Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-09


JACKSONVILLE, FLA, March S.-Columbis
county made very creditable display at tn,
late fair. Her show of staples and vegetables
was most excellent, and fully sustained he
well-earned reputation. No division Of the
State can boast of more practical, successful
or enterprising farmers, and none is richer il
all the elements Of wealth and progress. sht
is completely abreast of the times, and hel
fine soil, genial climate and other advantages
attract large percentage of the immigration
Charley Finley, of the Lake City Reporter
worthily represented the county, and distribu
ted during the week several thousand copies oi
his pa per, in which all the virtues of Columbis
were graphically depicted
Nor was old DuvaI far behind her sister coun
ties in her exhibition of varied and valuable
productions. In the way Of early vegetables
she was equal to any of them, and illustrated
her capacity for diversified farming by the
most convincing evidence Two of the truck
ers in the vicinity of this city had each on ex
h1bitiOn some forty varieties of vegetables OF
such size and quality as to attract general ad
m1ration. Those seeking homes in Florida
might do well to stop and thoroughly examine
the advantages of this county before proceed
ing southwark. We have here not only an ex
tensive home market for consumption, but
also the facilities of daily and immediate com.
munication with the outer world. Purchasers
stand ready here to take all the surplus pro
duction at cash prices, the year round, and
there is no loss for means of trans
point, and the competition smong merchants
has reduced goods to low figures II a
combined movement was undertaken by promi-
nent men in this community, as has been done
hnR
tied, and that too by most desirable class of
immigrants. Lands here are abundant and
fertile, and can Re obtained on easy terms and
at reasonable prices. AS it is, Duval does not
capture her proper proportion of the large
throng of new comers that annually passes
through her territory. A little public spirit, a
little money judiciously expended. liberal
use OF printers Ink and dash of energy would
effect great changes for the better, and would
soon line the banks of the river and the routes
of our railroads with thrifty and contented
population. Money can now be had on terms
that admit expansion and foster the spirit of
development. 1t is loaned freely on city prop
erty at seven per cent, while a somewhat
higher rate-say eight per cent.-is asked on
orange groves and real estate in the
country. This indicates confidence and
is great reduction from the usurious rates
demanded only year or two ago. Property
in Florida is at last recognized by money-lend-
erS as sound and substantial, and our golden
fruits are drawing golden ducats from their
the owners of orange and cocoanut groves,
and banana and pineapple plantations, will
cock their sombreros as fercely, and be able
to live in as much ease and luxury as did the
cotton and sugar producers of Mississippi and
Louisiana in the ante. belum period. For
wealth is flowing steadily into Florida, and
many man who took out homestead of
forty acres twelve or fifteen years ago. and
was happy in an humble log cabin, can now
sell his improvements at figures ranging from
ten to fifty thousand dollars The evidences of
increasing prosperity are seen in the hand
some residences rising in every portion of the
interior; in the enormous freights taken up
the river in the steamers; in the purchase
of elegant furniture, costly pianos, fine Iorses
and high-priced equipages-in the palatioI
hotels continually being erected ond in +ba
o. - ---oIl,e IS and new industries.
- monuerful metamorphosis is going on, and
the visitor OF to-day, who returns ten years
hence, will be surprised at the great and strik-
ing changes Gov. BloXham may well be par
doned for the glowing picture that he drew at
the Merchants Banquet during fair week,
OF The present condition and future prospects
of Florida. Looking at the push and progress
visible all around US, one can legitimatelV and
properly make heavy drafts upon the imagina-
ton without being subjected to the charge OF
exaggeration.
Only day or two since saw in the hands
OF an architect the plan for a new hotel to be
built by st. Clair Abrams, at his young town,
TavareS, on Lake Dora, in Orange county This
contemplates a most imposing and ornate
structure, 275 feet square, to contain 225 rooms
and to be furnished with all the comforts and
conven1ences that the most cultivated taste re-
Quir6 8. Maj 1or Abrams has been rower in the
realms OF newspaperdom, is bright light in
the legal profession, was a thorn in the sides of
his political opponents, and in the character
OF mime host" will show in their brightest
colors all OF the may good qualities and yir-
tues so essential in such position.
