Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-22
A TRIP OVER THE RAILS.
SAVANNAH, FLORIDA AND WEST
ERN SEEN AT ITS BEST.
Palatial Coaches Gliding Along over a
Model Roadbed Under Charge of Affa-
be notwithstanding in the Road
side Nillages-JOttings about Flor

Correspondence Of the Morning Ns,os


gia, from Waycross as far as Americas
has furnished some items that NAV pos
sess interest.
There are but few, if any. better anC
more admirably managed roads in the
country than that controlled by the Sa
yannah, Florida and Western Company
Its main trunk and branches in this State
are kept in the most perfect condition
and under the able superintendent O
Col. Fl. S. Haines, the entire huge ma
chine works with the precision of clock
work. All the various departments show
| the guidance and care of an experienced
master, indicated even in the most
minute details. The same good Judgment
is displayed in the selection of all the
subordinate officers, who are all experts
! in their various positions.
The Waycross connection is the great
artery by which nine-tenths of our yisi
tors and immigrants reach Florida. A
! large amount of money has been eXDend.
| ed in the construction of the several de.
pots and other buildings required bv the
company in this city, and the work of i'm.
proyement continues unabatedIv. Every
effort has been made to insure the comfort
OF travellers, and to increase the conve.
nience of shippers, and the strictest svs-
tenn of order, regularity and discipline is
everywhere observable.
All OF the appurtenanceS of this great
| thoroughtare are of the best materials
and in first class condition. The road-bed
! is firm and solid, and the elegant cars,
drawn by three powerful iron steeds,
| glide over the steel rails without noise or
unpleasant jolting. The conductors are
courteous and efficient and ALWAYS alive
to the safety and comfort of passengers.
The fact is that the Waycross link is an
Institution with which Florida cannot
dispense, and the value and importance
OF which is so we'll understood that it
| attracts most OF the travel that enters and
departs from the State.
The various towns through which |
passed, Quitman, ValdOsta, ThOmasville
and Albany, show gratifying signs of
progress. The ruined walls of the
Mitchell House at ThOmasVille are a
mournful reminder of past glOries. That
void should be filled by the early erection
of similar or superior hotel, and the
| good people of Thomas county should
lose no time in repairing the damage they
have sustained. They can easily attract
much of the annual tide of travel that
now flows into, and out of Florida, if the
proper inducements are afforded. If these
tourists can be prevailed on to stop for a
! period, some of them will become Dur-
chasers of the many beautiful location
found in that section, for our Northern
| friends know good thing when they see
IL and are never aVerSe to making an i'll
vestment that promises a safe and GER
tain dividend. Make them comfortable.
| I'LL their stOmachs, and you will reach
their purses.
Here and there on either side of the
Il,
orchards of the lie COnte pear. whose rich
foliage and symmetrical shapes denoted
the attention of their owners. At Smith
vile there is an orchard of twenty acres,
set out In grove fashion, which promises
i'll the near future a splendid income for
its fortunate pOSseSSOr. These trees are
said to defy frosts. except when extreme,
are but slightly exposed TO injury from
insects, ripen a delicious fruit in advance
OF other varieties, are certain bearers at
an early age, and are fast growing in
favor with consumers. From what is
said and admitted of this fruit, the time
is not far distant when it will vie in point
OF value and profit with the orange groves
of South Florida. The Middle Florida
men in Madison, Jefferson and Leon thor
Oughly appreciate this fine fruit, and are
dotting their pretty hills and wales with
young pear groves.
The road traversed for a considerable
distance that belt in which have been
raised, during the present season, those
hundreds of thousands of melons sent to
Northern markets. Scattered throughout
the fields were scores upon scores of the
Dlghted and immature fruit furnishing
fine food for the stock. In cOnversing
with different parties the general opinion
was elected that the crop had paid the
producers and disappointed the specula-
tors.
AS to the cotton crop, the prospect is
most dismal and disheartening. There
are fields after fields on the line of the
road that will hardly make bale TO ten
acres. Between drought, rust and the
caterpillar. that great staple is a failure
in Southwest Georgia. On all sides COM
plants of the damage sustained We're gen.
eral and of similar character. While |
was in Americus, one of the best planters
in Sumter county sold the cotton on
thirty acre field for the sum of TWENTY-FIVE
cents. The Recorder mentioned the cir
cumstance, and was assured by reliable
parties that the sale was actually effect
ed. saw but little cotton that was knee
high, and that was in a very sickly con-
dItiOn. 1t is very fortunate that fair
crop of corn has been made in that sec
tion, for otherwise the people would be in
a deplorable condition.
So, in this State, the dreaded worm is
devastating the cotton fields and DESTROY.
ing the hopes of the planters. These lit
tie pests are equal in their powers of de-
struction to the Egyptian lOcusts, and
leave behind them nothing but matured
bolls and naked stalks. The aggregate
amount Of short cotton raised in this
State is so small that it's entire loss would
only affect individuals, and would have
no bearing on the general result. Eight
or ten steamers of heavy tonnage could
easily take to Liverpool all that is pro-
duced In Florida.
At Albany l had the opportunity of
drinking water from an artesian well
some eight hundred feet in depth. The
water, which very probably has its source
i'll North Georgia, is said to have some
medicinal properties, but has sulphur
GUS taste and Odor. These wells are be-
coming quite common in that section of
the State, and are proving blessing to
the inhabitants. At ALBANY they are
building another substantial railroad
bridge across the Flint river.
Americus is an embryo CITY. and dis
plays many evident indications of growth
and prosperity. Handsome brick stores
are taking the place of the former wooden
structures on all the principal business
streets, and many of the private residences
are of tasteful designs and elegant finish.
Much attention is given to shrubbery, and
the good sense and refinement of the citi-
zens are shown in the care given these
matters.
The courtesy and hospitality of the peo-
pie are Old-fashioned, and impress a
a stranger quite favorably. A good
trade is done by Americus with the sur
rounding country, which is inhabited bv
an industrious and progressive population.
Two excellent tri-weekly papers, the Re
publican and RecOrder, furnish a large
circle Of readers with the latest inteIli-
gence. The town is doing something in
the way of manufactures, and boasts a
joint stock cotton seed oil mill, and the
extensive works of Mark N. WheatIey.
where the native woods are converted into
all descriptions of useful and ornamental
articles. Ice and cotton factories are also
contemplated. This is the residence of
Judge Crisp and General Cook. the pre-
sent and late member of Congress from
this district. Americus is fortunate in the
possession of a college of excellent repu-
tatiOn, which is largely patronized. The
town IS the centre of a rich cotton belt.
and the people are generally depressed
over the unfavorable prospects of the Weld
of that great staple.
Andersonville is just above Americus
and day or two previous to nv arrival
occurred the ceremony of decorating the
graves of the dead Federal soldiers. Quite
number went from Americus and the
surrounding towns, and the proceedings
were OF an interesting and impressive
nature.
Jacksonville is quiet, and no apprehen-
sion is expressed at the unpleasant news
OF the advent of yellow jack at Pensacola
and New Orleans. Both points are re-
mote, and our city is in very good sani-
tary condition. The volume of trade is
encouraging for the season. New buildings
q ra bafnO araofad and land