Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-11
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
The Dullest Fourth for YeaFs-The
Plague OF Ibe MaiIs-MiddleF Flor
Ida Fair Captain DykeA' Pears
Fish OIL as a Source OF Wealth.

The GLORIOUS tourtn" mas passed, but not as
in ''ye olden time'' With us it differed from
other days only in being more quiet. Nearly
all Of our stores were open as usual, and there
appeared 70 be but few buyers Even the
colored element did not turn out in force, and
there were not as many on our streets as on
Saturday. In the early days Of emancipation
on every national holiday the negroes from
far and near would flock to the city.
But of late years they have wisely preferred
to have all tLeir celebrations in the country.
On the late anniversary an almost Sabbath
stiffness prevailed until the day was consider
ably advanced. even the ''smalI boy'' almost
forgetting to fire off his crackers. Indeed,
with the exception of few fired under my
window, Iheard no others. At sundown de-
taehment of the Governors Guards fired ma
tional salute from the Capitol square, and
this believe, was the only recognition
CT the day. There were no civic
nor military parades; nothing save the
nring OF a national salute, as was re-
marked, to distinguish it from other days
How different the Fourth Of thirty-two wears
ago. the first ever spent here Then, as was
the universal custom, the Declaration Of Tnde-
pendence was read, and an Grafton delivered
The orator on that occasion was the late Hon
I. j. Eppes, then young lawyer but recently
admissed 4df to to pFEacaee. practice st,grandsson of Of
earnest delivery, that he was
not an unworthy descendant of
his illustrious ancestor, and was
audience. But these days have passed. The
South OF to-day, though not forgetful of her
cherished son who penned that immortal docu-
ment, though mindful of the blessings of lib
erty, and loyal to the principles enunciated in
that celebrated instrument, has a most impor-
tant work to do. The days of theories with her
have passed; she seeks TO rehabilitate herself
with all those elements of success so necessary
to her prosperity. She is becoming practical
Governor Bloxham left a few days ago
for Paatka, where he was to deliver
address on the Fourth. His easy delivery.
animated style and choice dictlon nave won
for him deserved reputation for oratory, and
l doubt not but his hearers were well enter
tanned.
plaints-taxes and the mails The former are
always high; the latter irregular. While our
mails are much more regular under the
present management than formerly, there is
great room for improvement in the handling
of them by the route agents.
On last Thursday week no Savan-
nah MORNING NEWS reached this office. and
for two days in succession no Jack
sonville Times was received. On one occasion
l received by the same mail three letters from
different points in East.F Florida which had been
postmark Of Philadelphia, l suppose some
bungling official put them in the through
pouch by mistake. 1t would not be amisS II
the Post Office Department would send an Off
cial down this way to look into these irregu-
larities, for the complaint is widespread. But
while our mails reach us regularly, there is COM
plant of the present arrangemenU of sending
them from Savannah by way of Jacksonville.
1t now takes day longer to write and receive
an answer from a Savannah correspondent
than at any time in the previous ten years.
The mails for Middle Florida, instead of leaving
Savannah at 4;45 p. m., as formerly, now
leave at 11:40 a. m, and do not reach here as
early as by the former schedule. The old
arrangement would suit us much better, both
for our mails and for travel. 1t is impossible
now for any of our merchants to send an order
and have it filed the next day at Savannah. II
the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway
would have train to connect at Dupont with
the one leaving Savannah at 4:45 pm, instead
of with the one that leaves at II p. M. it would
he doing a great service to all this section In
stead of leaving here at a. M, and reaching
Savannah at $3.50 a. M the next day, the trav-
eler would leave in the 7:30 p. M train, and
reach Savannah at 9:05 a. m. the next day. SO
far from our mail and travelling facilities be-
ing better by the present arrangement, thev
are really worse, and il a traveleri is in hurry
and can stand the extra expense, it
is necessary to go by way of Jacksonville
to reach Savannah, if he should leave here, in
the 80 %. m train.
The Middle Florida Mechanical and Agricu-
tural Association are already preparing for
the Fourth Middle Florida Fair, to be held on
the 10Th of January, 1888. In the course of a
week they will issue their first circular and
offered in premiums alone. The directors in
their pamphlet, now being prepared for the
press, say that they have taken this initiative
step thus early 'in order that all who take
proper interest therein may have ample time
for preparation. The impetus lately
given to truck farming, the new prospects of
other outlets for our products than those we
now have, the interest created by the few ex-
hibits from Leon county at the late State air
in Jacksonville, have infused new life and en-
ergy among our people. Our wonderful re-
tWareW Ia ,1c
eagerly sought after, and a brighter daY is |
dawning on Middle Florida" Should the |
same spirit animate this section |
that now controls the directory we
may expect the coming fair to be a decided |
success. That it will be so 1 have no doubt, |
for never before have witnessed such a spirit |
of progress as now animates this community. |
Captain Dyke, the veteran editor of the |
FI0ridid1l has lately returned from trip to /
e 4st and South Florida. But while he speaks |
sections ne remarked that Middle Florida was |
good enough for him, and he is showing his |
faith by his works, for he is as likely to become |
as famous in horticulture as he is IN the Politi-
cal arena, as his fine orchard of LeConte /
pears attest. Already he has refused one hun /
dred dollars an acre for nine acre orchard of /
two years old LeContes. The Captain thinks, |
though, there's millions in it,'' and won't |
selI-Indeed, to hear him discourse on the su-
periority OF the LeConte the flavor of the Ja-
pan pear and tbs persimmon-how the last /
may be grated on our wild persimmon, how
the cssssva is adapted to our soil, and what
a revolution its cultivation would make
in this section, one naturally asks:
Can this be grim grin battery Dykesh But it
dertakes, he does with will, and however en-
ergetically he may WELD the pen and scissors,
he is no less energetic with the plow and hoe
whit behind his cOnfrere of the FLOridi11 in
his zeal in husbandry. Both stalwart knights
of the quill both practical agriculturists, they
are par mobile frdtrunI.
nd cti bos boa, /
inaugurated by some OF our leading citizens
company has been recently Incorporated for
the manufacture and sale of fish OIL fish
guanO, and the buying, catching and selling of
fish. Capital stock, $25,O00. The company
propose buying steamer at once, and from
the known character Of those engaged in it.
success must necessarily crown their efforts
The fisheries on the Gulf are said to be supe-
rior to those on the Atlantic coast both as to
the numbers OF the f1nny tribe caught and
their quality. The Gulf coast mulet is almost
equal to the Potomac herring Hereto |
fore these fisheries have not been properly
utilized The demand has only been local and
thousands that would have been converted into
oil and guano have been thrown aWaY This |
organization will inaugurate a new era in our
fisheries, and, from the amount of capital in
vested, will give employment to a large num-
ber of laborers. Thus, step by step, this sec
tion is advancing-slowly it may be- but steadi
ly and surely regaining its lost position. Some
of our old citizens who looked back with
pride on the palmy days of the past,
who saw no bright future ahead, are
now encouraged, and predict that better DAYS
are fast approaching. But to this are we in
debted, not to the old men who formerly made
Middle Florida what it then was, but to the
young men, many of whom have grown mn
since the war They are mostly the leading
spirits in all public enterprises here as else
where. and in this they have but initiated their
ia thers in their day. LEON
Three hundred hands in the Chicago wire
mill struck work yesterday, owiag to a
notice that hereafter payment will be made
fortnightly.