Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-27
IMPORTANT TO SAVANNAH
Something About the New Branford and
Deadman's Bay Railroad.

HoS CVlhc " Inc CONCLUSION Lnat the aDa
thy of the Savannah, Florida and WesterI
Railway is caused by the managers think
ing the enterprise not feasible, refer +
| the New Branford and Deadman's Ba,
| Railroad. In regard TO the pier runnin:
out into the bay, it is not an engineerin:
problem, but a simple common sens,
matter. If you should be inclined Il
thinkme an enthusiast, or, what is worse
crank, l take the liberty of referring
you to Gov. w. d. BlOxham, ex-GOv
| David :. Walker, and the editors anG
proprietors of the F0rtdidn and Journal
| VINO have all known me more than quar-
| ter OF century. For thirty-four wears
| my home has been in New Orleans. and
| for twenty-nine of those years have beer
IN command OfYesselS sailing to Gulf anC
| West India ports. 1t is no vanity to sa,
know the Gulf and its trade as well as
| any man.
| Now permit me to give you a truthful
description of the coast from Cedar Key
| to st. Marks, a distance of ninety miles
In all that distance there is not a mile OF
sand beach-it is mud and mOraSs: cOnse.
quently it is impossible for sea to make
on the beach. Iu all the distance the
bottom from the beach seaward deepens
out gradually, the bottom as smooth as a
house floor, and composed of grass and
occasional rock lodges. In all this
distance it is only necessary to run
In shore with any vessel, however
small, and anchor i'll perfect safety. This
TACT L know from personal observation.
{ IN fact, every other statement here made
know to be true of my own knowledge. J
Now, the above being an established fact,
why shouldn't Deadman's Bay be first
class harbor when it is exposed to only
four points of the compass, and from n
direction that the wind rarely ever blows
more than a fresh breeze-frOm south to
southwest! In no place, from the Key
to st. Marks, except at the bay, can the
land be seen off ships deck in fathoms
OF water. 1t Is 20 miles (abOut) to 10
tathoms. CThe entire coast abOunds with
fish. In 1858 i was in command of a
steamship called the Havana "a block
ade runnerl. We made two successful
voyages to Deadman'S Bay. and burned
the ship, when partly loaded, on the third
to prevent the enemy from capturing her.
our machinery being disarranged
at the time. The wreck is, now
plainly visible about miles west of
the mouth of the river in feet of water.
The ship drew when loaded and fuel on
board IL feet of water. Our position was
mouth of the river and about one mile
from the land. Consequently you will see
that knew something about the bay be-
fore conceived the idea of the railroad
just before | wrote you before Captain
Parker and myself went there and made
an exhaustive examination of the form of
the shoals on both sides OF the baV and the
soundings. Probably no one could have
done it better. Certainly no civil engi-
pOIIlh
the best information we can gather the
railroad will be only thirty-eight miles
and through as good a portion of Florida
as any in the State. 1t is believed by
those who should know that the land
grant will build the road. There is no
better pine land, and right along the coast
and about the bay particularly is almost
the only place where red pencil cedar
ab0unds. If the road were built il
wouldn't be long before cedar and saw
mills would be built. 1t is easier to get
logs at the bay than at this place.
Mr.. Fairchild, who owns the best mill
here, never ships any lumber from this
port, but sends it to Fernandina for ship
ment. That would probably be the case
at the bay for all lumber shipped to the
North. Again, by looking at a chart YOU
will perceive that it is but little greater
distance from the bay to Vera Cruz than
Orleans. This is the natural and quick
way for passengers and freight from the
North, as well as the mail. An eXamina-
tiOn will convince you of the fact. There
is another large trade that would come
immediately-the fruit trade from the bay
islands. 1t is immense to New Orleans,
and our place would have an immense
advantage i'll distance. / forgot to state
above that the dense fogs on the Lower
MiGEISSinnI would V1I0n
dertul advantage over New Orleans in the
winter season.
Tue Morgan Line have run two
fine ships, about 1,200 tons. from New
Orleans, making weekly trips without
single failure to be on time; and l state
positive and well-known fact when
say that they have been unable to carry
more than half the passengers Offering.
myself saw MIR. Plant when he departed
from this place to Havana on the steamship
Hutchinson, and when he returned on the
same ship. Both times the ship was
Oyerhowing with passengers; the purser
told me they had 40 passengers for this
place that trip. Certainly Mr.. Plant
must have thought such a traffic worth
looking after.
The whole aim of all the railroads
seems to be to get to Charlotte. Harbor,
and when they get there they are at the
end of civilization. Look at the chart and
you will see there is no habitable land on
the Gulf coast south of that port, and
Havana is the only trade they will get,
and only a small portion of that; of course
they will have the local trade.
If General Gordon builds his road to
Key West, all other roads will merely live
on local trade. From appearances he seems
more than likely to accomplish his aim.
All the roads running down the Peninsula
Will be an advantage TO our road from
AnclOte to Indian River. We have al
ready made a splendid start, The road
will surely be built and in short order.
When the road is built from New Bran
ford to the bay, and from AnclOte to
Tampa, q miles, the Tampa Steamship
Company will have to quit. For the last
five years they have been mine of wealth,
You couldn't realize the business they are
doing without being here to see for your
self. The moment that the two roads are
completed, good ship will be required
from the bay to Anclote for at least six
months Ofsthe year. All the freights from
the North GOMEZ to Fernandina'by Mallory
line and here on this one horse, one-man
railroad, and Savannah people, instead of
bringing the freight,Out or selling it them
selves on the Ocean line) are sitting still
and letting the Mallory line andAYulee
gObble the whole thing. You must be
aware that your city sells large amount
of goods to South F'lSrida. Why not do
all the business outside of heavy provis-
ions?
You can have little conception of how
fast the region about Tampa, Barlow,
Fort Meade, ETC., has settled up in the
last two years with the very best of peo-
pie. While the North is rich and power
full, don't forget that the Northwest is
equally so. Before our charters were
granted, not foot of ground could be
bought or leased here. Now it is no
trouble to do either. MONITOR.
Judges Jailed for Contempt.