Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-27
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
THE NEED OF RAPID TRANSIT
Pensacola and Atlantic-The Attractions
of Florida for Immigrants- Summer
Wanderers Returning of a Hun
garian Colony.

of Florida for ImmfgFants-Su umme er
Wanderers Returning-Talk of a Hun
garian Colony.
TALLAHASSEE, September 2j.-EdftOr Morn
ing Netos: Although our mails arrive with
much more regularity now than formerly,
there is general complaint that the present
regime Of the late Jacksonville, Pensacola and
Mobile Railroad seem to be Indifferent about
making this end of their line first class road.
New iron is needed in many places, and more
rolling stock is required. A railroad company
to compete successfully with others, must give
to the public safe and speedy transit II lack
ing in these requisites the bulk ofthrough travel
and freight is given TO rival lines that possess
these advantages In superior degree. The
present management appears to be perfectly
Indifferent about receiving through freight
and travel and seem to rely almost exclusively
on the pittance furnished from way transit
To the traveller coming from Columbus or
Eufaula there is but little chance of a close
connection being made at the Chattahoochee
terminus The time for leaving that point
for Tallahassee and Jacksonville Is AIS .. m
and whether the steamer is there or not the
train leaves promptly on schedule time. A
party VINO came down the river from Co umbus
last week and was ticketed for Tallahassee
assured me that on the arrival of the steamer
at 4:35 p N. the train had left thus com Dellinp
quits a number Of passengers to Law over
nearly twenty-four hours Such promptness
IN dlSpatchtng a train is not always commend
able The Chattahoochee train is due here
one hour before the departure
the onei for Jacksonville, and a delay
OF an hour in waiting for the boat would have
worked no serious Inconvenience. Such delays
are calculated TO divert the tide of travel and
necessarily affect the interests of the road A
party, for instance, who had an important
business engagement at Tallahassee or Jack
sonVllie, knowing or the uncertainty and delay
incident to this route, would not for a moment
think OF choosing this line of travel Neither
would the tourist, for Chattahoochee is by no
means an attractive place wherein to spend
tWenty-tour hours From the Indifference
then, of the present management in taking
steps TO secure through travel for their road
from the fact that vii lie they have bonded the
eastern sectlon Tor hve millions. and none of
TINS portion (from Jacksonvil e to Tallahassee
mas Deen bonded, infer that it is their inten-
ton TO sell at an early day. hear from pretty
GOOD authority that the Louisville and Nash
vile Road has already offered $15,OlO a mile
for the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile and
Florida Central Railroads, and though this Of
fer was refused, doubt not but that higher
bid would be accepted. The Reed syndicate
assumed too much when they attempted to
carry out such vast system, especially when
1t is considered that the reSout ces Of the syn
dlcate are by no means unlimited. All their
energies are taxed in the contest with the
Plant system in the east and south They can
not light their enemy at every point, and hence
their western division is abandoned for strate-
gic purposes.
The promptness with which our mails
arrive Is due, l think, not so much t. the
present, manag gement, as to the compile
Cion or the Waycross connection Before
that road was finished, it often happened that
for two and sometimes three days every week
we would have no Northern mail mo con-
nectlon at Live Oak, " would be the reason as
signed. NOW, however, they generally arrive
On account of the late severe storm and the
epldemlc at Pensacola the completion of the
Pensacola and Atlantic Road Will be- delayed
at least two months Abutments of bridges
were washed away, embankments partially de-
stroyed and the portage Of material interfered
with by the strict laws Of quarantine All
these things initiate against its speedy com
pletion, but Vice President Chipey, with his in
domitable will and pluck will not be long de-
liyet, and though there may not be an ali rail
route from here to Pensacola on the first of
January next, there viii be very soon there
after.
The long looked for pamphlet to be issued
by the Bureau of Immigration, and
which was expected to be out and
ready for distribution two months ago
is now printed and in the hands
of the binder, and in very few days will be
ready for circulation 1t is the most exhaustive
work OF the kind on the climate, soil and re-
sources OF Florida that has ever been pub
llshed comprising about two hundred pages
(much more than at first intended). it is a
complete panor ma of the Land of Flowers
Every section of the State is faithfully ana
carefully represented. The Honorable Com
missioner was at no little trouble in pre-
pairing vital. religious, social and educational
Statlstlcs. And these, as now compiled, are
not guess work, but embodied from reliable
data writer may portray the beauties of
scenery, the resources of the section and the
heathfulness Of The country in fair colors, but
the practical man would know where to derive
this information-to locate the facts in statis
ties. Figures will not lie,' ard it is these po-
tent numerals after all that influence him in
ms decision. You say your country is healthy.
What is the percentage of mortality? You
are law-abiding people. What is
tn statistical record of criminal convfc-
tions? Commissioner Robinson has ac-
cordingly prepared carefully compiled tables
of statistical information, by which one can
readily obtain a truthful statement of all
necessary information for the intending immi-
geant. His information was derived mostly
from othclal reports, and, in the absence of
these, from gentlemen of standing and intelli-
gence IN their respective communities The
delay In getting out the pamphlet has
ness in reply. to letters of
inquiry that were addressed to citizens in diff
ferent portions of the State. Had he initiated
the example of some of his predecessors the
pamphlet would have been ready year
ago, but he prOfessed to give no rose colored
statement-only the simple facts. 1t will g
seen from the vital statistics which he gives,
that in Florida as elsewhere, men die, but that
the rate OF mortality is far less there than in
other States.
Now that cotton is coming in, and the days
are becoming slightly less oppTess i've from
heat and the nights sensibly cooler. our city
IS becoming more lively. Quite number who
nave been ab ent all tle summer have re-
turned, and others will follow soon. Most of
those who have been summering at st. Teresa,
James Island have returned, and now there
are but three families remaining. With ap-
preaching fall new faces are daily seen on our
streets-indeed have never before seen so
10 Uka
success attending truck farming last spring,
together with the low price of lands
In this section as compared with the
eastern and southern parts of the State, has
attracted hitber quite number of land pros
pectors. A Hungarian who came here last
spring and purchased small tract of land, is
so pleased with this section of country that he
is now engaged in preparing for publication in
the German language copy of the pamphlet
relative to this county. l learn also that the
American Hungarian Colonization Society,
having its headquarters in New York,
contemplate locating colony here
at no distant day. Middle FIori-
da has long been in the background, but
the life and energy lately infused into the
people is beginning to tell. The new $4,000
hotel, about completed, the enlargement and
beautifying of others, the publication Of a
pamphlet devoted to the interests Of this
county, and finally the Middle Florida Fair to
be in January next, all go to show that old
Leon ill no longer hide her light under a
bushel. The change in the last ten years
IS marvellous. In most old settled
communities there are old fogies who
are disposed to go on in the old ruts They
dread new departures, and yet croak about
things as they are. Grumblinely they follow
in the footsteps Of their fathers and the old
system of cultivation, the old farming imple-
ments and breed Of stock suffice them. But a
change for the better has now taken place
and young men have caught the spirit Of i'm
provement, and soon Leon county will rival
her younger sisters in the march Of improve
ment. LEON
How the River and HarbOr Money Is