Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-05


OnWard-MOneV Makes the Mare
GO-Big Schemes that Promise Suc-
cess-The Distant Corners TO Have
aFsmilV Gathering-SOuth Florida
n Hive-The MIn still Grinding
Various Statistics.
JACKSONVILLE, January 4.-Brightly does the
New Year dawn upon the State of Florida. Her
future is big with promise, and the hearts of
her sons buoyant with hope and exultation
The events of the past twelve months have ef-
fected strange and wonderful transformations
IN her prospects, and have paved the way to
coming changes Of immense value and i'm
portance.
1t must afford ground for feeling of pro-
found State pride and congratulation to know
that Florida is at last entering upon the career
of prosperity and progress to ). Aieh she has so
long aspired and to which she is honestly enti.
tied by virtue Of her peculiar and undisputed
advantages. These have at length attracted
the attention they merited, and now mind,
money and muscle are all leagued together In
the noble ambition to clear the wilderness,
construct highways and prepare happy homes
for countless thousands Of industrious, enter
prising men and women. Hear their steady
and continued tramp, as they come from the
factories OF New England, from the counting
houses Of the Middle States. from the grain fields
of the mighty West. and from the cotton, rice
and tobacco plantations Of the South. Ere
long will also come across the broad Atlantic
cargoes Of brawny English. Scotch and Irish,
plodding and patient Germans, and vivacious
and mercurial Italians. For nothing is more
certain than that Florida is to be thoroughly
and entirely cosmopolitan. This condition
will not be confined to the Cities but will char
acterize the population broadcast, and is al
ready beginning to show its influences over
wide stretches of territory. The Intelligence,
and the moral and financial force of the new
conversion being felt wherever they settle,
and they speedily gather around them all of
the adjuncts Of enlightened civilization As
the forests fall, up rise the spires of the church
and the roofs of the school house.
Florida is being peopled by such a class as
have never before been the pioneers of new
country. Neither gold or silver mines exist to
tempt the vicious or the reckless adventurer
Ihose coming in are stoady, educated, pro-
gressive citizens, all bringing more or less
ready money, and able at once to make them
selves comfortable. They do not dwell in
temporary camps. or wander about with pick
and hammer in search of hidden treasure. but |
mediately become fixtures and go resolute-
ly to work, improving the country and making
their homes beautiful.
Shortly after the Inauguration of Governor
Bloxham, just year ago. contract was made |
between the State and the Okeechobee Drain |
age Company. by which the latter was granted |
the privilege of undertaking the reclamation |
of that vast region of country. This was fol- |
lowed shortly afterwards by the sale Of four |
millions Of acres Of State lands to Mr. Disston |
and his associates. This transaction appears !
to have removed the only impediment that |
prevented the ship Of state from being sue
cessfully launhced upon voyage of growth and |
prosperity. She glided majestically from the |
Vrux inf 1rnn do "a -
gress, and her white and swelling sails have /
since been filled by favorable and unchanged |
breezes With the debt resting upon the inter
nal improvement fund.- the State was a |
with the vultures of interest, doubt and uncer- |
talnty tearing at her vitals and consuming her 1
substance. That obligation lifted. Florida |
arose from her PROSTATE condition. the chains /
dropped from her mighty limbs and her sturdy |
and far-reaching arms are opened widely to /
clasp to her hospitable bosom those who seek |
them smiling skies, prolific lands, rich in prom |
lse and fulhlment, genial climate, and unlim- |
tied facilities for the recovery of shattered for
tunes, as well as impaired constitutions Once |
the State was sought by strangers for the pur- |
pose of regainiDg injured health and tagging /
energies-nOw it is looked to by the ardent, the |
aspiring, the ambitious, as q field wherein to 1
acquire fame and fortune.
