Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-21

TALLAHASSEE, FLA, April iS.-Editor Morn
ing Nel0s: Our people are very much elated
at the prospect of another outlet to Savannah.
Heretofore the Jacksonville. Pensacola and
Mobile Railroad having no comUetitor has
charged its own rates, ana the people were
compelled to submit. Now, however, there is
e prospect of a chan e. We are to have &
railroad from Tallahassee via Old Town ION
the Suwannee) to Observation-Disclosures one
hundred and forty-two miles. A preliminary
survey Of this route has already been made,
articles of incorporation filed, and the road
will soon be uilt The name Of the new road
will be the Georgia and Florida Midland, and
on Saturday, the 18th. the Secretary of State
issued the usual certificate of Incorporation for
the company. 1t provides for railroad from a
point in Gadsden county, Florida. on the
boundary line between Georgia and Florida, to
a point on the st. Johns. Capital stock
S. 900 600. Among the largest stockholders are
Stafford of New York, and Disston of Philadel-
phia-a guarantee that the necessar
capital will be forthcoming. 1t is the intention
of the corporat0rS to build the road between
here and Gainesville first. This will open up
very rich section in the counties of TAYLOR aud
Lafayette. where it is said Mr.. DlSStOn owns
some three hundred thousand acres of fine
land. Rumor adds that charter is to be oh
tanned in Georgia and the road extended to
Columbus. But we are most interested in the
contemplated connection with Gainesville.
This will of course affect the jacksonville,
Pensacola and Mobile Railroad Competition
will reduce their present exorbitant tariff, and
for a time the JacF sonville. Pensacola and Mo
bile may feel its effects. But the day is not far
distant when the through and local freights
will be heavy even for two roads.
Notwithstanding this section has received
but few immigrants, though the acreage Of
cultivated lands have increased but little, yet
every year the aggregate of freights along the
rnada fbrOUCh this section has steadily in.
creased Why is this? It is because cotton
no longer is king. Many of our planters
are becoming famers as we'll They have dis
covered that few acres, well MANFRED, plant
ed in vegetables and well cultivated,
prove more profitable than an area five
times larger planted in cotton. This
is better for planter or farmer and better for
the merchants, because the farmer has money
coming in twice during the year, instead of
but once as heretofore. Long credit is avoided,
and he is able to buy during the summer for
prices for credit Truck farming. so extensive
" engaged in elsewhere, is becoming quite
feature in this section. Ten years ago, when
one of our planters determined on a new de-
parture and shipped to New York some Irish
potatoes in the month OF April. he was in
formed there was no demand for them-they
were out of season. Another who shipped
few crates of English peas to Philadelphia in
the month of February received the same re-
ply This was ten years ago. But now how
different A demand has been created, and
the sooner In the season their produce
reaches the Northern market the better for the
shippers Irish potatoes. cabbages, string
beans and other garden truck are being ship
ped from this section in large quantities at re-
munerative prices. From this county alone it
is estimated that there will be shipped this
season to the Northern market 5000 barrels
Irish potatoes, 1900 barrels cabbages, 2000
barrels and crates of other garden truck-in
other words, about 5000 barrels from Leon
county alone. If other counties do as well this
would be for this year at least 10000 barrels of
a product against none ten or twelve years
ago Nearly all Of this land on which these vege-
tables are grown is afterwards planted in
corn or cotton As it is well MANFRED.
it produces a very good second crop.
Indeed, was informed by a gentleman
that on a half acre of land on which he had
grown Irish potatoes, he made one bale Of cot
ton as the second crop the same year. So
profitable has truck farming proved that it Is
safe to say that in another year the acreage In
vegetables will be double what it now is And
80 it will be from year to year. for there is no
soil in the State better than our Middle Florida
lands
In order to draw public attention to this new
industry. the Middle Florida Agricultural and
Mechanical Association, in addition to their
annual fair in the month of December or Janu.
ary, have determined to have spring fair on
Wednesday and Thursday, Sd and 4th of May.
The exhibits will be almost entirely floral and
vegetable department A will be floral in
which eighteen premiums will be awarded. De-
partment will be vegetable, farm and garden
will be awarded. AS the fine display of vege-
tables and flowers from this section, at the
late State Fair, astonshed many Northern
visitors who asked, "Where is Tallahassee
it is hoped that the low rates of transporta-
ton and other inducements may cause many
of them to come hither and see our beautiful
country and its products. Hon. Geo. B. Lor-
ing, the United States Commissioner Of Agri-
culture, is expected at our coming fair, and
will deliver an address. DR.. Lor1Dg being a
practical agriculturist, and for years President
of the State Fair Association in Massachusetts,
will be able to see and appreciate our climate,
soil and products, and his presence here will
be quite an accession.
Intended as the spring fair is to foster the
culture of early fruit and vegetables. in addi-
ton to the exhibit Of products, the directors
have requested each exhibitor to bring with
him a fair sample of the soil of his farm, which,
after the exhibit closes will be sent to the Geo
logical Exhibition soon to be held in Jackson
Vile 1t will thus be seen that the people OF
this section are no longer content with praising
their soil and climate They are now
proving il, first by large shipments
OF vegetable products; second, by ex-
hibitirg these products and soil. as the
Presid ent has said in his address, the object of
the fair is not to make money, but TO practi-
cally demonstrate that Middle Florida has 9th
er resources than cotton, cane, corn gram, etc.
In view OF the increased interest felt IN this
new Ito us) element Of industry-truck farming
it is hoped that there will not only be full
and complete exhibit in both departments, but
that there will also be many visitors. LION.