Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-13
JACKSONVILLE JOTTINGS.
SUNLAND TOPICS OF GENERAL
INTEREST.

winter. Two mornings in succession
warnings were received from the Weather
Bureau of the approach of a blizzard from
the northwest, and sure enough it struck
us Thursday night. These advices now
reach us in full time to be scattered far
and wide over the orange growing region,
and the majority of those engaged in the
business have ample time to gather their
fruit and protect their groves.
Perhaps there is no department of the
government that is more accurately and
honestly conducted. and that is prOduc-
tive of valuable and satisfactory results.
than that under the control of General
Hazen. By far the great majority of its
predictions have been verified. and wise
men, prudent mariners and sensible agri-
culturists give heed to its signals of i'm
pending danger, and save lives and money
thereby. And the time is coming when
the utterances of the bureau will be the
admitted authority in all matters in which
the condition Of the weather is regarded
as a factor.
The cold here was not severe. Thin ice
was vlslDIe on Friday morning, but no i'll
effects have been observed. 1t is certain
that neither orange trees nor the fruit have
been injured in this section Up the river
large quantities Of the fruit were gath
cred, but as the holidays are at hand, when
there is an increased demand for the or
ange, the growers will sustain no loss.
Strange to say, the weather has been
colder south of this city than has been
experienced here. Both the Barlow IN
tOrmQnt and Leesburg NeoCS, published
respectively in fernando and Sumter
counties, record the appearance of ice
and ask: ''Where is the frost line?" That
line is somewhat mythical, and it's true
locality has always been difficult to es
tablish. One thing is very certain, and
that is that the cultivation of the orange
can be successfully conducted in every
portion of Florida. While it NAV not be
an absolutely sure crop in the west and
middle sections Of the State, it is equally
as much so as is that of the apple and
peach in other quarters of the country,
AS soon as the Pensacola and Atlantic
Railroad is completed the people of the
counties through which it passes will
smile at the bug-a-bOO of ''a frost line"
and cease to be alarmed at such an airy
phantom. Fine, thrifty and valuable
orange groves will spring into existence
between this city and Pensacola, and vii
make money for their owners. And the
lands, too, now so far below their true
worth, Will soon attract buyers who will
restore them to their ancient fertility and
prOductiveness. Middle Florida will turn
up her nose at the old hobgoblin, 'Ethe
frost line" as soon as those splendid lands
of hers are brought into requisitiOn. and
the big cotton fields are dotted over with
neat cottages, growing orchards and
vigorous vineyards.
The great Northwest, with its teeming
population and overlooking wealth. can
furnish mouths for all the fruits and vege-
tables Middle and West Florida can pro-
duce, and there is but very little danger
of the supply exceeding the demand. The
valley drained by the Mississippi is the
natural market for that portion of our
State west of the Suwannee, and drum
mers from st. Louis, Louisville and Chi
cagO will soon find it to their interest to
visit Florida.
Col. HOratiO Bisbce has passed through
the crucible of the State Returning Board.
and has been declared elected by 255 ma
jOrity, figures that should bring a vivid
blush of shame to the cheeks of every lazy
and Indifferent stay-at-hOme.
Colonel Bisbee must feel greatly re-
lieved, for he has been quaking with
dread lest by some hook or crook he would
fail to obtain the certificate. An uneasy
conscience has caused Colonel Bisbee
many hours of restlessness and anxiety.
While he is entitled to the very scantipst
respect from the Democrats of Florida. as
party or as individuals, either for his
personal conduct or public services. l am
glad that exact justice was done in the
matter. There is no man more genuinely
disliked than Colonel Bisbee, and for bef-
ter and more sufficient reasons, and it is
to be hoped that this is the last time that
he will misrepresent the Intelligence and
responsibility of the second district, He
bears the proud distinction of being elect
ed almost entirely by negro votes. and he
owes the whites nothing In the next
Congress he will be a mere cypher. Most
of his old cronies have been put ON
the retired list, and he will not
be in harmony with the newcomers. He
Will be utterly powerless to work anv mis-
chief, and this is somewhat of a cOmDen-
satlOn for his success. AS there will be
no contest we shall probably see hut little
of the lathy Colonel for the next two wears.
His vacations are far more pleasantly
passed at his home in New York than in
his dusty and spider-webbed office in this
city, and this again is compensatory to us.
General Finley has located in Ocala for
the practice Of his profession, and it is
generally understood that he has perma-
nently retired from politics. 1t is thought
by many that Judge j. b. Dawkins, of the
Fifth Circuit, whose health is greatly i'm
paired, will be forced to resign. In such
an event General Finley would be pressed
as his successor, and would probably en-
counter no opposition. He has Worn the
ermine previously with advantage to the
community and honor to himself. and such
an office would crown the labots of a use
ful and honorable life properly and becom-
ingly.
An irruptiOn Of one hundred Ohio edi
tors is expected to-day. Due
ments have been made arrange
and entertain - IOr their comfort
to - ,-.nlent by the city. They are
Ie taken to some of the Grange groves
up the river, turned loose among the trees.
and told to pull and eat Other points will
De visited, and they will be urged, if time
allows, to take a run up to Middle Florida.
Most OF the railroads have rendered the
usual courtesies, and every effort will be
made to render their trip pleasant. in
struct!Ve and profitable, A glowing de-
scrlptlOn OF the resources of Florida from
q hundred trained and practiced pens will
be OF immense benefit to our interests.
These gentlemen come, besides. from
state that gave an impetus recently to the
political revolution that has since sWeDt
the country, and are from a section with
which it is advisable to cultivate the
closest relations.
We are to have "HaZel Kirkev and
. .EsiueIdlud JnlS week by the Madison
Square Company" They bring their own
scenery, and these attractive dramas will
be properly put upon the stage, Talking
OF theatricals puts me in mind of theft
that the rumOr is again revived that
President Plant, OF the Waycross Road,
the early erection of hand
some opera house in this city. If he will
only give the job to Col. II, :. Haines the
work will be speedily and well accom-
plished. Mr., Plant is fond of Jackson
vile, and warmly interested in her pro-
gIess.
Twelve conyicts were sent from this
county To the penitentiary, for varying
periods, during the present term of the
Circuit Court. This is an unusual num-
Der for Duval. 1t must be taken into ac-
count, however, that the entire dozen are
negroes, and that nearly all 20 up for in |
dulging in their favorite vice, larceny.
The jacksonville Library Association.
which has been leading a sickly existence
lOr several years, has girded up it's loins
and is making a vigorous struggle to OBJ
tain the aid and influence of the commu-
nifty. They are receiving considerable
and it looks as if the en-
terprise would now be placed on a firm
and solid foundation. If a Comfortable
room could be procured and furnished
with the latest and best papers. periodi-
Gals, etc., the room would soon become
a faVorlte resort for strangers. many of
whom would testify their appreciation by
donations of books and money.
The transit of Venus excited consider |
aDie interest here, and the lucky owner of |
q telescope scOOped up a nOcketfuI of sill |