Capital, with its Briarean arms and Argus /
eyes, has been delving and peering into the |
possibilities of Florida, and has discovered /
new and unexplored avenues for the use of its /
boarded dollars. Here was vast and virgin /
domain, only needing railroads and canals and /
to become populous, pow |
ertul and prosperous. Capital saw a splendid /
chance for good investment. united the |
strings of its money bags. and forthwith the /
rusty wheels began TO revolve and the clogeed |
machinery to perform its functions. Auriferous |
oil Is an excellent lubricator, and beneath its
smoothly and easily
Gigantic enterprises have been undertaken |
within the past year, all giving the assurance of
success and holding out the promise of ipesti- |
mable benefit to the State and country Huge |
morasSes are to be drained and converted into /
rich and waving fields, covered with the great
staples that move the engines Of great facto.
rleS and Whlten the seas with sails, giving en-
to thousands and food to millions
Canals and railroads are to be constructed that
will bear the luscious fruits of the tropics ere
they have lost an iota Of their flavor and fllsti-
ness, to the eager lips of those Tho dwell un-
der less balmy skies. The Bahamas and the |
Antilles are to be Ganked, and Florida is to be-
come the national hot house or forcing-garden
where dainUies are to be grown at unusual sea-
sons TO gladden. the hearts of Bonifaces and
tittilate the gustatory nerves of epicures
The remote corners OF the State are to be
brought into opposition, and Jacksonville will
soon be taking dinner with Pensacola while
Tampa Will be coming up to have dance with !
Fernandlna. Time and distance must throw |
down the barriers that keep old friends apart,
and space must be subject to speed When the |
double backbone of the State is completed-
the great railroads connecting the northern |
and southern, and the eastern and western sec
tlons-doubts and fears may be cast aside for
ever, for Florida will have entered upon the
royal road 20 glory and greatness
Those sage old worthless who, thirty or more
years ago, devised the plan Of internal i'm
provements and who yet survive must feel a |
glow Of satisfaction in witnessing the rapid |
completion OF their original scheme Time and |
experience have justified their wisdom and
endorsed the policy they advocated.
n ant Vofl Dc
towards the south, while two others
will soon be commenced. These will afford ali
the relief required by the people of South
Florida. and that region is already feeling the !
Impetus. Polk, Sumter, fernando, Hi!isbor-
ough and Manatee counties are beiHk invaded |
by numerous strangers, looking out for choice |
Lorty-acre! tracts, and Improved lands are fast
in valTe
A dredge boat and steamer are being con-
sIEucted at the head OF the Kissimmee river
and that fertile valley will soon attract the at |
tention OF the immigrant. The successful
lowering Of the waters Of Okeechobee involves
the reclamation of tens Of thousands of acres
Of valuable land lying in the valley OF the |
Ktssimmee, and around Lakes Tohopekaliga
and Kissimmee, and numerous smaller sheets
or water. New towns are springing up in vari-
GUS directions, following the railways as they
progress; new feeders are being projected
constantly to supply remote settlements, and
Florida on the 1st of January, 1889, is g lively
hive of industry The year win he marked BY
great advancement along the paths that lead to
greatness, and thousands OF active brains and
willing hands are aiding in the good work
There is no man looking backward, for the
future presents bright and glowing pictures.
The United States Court Is still grinding
away at the election cases, with probably the
same result that has attended those already
tried. The fact is that the community is
heartily tired and disgusted with the biennial
repetition Of these charges that benefit none
except such officers as make fees out of the /
No intelligent and unprefu-
1iced jury will convict on such testimony from
such witnesses, and the attempt TO do 80 will
always eventuate in failure,
The increase Ia the expectation of lunher I
rom this port during the past year. as COM /
pared with the preceding is most gratifying
It amounts to 4O per cent, not including that
ihil ped to Fernandina, sent up the river and
required for the city consumption. This in
1ustry IS opening constantly larger dimep-
;ions, and affords steady employment to hum
treds Of laborers.
We have had frost for the last three morn
ngs, and yet those lucky fellows Of the Unfo1a
nave been Ieastlng upon Strawberries and |
casting ears. Think of an ear of sweet nu-
ritious corn, on the first of January MANY of |
)ur Northern friends will shake their heads at |
Iuch statement, but it Is true, nevertheless
Two hundred and forty one marriage licenses
nave been Issued IN this county during the
past year. As usual, the negroes led the whites
n this respect, scoring 149 to 90. They also
urpasSed The whites in the matter of divorces
obtaining nearly ali that we're granted.
Death claimed 251 victims in this city during |
he year 1881, taking 139 from the white and
IL from the negro population. large per-
Tor ~