The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-12-20
FACTS ABOUT FLORIDA.
WHAT A BRITISH CONSUL SAYS
OF OUR STATE.
Official Report of Consul Crtdland-
Resources of Florida and its At
fractions for lmmigrants--PrO1-
its of Orange Culture--Other
Products, &c.


Among the most valuable official
reports that are made to any Gov
ernment are those OF Her Maiesty's
Consuls to the British Government
on the Manufactures Commerce, etc,
of their Consular Districts. In Part
XI. of these Trade Reports, No. 80,
presented to both Houses of Psrlia-
ment by command OF Her Majesty
in July, 1882, there is highly inter,
esting report by Consul Cridland on
the Trade and Commerce of Pensa>
cola, and the Internal Resources OF
the State OF Florida tor the year 1881.
The following extracts from that Re.
port will be found valuable wherever
any interest is felt in the Land of
Flowers.
Pensacola has now population of
5000. The principal employment of
the working classes in the city and
vicinity is in connection with the
timber and lumber trade. The saws
mills employ also a very large mum.
Der of workmen, and the handling
and slowing of timber cargoes gives
ep.rloyment to several hundreds of
4 NoN>res aud ,laborers during al>
Il ing seAfIs year. In the saws
mfIIs faBofs \ -area eruplayad by tho
hour moving lumber, and if so dis
posed can make $1.25 per day. The
regular sawsmill men are paid S1.25
to $1.50 per day, and the foreman OF
the gang $3 per day. The wages OF
the men employed loading timber or
lumber on vessels are regulated by a
society. The winchers get So per
day, and the swingers Sc per day,
and sometimes Sc. 1t is said that
during gthe autumn, winter, and spring
months at least 1000 stevedores of
various classes from Canada find en-
ployment at Pensacola in their own
line Of business, and probably receive
better wages than they would at
home.
OF late years quite number of
market gardeners have settled near
the city, and the planting of vegeta'
bles and the transportation of the
crop, when ripe, to the Northern and
Western markets in railroad cars,
constructed tor this special trade, has
been found to be very profitable,
giving work to large number OF
people, and placing great deal OF
money in cir1 ulation.
1t CAR be safely stated that the
prosperity of Pensacola appears to
be on the increase, Property ad-
vanced in price considerably during
the past year, and many buildings
are being constructed, the bricks for
the same having been imported from
England. The long projected rail-
road from Pensacola to jacksonville,
eighteen miles from the Atlantic coast
of Florida on the St. Johns river,
which for many years has been only
in operation from the Chattahoochee
river to Jacksonville, distance ol
209 miles, is about to be completed
by the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad Company. The length
of The line now under construction
from Pensacola TO the Chattahoo.
chee, is about 100 miles, and will be,
/ am informed, finished before the
end of this year, and be in full ope-
ration. This new portion Of the rail
road will open quite new trade tor
supplies of various sor,s for the mer.
chants ut Pensacola. 1t will also
open a new and shorter route Tor
trade and travel going from Texas,
Louisiana and Mississippi 10 North
ern Florida, and probably connect
with the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Several other railroads are project
\ ed in Florida, and from published
! accounts one or two are in process
of construction, and in which British