Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-11

GFONBk0 - ElOEh0A NAOl6m0 anu
Georgia Railroad The Cfgy's
HeaIth-The Fall Trade-COIoneI
stephens Death Railroads on
Paper.
TALLAHASSEE, August editor Morning
NesCs: 1t is the opinion Of many OF our citf.
zens that the ONCE Of Secretary Of state in
Florida is almost a sinecure. This Is based on
the fact that under our ante bellum constitu-
ton there was but little pay or emolument at
tached to the Office, and its duties were not at
all onerous. But this is not 50 now, however.
as l know from personal observation. FIRE.
quently visiting the various offices at
the capitol, I have always found my
genial friend. Hon. John L. Crawford,
the efficient Secretary of State, very busy,
though, with his usual urbanity, he was al
ways ready to lay aside his pen and enter
tain any visitor that called The duties Of this
office are much more complicated than in for
mer days. This is owing to our rapidly in
creasing population and the various schemes
of internal improvement being projected. Not
a week passes but what this officer issues five
or six commissions to Justices Of the Peace,
Netaries Public, County Commi ssiouers and
other ofhcisls and in addition to this, all OF
these commissions must be duly recorded and
properly indexed, But this is not all. Under
the general incorporation act, many aSSocla-
ii ms awaiting themselves Of it, have fled arti-
cles of incorporation (some Of which are quite
lengthy, are they are duly recorded and in
dexed The occasional notices In the news
papers Of new companies being Incorporated
can give no one a correct idea Of their number
In former years dozen acts Of incorporation by
the Legislature were considered large num-
Der. But from an inspection of the record in the
Office Of Secretary of State find that no less
than forty two articles of Incorporation have
been fled since the first of January last. This
speaks volumes for the pluck and energy OF
our people and our growing prosperity as
idly and eagerly invested. The mortgages on
the various lines OF railway and their lands
and other property to secure the payment or
bonds, are also recorded here. find mort
gage of the Florida Transit and Peninsula
Railroad Company recorded to Sc
cure the issue of bonds amounting
to five million five hundred thousand dollarsl
This Is the largest issue ever before made by
any railroad company in the State. The South
Florida Railroad Company is not 80 preten
tious, as their road does not cover so many
miles as the former. They have mortgage
to secure two hundred thousand dollars in
bonds. In addition to recording and issuing
notices of election, the correspondence Of the
Secretary of State is very extensive, and that
from being an Office OF light clerical duty, it is
now one Of the most onerous as to clerical
work In the Cabinet.
learn from gentleman just up from Madi.
son that the work along the line OF the Florida
Midland and Georgia Railroad is progressing
favorably The route has been located and
quite number Of hands have been at work
for some time grading. This road was char
tered by the last Legislature. The company
was authorized to cons ruct road from some
point near Dead Mans Bay by the
most practicable route to the Georgia
Quitman or Valdosta, Georgia AS my
Informant is one of the corporators his in
formation is reliable. and still another rail
road is being projected, and articles of incor-
poration have been filed. But as the usual no.
lice has not yet been given in the papers, and
the plans of the corporation not fully matured
my announcement Of the proposed termiui
would be premature. Suffice it to say that the
citizens Of Middle Florida seem now to be fully
aroused and various associations are being
Incorporated for railroad and other purposes.
All of tn Sc new corporations may not sue
coed, but many of them Will Real estate in
this section has already advanced, and 1t is
much easier to sell land for better price than
ten years ago
While New York has been sweltering Of late
with the thermometer above the nineties. and
the mortality among infants has been UMPIRE
cedentedly great in consequence, we have been
enjoying delightfully."- pleas mt weather Indeed
/ do not remember ever before to have suf-
fered so little from heat For us it has been
as Vennor predicted, wet summer Nor Is
there as much malarial fever as usually exists
at this season at present there is but one
dence as to the healthfulness Ct this section
1t is true that every community will boast of
their N althy locality" but the number Of
practicing physicians is, after all, the best test
Our wa NEST weather is now over, and il the
rainy season should be pretracted for six weeks
longer, we may escape the diseases incident to
Already our merchants are making prepare
tions for the fall trade. They have taken inven-
tories of their stock and estimate the extent of
the coming cotton crop Some have already
THAR
will soon follow. Quite a number however,
remain at home and order by sample This is
owing 10 the indefatagible commercial traveIe
or drummer" as he Is called, who exhibits
mis- samples, praises his wares and solicts orders
for "our house." Notwithstanding legislation
has in some instan ces imposed an almost pro-
hibtory tax upon this individual he still -four
ishes. Such legislation is both unwise and I'M
just, and if tested in the United States Supreme
Court would. doubtless, be pronounced uncon-
stitutional. The drummer is not nuisance
as many contend, but useful character, bene-
fetal alike to the buyer and seller. To the
former, as it saves time, the trouble and ex-
pense Of going North twice year to select his
goods to the latter as good medium of adj
vertisement, while at the same time he is kept
posted as to the financial status Of his debtor
And in this connection would state that our
Southern merchants are reported to be m re
prompt and reliable in their payments than
the Western.
Our community were very much shocked a
few days since BY the announcement Of the
Quincy. Col Stephens was one of the leading
citizens of this section and a prominent law
yer. For years before the war he was Solicit
tor of the Middle Judicial Circuit, and such
was his ability as prosecuting lawyer, that
he was terror to evil doers Woe to the I'M
lucky wight whom the grand jury indicted.
Sam Stephens spared not, but prosecuted
with vim, as though his life
depended on the result For forty years or
more he had been identified with the history OF
Middle Florida, and most of that time filled
positions of public trust. Thirty years ago he
sons in this State and a better presiding officer
never saw. He was known throughout the
state by all the old residents, and his loss will
be deeply deplored, for he won the esteem and
tact. Thus one by one the old landmarks Of
the past are rapidly disappearing, for Stephens
was a link that bound us to that past. Many
an amusing story would he relate of the old
territorial days, of which story sometimes he
was one Of the chief actors But he is gone
ReQHiescdt IN pace.
The embryo railroads of this section are in
sfGtW quo for the present but possibly active
operations may commence Ia the late fall
when it will be easier to obtain hands. The
Florida Midland, from Gainesville through
Tallahassee to the Georgia line, has run an ex-
perimental line only as far as this place, while
the company who propose to construct rail-
road from James Island, on the Gulf,
through Tallahassee, have done nothing more
than run one or two expert mental lines Our
community is very anxious for direct CON
nection with the Georgia system. and what
ever corporation NAV construct such a road
will not only be literally patrouized, but re-
ceive material aid In subscription to stock.
AS the fall approaches land prospectors are
making their appearance. Several sales have
already been effected and others are being
negotiated. We hope and expect quite land
hOOnO after avhila TuON