Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-04
NOTES FROM TALLAHASSEE.
Relics of DeSOtO-COrrectf0g IN
Abuse The sylvan Dell - The
Middle Florida Fair Still An
other Railroad.

TALLAHASSEE, May 2-EditOr Morning Netus:
A few weeks ago, while the workers on the
railroad near Chattahoochee were engaged in
doing some excavations, they exhumed an in
teresting relic Of the past-an earthen dish Of
Indian manufacture. On the bottom in clear
characters were engraved 'DeSoto, 1870" II
is now in possession of h. g. Elliot. Esq Quite
a number Of Indian relics Of pottery manufac-
ture have been found in Middle Florida from
time to time But all of the vessels heretofore
discovered were jars. This, however, is a
shallow dish, but undoubtedly of aboriginal
work manship, as the material shows. 1t was
probably t4ken by some of DeSoto's men as
they marched through that section about that
time. Fairbanks in his History of Florida
says that in the year 154O. DeSoto. leaving the
country east of the Appalschee, went in a
northwest direction. There is no doubt, then,
that this Indian relic was in possession of the
Spaniards Nor is this the only vestige Of the
footsteps Of the gallant cavalier and his COM
panions that has been discovered in this vicini-
tV. Some twenty-five years ago nearly COM
plete suit Of armor, including helmet and
breastplate. ere turned up by the plow in
jefferson county. have fre quently seen it,
and 1t was in fair state of preservation.
Taxes are always high," was the remark Of
a certain Governor Of Florida. But when the
burden Is borne uneQualy il is the more gal
ling TO those who honestly give in a correct
list of personal property. Ii one individual
purchases iani from another the record in the
Clerks office shows the quantity aud value of
the purchase. But when purchaser obtains
a patent from the United States Government
for land, OF a ceed from the State, there is no
record in the Clerks Office Of uch purchase
Thus it has happened that thousands of acres
that should have been taxed were not rendered
in, and in this way the State has lost thousands
OF dollars from her revenue. Governor BloX-
ham determined that this state Of things
should no longer exist; and a staff Of clerks
was therefore employed IN the State Land
ONCE to copy every entry that has been made.
and by careful comparison with the records in
the several counties ascertain the number of
acres liable to taxation These lists. when
completed. viii be sent to the various Tax AS
SCISSORS and entered upon their tax rolls The
number of acres thus withheld in the counties
of HiIIsborOugh and VOIu ia alone amount to
2g7. 900 This does not include any of the lands
OF the late DisStOn purchase, but those entered
by individuals in small lots ranging from forty
acres to several thousand. was unable TO
obtain the exact number OF acres so Liable
to taxation, as the work is not yet com
pleted, but was Informed that at least 100000
would be so subjected. Averaging the value
OF those lands at 81 so per acre, the nice little
sum Of $4,000 will thus be realized to the State
(the State tax being eight miilsl and about
IS O0O to the various counties In addition to
the entries in the State Land Office, those in
the United States Land Office were also ex-
amined, aud are included in the above estimate.
source "a well as from the late Disston pur-
chase. will go far eventually in lesseaing the
burden Of taxation.
Another source of revenue to the State is
exp scted from the various railroad com
panies over five million dollars worth of pro-
perty being owned by those corporations, who
have refused to pay taxes. The last Legisla-
ture authorized the Governor and Comptroller
to employ counsel. who were directed to insti-
tute legal proceedings to test the liability of
those companies to psy taxes. suits have
been instituted, and the courts Will soon de-
termine the matter.
Mr.. H ". Walter, the representative of the
owners of the Sylvan Dell, the steamer to ply
between ST. Marks and ApaIachicola, de-
termined to show that his steamer was no
myth, but that he really meant business. had
her brought up to st. Marks few days since
and kindly invited our citizens to little
pleasure trip ont on the Gulf Quite number
OF ladies and gentlemen availed themselves Of
his kind invitation and enjoyed pleasant day.
All speak in glowing terms or the staunch
craft, and anticipated much pleasure the
coming season from excursions on her 10 diff
ferent points. So, although We cannot run
down to Tybee ike the deniz ms Of Savannah,
we will henceforth have frequent opportuni-
ties of enjoying the refreshing breezes OF the
Gulf
As Wednesday, 80 May, draws nigh, the in
terest Of our community in the coming Middle
Florida Fair increases. The thrifty farmer is
carefully putting aside his largest and finest
potatoes. sQuashes and other garden truck for
'the fair, " while the careful housewife watches
closely her beautiful flowers, complacently
contemplating her future floral display, conf
dent that she will obtain the premIum.N 1t is to
be regretted that the directors did not see ft to
have their fair month earlier. AS IL is most
OF the Northern visitors with the return or
warm weather, have gone homewards. A good
attendance is expected. however, for IL liberal
advertising means anything they will not hide
their light under a bushel,
And still another railroad was agreeably
surprised the other day by visit from my old
friend Gen. Elias Earle, Of Alachua county,
who visited the capitol on business corrected
with the road of which he is President They
design constructing it from Melrose, in Alachua
county through Newnansville TO ROwland's
Bluff AS this road will connect with the one
from Green Cove to MeIrose, there will then be
three connections between the Suwanee and
ST. Johns. Verify Florida will soon vie with
some OF her elder sisters in facilities and con-
Veniences Of transportation. LEON.