The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-02-21

nav rolls precludes the idea Of expenditure Of
much money for expenses. a. the m1aagen
have been playing . soEt d lass ~" game.
wilh executions, lajunctIons Pssitions q
.mhereas" end writs q 'ihaslOrs,r u b reason
able 70 infer thai little money has been made
(QuerEy: has any railroad svsr pad expenses
and returned aaividend In Fiorids1 Besides the
lumber, log and cotton carriage. what has ever
offered to make these road ways prontablei
So far only the sale Of lands acquired
under their chariers-and how profitable, let %
ask, have those sales proven, considering the
general character of the railroad lands, and the
taxes paid on them for 50 many yearsl
Passenger carriage has doubtless gathered con-
siderable substance 10 such lines rs have secured
the passengers TO carry. But most Of these peo-
pie come from the North, and are not accustomed
TO pay round nickel for every mile they are
bounced over q corduroy road with wood cinders
sifted into their hair and eyes. And just here is
where we people of Middle Florida have been
made to suffer. A northern man buys a ticket
TO Jacksonville 81 q or 3 cents Q mile. He adj
mires what he sees enjoys the balmy air, aud all
that sort of thing, and begins 70 remark upon
the monotOny of the landscape and wish for
only glimpse of hill or something besides the
never changing pine forest and level country.
He is told that up the railroad little way there
is a feature of country differing in all respects
from the general appearance OF things in East
and South Florida; that high. rolling and beau
tifully picturesque section of broad fields OF
rich agricultural growth. with grazing herds of
falted kine-lakes, groves and improved farms
await the curious visitor among the foot hills of
the Middle Florida country that hard, firm roads
and comfortable carriages are TO be had that
commodious and comfortable boarding houses
and hotels abundant, and that a courteous
and polite people are ready to welcome the tour
list, invalid or other visitor; and ever so much
more about flowers and game and breezes, &c,
&c. That's all nice enough" says our Northern
friend; but ii you expect TO force or cajole me
into paying tariff of 40 per cent excess To ride
140 miles over a road 140 times more uncomfor-
table than dump-cart on new pike, you are
mistaken" The average American citizen knows
the value of money. He is avishly free with it,
provided there is a quid pro quo; but the idea
that he is being imposed upon ties knot in his
purse strings; and just so long the manage
ment of the rail route leading into this truly at
trsctive region Of Florida continues to charge
more than the tourist pays anywhere else, we
may expect 10 lose the benefit that the presence
of winter visitors has lent to neighbors of the
East. We believe that the carrying of passen-
gers is the most profitable business our roads can
hope for tor long time. and This they can easily
procure by putting rates down TO the standard rate
and moi otherwise and until some inducement
of this kind is offered the travelling public, it is
quite useless for our folks TO build hotels, i'm
prove their roads, advertise their lands and in
dusiries, or send exhibits to Jacksonville
Major w. NJ. Davidson, who has just taken
charge Of the consolidated line from Chaitahoo-
chez to Jacksonville, ought to be. and we predict
is apprecaive of the great attractions offered to
all characters of visitors by the Middle Florida
country, and will adopt such measures in his
management as will enable them to avail them
selves of their opportunity to visit u.s.