Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-02


HI. ". Grady-GOVernOr BIOxham-
Philadelphia FisheTmen-Our For
eIgn.BOrn OItizens-St. Johns Bar
An Early SprIBg-AmusemenGs-
NOIes.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, February lin an edi-
torial note the Land of FEoseers states that
Governor Bloxham remarked recently that he
entertained the conviction "that he would be
able to go out Of Office seeing Florida permea-
ted in every nook and corner with railroads,
and the per cent. on taxable property reduced
to four mills on the dollar all told" This
tells, very pithily, the story of our growing and
increasing prosperity.
The first portion of the Governors prediction
is now being rapidly verified. Day after day,
the steel rails are binding the distant portions
of the State together in indissoluble bonds of
union and sympathy, and the shining tracks
pierce through swamps and forests, and over
lakes and rivers, while towns and villages
spring up along their course, busy with the
hum of industry and aglow with the light of
civilization. The Governor may we'll be par
doned, if somewhat enthusiastic over the pros
poets. From the present outlook his admins
lIdLkOu pAOu1lSCS W D0 buc LuOSJ DTlllhub, dS
well as the most productive in tangible results,
that Florida has ever witnessed. 1t is only one
year since he was inaugurated, and yet within
that short period what wonderful changes have
been wrought in the present condition and
future advancement of Florida.
In the sale of the four millions of acres to
the DisSton Syndicate, the key note was sound
ed that vibrated through the length and
breadth of Florida, startling its people from
their inactivity and awakening then to a full
realization of their fOndest anIcipations At
once splendid fund was released from the
burden that had restrained It's power for good
capitalists of vast resources and great enter
prise seized the golden opportunities offered
for nveStment-various plans of internal i'm
proVemtn mt. long dormant, burst into active,
vigorous existence while from St. Augustine
to Pensacola, and from Fernandina to Key
West, the whole State throbs with new life
and is looking upward and onward.
Our visitors have other motives now than
those of avoiding the piercing blasts and frozen
hills of their Northern homes, and the ma jority
of them are quietly looking about for good
spots, where they can place little money to
advantage The time has gone by for them to
sneer at Florida sand-bansS, and they are thor
oughy conscious or the fact that 1t is in their
power to find here what the Spanish cavaliers
sought in vain-the veritable Ell Dorado. Tn re
is something here besides balmy breezes and
sunny skies, and while these advantages are
attractive and delightful, it is very pleasant to
know that dollar can be dQM6ned expeditiousy
and surely. villa on the st. Johns, or on the
border OF one Of our beautiful lakes, is becOm-
ing a very desirable piece OF property, espe-
cislly so when it pays all its exI enses and is
yearly increasing in value So it is fast becom-
ing the fashion to have an establishment here
as well as at Newport, Saratoga or Long
Branch.
Ii the Governor should succeed, ere the close
of his term, in reducing the State taxes to four
mills on the dollar, he will confer a great boon
upon the people. Nor is such result improo-
able. If a thorough and correct assessment
of the taxable property was made a very
large reduction could Immediately be effected
Some of the fine orange groves, he'd by their
owners at enormous figures, are rated upon
the assessors books at astoniShingly low val
ues. The sale of the Disston lands has added
largely to the revenue OF the State, and the
numerous SquatterS who have been occupying
portions of these lands for many years, with
out contributing cent to the expenses of the
government, will now be called on to fur
nsh their quota. Then too, the extension Of
the railroads. with the enhanced value of the
lands through which they pass, will all mate
rally swell The resources OF the State, and Just
| to that extent diminish the general rate of
taxation. 1t really looks as if the Governors
assertions was in rapid process of fulflment
1t is not pleasant TO think that we are to lose
| one half of our representation in the Lower
| House of Congress. What we may lose numer-
| icaly, we must make up intellectually, and if
| we are cut down one member the incumbent
must be a man Of first-class ability, and fully
| qualified to exert in the House the same in
| fuence. possessed by Messrs Jones and Call, in
| the Senate. Florida is happy in having men
| Iully competent to occupy the position
Just think of Florida taking the second prize
| at Atlanta for the best agricultural display?
