted, and the
ties secured by eight brass spikes. Then the
silver spike was driven home, all of the
gentlemen who had been engaged in the con-
struction of the road lending their assistance
The SAvAN All MORNING NEWS participated in
the ceremony, in the person of your cores
pondent, who, as he tapped the piece of glitter
ing metal, breathe1 fervent wish for the sue
cess and prosperity Of this great undertaking.
At 3:25 p. m. the work was completed, and
Savannah and Jacksonville were firmly linked
together by iron bonds.
The first passenger train from your city is ex-
pect d here Wednesday afternoon, and the
Northern mails will be brought by the new
route about the first of May.
Three hundred negro hands, principally from
Thomas county, Ca, have been paid off and
returned to their homes. The earth on this
road was first broken on the 2ist Of last June
and the work has been retarded at least two
months by the extraordinary bad weather of
last winter. The engineers, contractors and
attaches have all faithfully discharged their
respective duties, and are entitled to the high
est approval for the energy and zeal with which
IQey nave prosecuted b4elT
This road has long been pet scheme of that
thorough railroadist and clever gentleman.
Col H. s. Haines, and he is to be heartily con-
graduated upon the completion of his cher
ished project. 1t brings us ten hours nearer to
Savannah and other great centres of business.
aud is long and important stride forward.
The sound policy that suggested and accom-
plished this work will be shown in the immense
travel that will seek the new route next winter.
assured not only of rapid and safe, but also of
certain transportation.
The party that left on the 9Th inst to make
the preliminary survey of Lake Okeechobee.
and the Kissimmee end Caloosahatchie rivers
have returned, greatly delighted with the sue
cess of their explorations. The result is en-
tirely satisfactory, and they pronounce the
contemplated drainage of the vast country.
sought to be recia Md, as altogether feasib e.
The fall to the Gulf is amply sufficient to ensure
the success of the proposed work, and they
propose to commence operations at a very
early period hope soon to furnish you with
some data bearing on the subject, Suffice it to
say that all doubts have been removed and
that the project is no longer embryonic.
Major Sidney Herbert and his accomplished
wife have been passing a day or two in Jack
sonville- The Major is on his way to Orange
county. and although his visit is purely one Of
business, he will doubtless find sufficient
leisure to crafty YOUR readers with a few de-