The timbers for another hotel, to be located
at Kissmmee City, on Lake Tohopik aliga, have
been gotten out by the South Florida Railroad,
and will soon be ready for the Workmen This
settlement is not yet laid down on anV of the
maps, although its vigorous infancy presages
manhood of strength and power The same
enterprlslng company propose to erect during
the coming summer Hunters Lodge on
Brahma Island, on Lake Kissimmee, where
the sons of Nimrod and I1aak Wal
ton can slay game and capture fish
to their hearts content. There's music in
the air of Florida, and the harmony made by
the shrek of the locomotive, the harsh whistle
or the steamer. the ringing of the bricklayer's
trowel, the tapping of the carpenters hammer
and the ouzzing OF the saw mill, falls sweetly
upon the ear OF civilization,
We have had among us recently Simon
Cameron and his son Don, ex-Vice President
Wheeler, the trickster. John Kelly and the
great Fl. !. Kimball. Jno Kelly s stay was short,
ana his departure abrupt Nobody seems to
know what he was after, or if he was after any
thing, and the object Of his visit remains a
mystery. He was neither courted nor inter
secret carried
away inviolate. The city is full OF persons
or all stations, professions and avocatiens
and Bay street presents a panorama of
hfe and fashion that cannot be excelled
anywhere. This is the last month of the sea-
son, and is always the most crowded and busy
The tide still flowing from tho North is met Nv
that which has been passing the winter at Varf-
GUS points up tne river, and in the interior and
Ypieh panses IN this city for few days or
weeks ere it takes its departure The meeting
OF the TWO currents, while it fills the pockets Of
the Bonifaees, taxes their ingenuity to the
utmost In providing for their accommodation.
ana thelr inventive faculties are at the highest
Now Is the time also when the hearts of those
VINO deal IN the thousand and one odd and
quaint articles known as FLORIDA curiositiesi
are gladdened, for shekels are flowing freely
INTO Ghelr Golfers. 1t is essential that all should
take with them some souvenir of their visit.
and merrily go off sets of fish scale and alljga-
tor tusk jewelry, elaborately carved canes.
artlstlc paintings on shells. beautifully tinted
fans and flowers Of feathers. sea-bean charms.
palmetto hats, young saurians, and a host of
pretty trifies and nick-nacks
Inc trade IN these articles continually grows
ana IaShlon is constantly demanding new de-
signs. The business has grown into large pro-
portions, and much talent and taste Is now en-
ployed In catering to the demands of the pub
lie. Many OF the stores on Bay street are
mlnlature museums, and one can spend hours
therein proftably and pleasantly. Much of
the more delicate work Is done by ladies, and
it is wonderful to see how gracefully and
swiftly It Is executed. Each year brings in ad-
dlLlons TO the already lengthy list of fancy arti
cles, and the air, waters and earth are searched
Tor novelties. Florida must be equal to the
occasion. and her reputation for all that is
quaint and original must be maintained at all
hazards.
l have recently been presented with two
drawings by Billy Co-ni-pach-o, one OF the two
Semlnoles in attendance on the late fair. They
sloop and schooner under full sail
and are executed with nicely of touch and a
fidelity as to details that are really
This untutored son of the forest
has tTue artistic perceptions and il his talent
was foStered might show abilities Of no mean
order. The specimens have been carefully put
away for preservation.
One of those sharp, shrewd, wide-awaks and
knowing gentlemen from the North WAS taken
in and done for last week by a bunko man to
the tune of eight thousand five hundred dol
lars. lt is only another proof that the race of
Tools Is not extinct. These sleek and specious
rogues ma many victims, and, strange TO say,
among old established business men also, whom
one would expect to be the dlast to be swindle.
The miserable and destructive habit Of firing
the woods every apring still continues In many
portions OF fiorida, and should be suppressed
by law, Il not by public sentiment Every
ignorant fellow who has half a dozen cattle
upon the range imagines that he has the legal
right to set the woods on fire without giving a
thought to the injury that may be inflicted
upon his nelghbor. 1t is practice that cannot
De TOO strongly condemned, and persons guilty
OF this act or folly should be held to a strict
accountability whenever the offense can be
proved.
AS usual, the annual Purim ball was grand
success in enjoyment, attendance, costumes
ahQ merr1ment. Our Hebrew citizens never do
things by halves, and they fully understand the
virtues OF temperance and moderation.
Inc present profusion OF blooms upon the
orange trees in the city is unexampled, and if