Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-18
JACKS0NVILLE'S SCOURGE
HOW THE PRESENT SMALL-POX
EPIDEMIC ORIGINATED.

Arthur's 0uting-RailrOad Enterprise
Closing the HOtels-Real Estat
ing-Reminiscences of Chandler
&FOrmer Visit to Florida.
JACKSONvILLE, FLA, April 17.-Agail
l assume the position of proxy for you
| excellent correspondent, s'W. III. b.
who has gone into exile as manager o
I the smallpox hospital. and until tn,
| Doctors return to the city give the read
| ers of the NEWS "Jacksonville Jottings,
. commencing with the smallpox. Thi,
most lOathsome disease made its appear
ance here among the cOlored people about
two weeks since, having been brought
here by a negro sailor from New Orleans
On his arrival he took quarters at a col
Ored boarding house, and the disease soor
developed, which was pronounced by
his visiting friends a case OF
"Spanish measles" and, as usual
all his acquaintances paid
him a visit, and after death, a large mum.
Der attended his funeral, and from that
time up to date new cases have made theil
appearance among the negroes. Tuesday
the first white person was striken down, a
Mr.. Parramore, a clerk in one of the Bay
street stores. The number of cases to date
is twenty-seven, of which three are white
and the balance c0lored. Out of this num-
ber ten have died, all cOlOred.
The disease first broke out in the west
ern suburban town of LaNilla, and the
majority of eases have occurred there.
Everything possible is being done to stOp
its spread, and our best medical men be-
lieye that much desired object will soon
be accomplished. Had its first existence
here been made public at the time it is
firmly believed by many that ii would
have been more guarded against by all.
more especially the ignorant aud unsus-
pecting. But day after day there was a
rumOr, but no positive proof of its exist
ence, until the city Health Officer made it
known as best he could, and by displaying
the ''yellow flag at each house where a
case existed
All the physicians have been busily en-
gagged in the vaccination science, and at
one dollar each have reaped rich har-
vest. The poorer classes are attended to
at the city's expense. Not single new
case has occurred during the past forty
eight hours.
A stampede among the cOlOred people
followed the city physicians announce
fined to the negroes. Every train and boat
was loaded with this class of freight, all
making for some interior point, and by
these people the disease has been carried
to several other places. A general quar-
antine against Jacksonville negroes is in
force along the railroads and river.
AS soon as case makes it's appearance
it is hurried out to the pest house and
placed in charge of DR.. BabcOck. and by
this means it is hoped its spread here is
at an end.
President Arthur has had a glorious
time of it up i'll Orange county since his
arrival last week. He bidstfair to out
rival Vice President Wheeler as a fisher
man, as he has taken quantities of the
finny tribe out of the wet. His visit eX-
tended to Lake OkechObee, where the les
sees of the DisstOn Land Company are at
work. 1t is not yet known whether he
purchased an orange grove or not, but it
is said he actually failed to find the frost
line. The President has certainly had a
rest from his arduOus duties. and, it is
said, enjoyed this brief retirement from
official life immensely. He arrived here
from Washington i'll the night, and many
were deprived of the pleasure Of a hand
shake or even a glimpse of him, and a
number propose TO make good the oppOr-
tunitY on his return from up the river;
but in this they may be disap-
pointed, as he intends going North
from st. Augustine on the steamer Talla-
hassee, which was ordered to meet him and
party there. The steamer arrived Satur-
DAY and will probably depart to-day.
During Saturday an inspection of the old
fort at st. Augustine was made by the
distinguished gentlemen, and a visit paid
to all points of interest in the city. There
is one thing in Florida, however. that he
does not appreciate any more than eX-
President Grant did on his visit here, and
that is the crowd of negroes who gather
around him at all times and on ali occa-
siOns. The fact of his being a Republican
and the dispenser of offices makes him pc
culiarly attractive to this class.
Through trains Will be run between this
city and Pensacola this week, as all
bridging on the Pensacola and Atlantic
is now finished.
The building of the Jacksonville and St.
Augustine Railroad is progressing rather
slow. Some have lost faith in its early
completion while others are vet strong,
and declare it will be completed before
the next harvest time passes away.
The most important event of the season
i'll this line that has taken place here is
the active and vigorous work commenced
on the jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
Road. \ number of persons have visited
the scene of grading, which is about three
miles west of the city. This road work
has been put into the hands of Messrs. w.
G. Amber and j. =. TaliaferrO, both of
this city, who are capable and reliable
and will put it through in short order.
There are about two hundred men engaged
in the grading, and this number is being
increased daily, for all that wish can get
work. This road runs parallel with the
st. Johns river from Jacksonville to Pa
latka. 1t passes through the river towns
Of Orange Park, Magnolia and Green
Cove Spring. This road will be completed
from Jacksonville to Palatka by January
l, 1884. 1t is broad gauge, five feet,
and to be laid with S eel rails,
tifty-tive pounds to the lineal yard.
The extension from Palatka to Tam
pa will be commenced as soon as the
work now begun is completed to Palatka.
Two drawbridges will be required between
Jacksonville and Palatka-One at Nc
Girts creek and the other at Black creek.
Both streams should be known as rivers,
for their size and depth entitle them to
such distinction. The road Will not cross
the st. Johns at all, but passes near it,
and between many large lakes and
streams. 1t will cross the Ocklawaha
river beyond Palatka. The company
claim they have now ample capital to
build and equip the road, the rolling
stock having already been ordered.
Before this appears in print nearly all
of the large hotels here will be closed, and
remain so until next winter. The hotels
on the river, between here and Sanford,
are doing likewise. With the closing of
the hotels comes the departure from the
river of several of the large steamers,
which go North. This has been very
prosperous and successful season both for
boats and hotels, and none have cause for
complaint. The withdrawal of the boats
and closing of hotels ushers in upon us
the dull season, which is long and warm,
and besides all this creates a jealousy
between those who can depart without
trouble or expense and the poor cusses
who have to remain here through the
heated term and rough it out.
Vegetables of the finest varieties are
being shipped North from this place in
large quantities. An immense number
of crates from the up river country arrived
here the past week and were hurried on
North. As a vegetable producing country
Florida can't be beat.
Gentlemen arriving in the city report
the coming Of large numbers of new
settlers to the river and southern cOun-
ties. Many come in wagons from the Mis-
sissippi valley, having become tired of
OverflOws and floods. fernando, Polk
and Manatee are receiving a goOdly num-
ber, and the lands in those counties are
being rapidly taken up. Here, in the vi
cinity of Jacksonville, real estate is
changing hands daily. Large tracts of su-
burban lands are being bought up by capi-
talists. a gentleman here the past week
from the East. invested $4,000 in lands
within two and three miles of Jackson
willie. This same land, few years ago,
could have been purchased for $4,000.
Building lots are much in demand in
the city, and as soon as purchased the
building CT house is commenced. 1t is
now sincerely believed that no town in