| Not content with this honor, she captured the
| first premiums for the best bale of Sc \ island
| cotton, upland rice, and sugar cane. If our
people had but exerted themselves to make
| such display as it was in their power to
make. the state would have covered herself
| with glory, and have reaped results that would
| have amply aid the trouble expended. AS
| it is, she is drawing splendid dividends from
the investment, and the venture has proved
| immensely profitable. A very large proper
ton of applicants for the Dipton mars
are ftom Georgia, and this may
| properly be attributed, in great
measure, to the effect produced by our exhibit
| at the Atlanta Exposition. a country that can
raise fine corn, oats, rye, rice, sugar and cot
| ton, in addition to tropical fruits, IS a good
| place for farmers and the sturdy yeomen who
| saw the" specimens of the above staples In
| FLORIDA Hall, are naturally anxious to see
the soil that produced such articles We are
robbing you of many of your best citizens, and
| many others are me3itating a removal to this
| fine climate and generous soil.
| Mr. Crazy, OF the Atlanta Constitution, has
| said many kind things of Florida in his recent
letters, and has depicted her advantages and
| attractions in glowing colOrs. Since last saw
| him, three gears since, his fame and fortune
| have increased. and with these have come a
very perceptible rotundity and enlargement of
| girth.
| In conversation with Governor Bloxham. who
was in the city last Monday, l learned that
| Florida per cent. bonds were worth 1906 and
| that there were no quotations, as none of these
| securities are on the market. Northern CAPT.
| taliSts frequently write desiring to invest in
this description of property. and receive the
answer that there is none for sale. The State
| debt is rapidly being reduced, her obligations
/ are promptly met, all warrants are paid, in
cash, as soon as presented, aud her finances are
on sound and substantial basis. Governor
| BOxham was in fine health and cheerful
spirits. and his views as to the future of Florida
| are of the most encouraging character
Mr. Hamilton Dsston, President of the
Florida Land Improvement Company, with
| party Of friends from Philadelphia. is now in
| the city. day or two since a few of these
| gentlemen took the yacht Mischief, and steered
| for the snapper banks. They were fortunate
| in finding the fishing grounds without diff
Guilty, and captured thirty six of the beauties
in an hour and half, the aggregate weight
| amounting to seven hundred pounds. The sons
| of the City of Brotherly Love were bewildered
| with their success, aud astonshed at the size
and abundance OF the inabitants of our waters.
With the expedition was a Pennsylvania ex-
| Secretary of State, well known for his pisca-
| toral predictions His head was completely
| turned, and If it was possible to strike a
bargain with His Majesty King Neptune, those
banks would soon be under the control of a
new board or directors. The fish are caught
at depth of from sixteen to twenty fathoms
and when the lead shows bottom of coral
and shell, cast anchor and you can be sure cf
heavy bag With the snapper, are often
taken the grouper. corbio, shark and other
large varieties OF fish.
Should our visitors desire fine fresh water
fishing, they can obtain it on the Kissimmee
river. Two men caught, few days since, in a
couple of hours, 367 bounds of trout or black
bass, some weighing fifteen pounds each, troll
ing with spinners Game of all descriptions is
abundant in that vicinity, and 1t is now, or
soon will be- opened to sportsmen bv the com.
petion of the South Florida Railroad to Lake
Tohoptokaliga.
The Scotchmen had a very jolly and enioya-
BILE reuni n on the anniversary of Burns birth.
day. Isresulted in the organization of a per-
manent society, which promises to be one of
the institutions of the city. There is ample
material here to compose similar societies
among our English and Irish tizens and the
example of the Scotchmen will, doubtless be
followed by the sons OF st, George and St.
Patrick. The Germans in our midst have sew
eral associations for various purposes
Orange trees are showing their white bu7
plums are IN full blossom and are forming
fruit Mulberry trees are well leaved and
roses verbenas and other flowers are ehund-
ant The sap is running freely, and every
form OF vegetation is showing the effects of
the mild weather. If the present season con-
tnues for three weeks longer. there will he
magnificent exhibition of fruits, flowers and
vegetables at the State Fair, which opens on
the 22d inst The display promises to be far
superior in many respects to any of its prede.
cessors
A sudden fall of the temperature which is
not likely now to occur, would be very dsas-
trous. A long residence in Florida warrants
me in saying that the majority of the "bliz-
zards' that occur in this state fall between
the 2Oth Of December and the 10th of January
Willoughby Reade will appear tonight In
one of his humorous entertainments for the
benefit of the Library Association. On the 9th
instant there is To be a grand masouerade hail