Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-02
SUMNER INJACKSONVILLE
A DULL SEASON WHICH SETS
EVERYBODY GRUMBLING.

Election in the City-The Shin Canal
The New Postal COnveniences-Other
Notes of Interest.
JACKSONVILLE, April 30.-As the sum-
mer approaches the dullness of this city
increases. ShOpkeepers grumble at the
small sales of their wares: mechanics
growl about low wages and scarcity of
STAT jobs" lawyers stand at their doors.
gaze awhile, then leisurely saunter to the
post office and back, strOking their boards
and wondering will days of numerous
clients and good fees never come again:
bankers make small collections and think
deposits are not near up to what they
should be; mill men sail around in their
buggies and smile upon contractors, and
then wonder why the smile is not re-
turned with big local orders. All except
the post office clerks lament the return of
the dull season; nevertheless it is here,
and the smallpox with it, lending help
ing hand. But it should be borne in mind
that Jacksonville is one of the live
llest cities in the South. And il
| keeps moving ahead year by year.
( Evidences of this rapid progress are Visi-
! bic on every side, and at its present rate
of advancement will soon be numbered
/ among the great cities of the Union. Prob
! ably more mOneyed men visited Florida
the past winter than ut any previous sea-
son, and all of them did not come for the
sole purpose of enjoying the genial eli
mate, but to view the situation and plan
for the future.
Enterprises Of considerable magnitude
were laid in Florida the past few months.
! 1t is said by knowing ones that JAY Gould
did not rest while here, but kept up con-
/ tiOnal CDOO6anaa bOtb nv Y,,oi1
wire, with the bears of Wall street. That
others came with a view of increasing
their millions by the building of railroads
and canals, the locating of colonies, the
purchase of large bodies of lands and the
! opening of new avenues of commerce. 1t
is even limited that President Arthur is
coming back to this State at the eXpira-
tion of his term to engage in trout fishing
/ on the klSSlmmee river. Secretary Chan
| dler would come, too. but while here the
| malaria cOnfuses him so much that he is
unable to count straight-be it fish,
oranges or VOtes-and as Eliza PinkstOn
! is dead, there is no one at command to
testify that ten make a dozen when VIII
! liam winks.
The discOntinuance Ofthe weather branch
of the public service is seriously regretted
in this State, particularly in the orange
| growing sections and by those interested
IN shipping. After tomorrow all tele-
graphic weather reports cease in Florida
by order of the authorities at Washing
ton, who claim the exhaustion of the APP
preparation made for that purpose. The
people will now only know the approach
of a storm by its presence
On the 7th inst. an election will be held
in this city upon the question of issuing
$2S0,OOO of redemption bonds, of which
$4,000 is to be expended in improving the
present water supply. The voters are to
dppi0n Whptbpr not tho IrIl Of 10
! Sanitary improvement Fund be authorized
to bond the city for an additional 100000
with which to make the above improve
ments. Our water works system, except
as protection against fire, is a failure,
and of little value to the average citizen.
The machinery, mains, ETC., are first
class, but the water for domestic pur-
poses is unfit for use. Its color is
reddish and the water strongly
impregnated with iron and salt. The OBJ
ject of the trustees is now to sink new
wells or draw the supply of water from
springs and clear water streams some
distance from the present reservoir and
conduct the same to the works, where it
will be forced through the mains INTO the
city. To do this it will require 100000,
and to raise this amount the taxpayers
have to increase the bonded debt Just so
much. The trustees in their report state
that by taking up certain amount of the
old issue and reisSuing them again at a
lower rate of interest, adding $50, 600. the
total interest will then be $1,000 per an
mum less than it is at present. Many do
not seem to understand the subject and |
Will cast their ballots against bonds or re- |
main away from the polls altogether. |
While some are willing to find fault with
the management of the fund, vet none |
seem to doubt the good intentions of the
trustees. Yet when the question of more
taxes is mOoted in Florida it tends to
frighten, and it is difficult to convince the
more skeptical that it is to their interest
to increase the debt, as per above plan. !
However, the forthcoming report Of the
trustees may satisfy all minds and work /
a change before the 7th.
The ship canal, which has been a little |
quiet since the adjournment of the Legis- |
lature, is again being talked up. An in /
telligent gentleman in the city the past |
week, from New York, says he found |
more doubts here as to the completion of |
this gigantic undertaking than elsewhere, |
but says the company are in earnest, and |
will perform every part of the agreement. |
and before year the most skeptical will /
be satisfied as to the cOmpany's ability |
and good intentions. All the commercial |
men and societies Of.the large Northern
cities, he says, are much interested i'm this
work.
Since the smallpox made its appear
ance here it has been thought advisable
not to hold the regular term of State and
the special term of the United States
Court next month in this city, as it will
bring together many Of our population, of
all classes, and might increase u spread
ofthe dread disease, now so nearly stamped
out. At Il meeting of the bar Wednes-
day, resolutions were adopted requesting
the Judges to adjourn their respective
courts until later in the season. Judge
n Il Nfnf. 4
comply with the request, but up to this
time Judge Settle, of the United States
Court, has not. He is expected this
week and Will then determine upOn what
course to pursue. 1t is believed he will
hold his court, and no risk will be in
Cured if he does.
To-day the work of the new carrier and
post box system will be inaugurated i'm
Jacksonville for the first time. In fact. the
first time and the first place in the State.
and this without anneXing the suburban
towns of the city, which was one of the
strong points made by the adherents of
the annexation scheme before the Legis-
lature last winter. 1t was asserted that
all this vast territory, with its six hun.
dred negro voters, must be Incorporated
to secure this branch of the postal ser
vice. But it is secured, ii seems, without
annexation.
There will he about twenty boxes placed
in different portions of the city. Five
carriers have been appointed, all of whom
are cOlored except one. Three of the col
ored have been more or less prominent in
politics heretofore and are thus rewarded,
as was once the case before. Perhaps
there is no place in this broad land where
some improvement in the postal service is
more needed than in Jacksonville. The
complaints this winter have been loud
and continued. Any change to alleviate
the annOyances Of delays and blunders
will be hailed with delight by the people.
1t is amusing to listen to the recital of the
many ups and downs had by tho people of
this place the past few months in obtain
ing tLeir letters and papers. All hope
some good may come out of this new
order of things and the petty apnpYances
he abated,
Another link is to be added to the street
railway in this city of about two miles in
length. This new connection is to run into
the northern suburb known as Springfield.
The work will be commenced this week
under the supervision of Mr. Ben UPTON
This will greatly enhance the value of
property in Springfield. Already specula-
tors are buying up the most eligible lots.
Some who purchased year ago are offer
ed twice the amount paid, and even this
high per cent. on the investment is GEN
orally declined. There is money here in
real estate, but whether there is in street
is questionable.
The locating of the Agricultural Col
lege at Lake City last week by the trus.
tees, is fortunate for the prosperity of
that place and section. Although only
sixty. miles from Jacksonville, but