Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-31
TALLAHASSEE ENLfVENED
THE DULL SEASON PAST AND
BUSINESS ON A BOOM.


Truck EARNINGS Advantage Over
Orange Culture-A Future for NewDOrt
sulphur Springs-WOrk Along the Rails
-FIorida's Poor Show at Louisville
The Normal School Attendance.
CorresD0ndeace Of the Morning Meas.
TALLAHASSEE, August 2S.-The So
called dull season is over. Cotton is
coming in every day, and our merchants
are busy in their preparations for the fall
trade. Some have gone North to lay in
their stock Of goods, while others are i'm
patiently awaiting the arrival of ship-
ments previously ordered. With the ap-
proach OF the equinox and cooler weather
the number of land prospectors is in
creasing, and the st. James, the only
hotel at present open, has goOdly number
OF arrivals daily. Heretofore East and
South Florida seem to have been
the Canaan to which most of the travel
Journeyed. but now Middle Florida comes
in for her share. She cannot boast of
magnificent orange groves, but she does
pride herself on her superior soil and It's
adaptation to truck farming. Orange
groves are eXpenslve-yearS must elapse
before tney prove remuneFatiVe, and
thousands of dollars have been sunk bv
the unwary who expected to reap enor-
nous profits in few wears.
Some time ago several of our own
cltlzens, carried away with the orange
mania, like many others, JOurneyed to what
they thought to be the land of promise,
and made some investments. But whether
they reaped by such outlay, l have not
learned. There may have been one or
two instances Iwhere their ventures
proved successful, but l know of at least
one gentleman who would be very glad to
get his money back, without interest.
Within a few weeks past two parties from
South Florida, who have been residents
there Tor some years, and owned
orange groves, have been here prospect
ing, and have expressed themselves as de-
lighted and intending to purchase. This
speaks volumes for our favored section.
Another party from Ohio is now here, and
negotiating for the Ladd property in and
around Newport, Wakulla county. He is
SAID TO represent a syndicate, which pro-
poses to improve the property and make
1t what 1t was in former days. The New
port sulphur spring at one time had quite
a reputation.
ITS HEALTH-GIVING WATERS
were sought after from far and near.
and the Newport Hotel was crowded with
guests during the summer months. The
town itself was Of no incOnsiderabIe i'm
pOrtance, for it had population of 1.5OO.
and much of the produce of this section
was hauled thither over plank road, in
stead OF by rail, to st. Marks. The party
now negotiating for its purchase says that
he intends to renOvate the hotel, have
suitable bath rooms put up at the
spring, and otherwise improve the
place. With money judiciously ex-
pended in repairs and by advertis-
ing, L see no reason why the Newport
Sulphur Springs should not become as at
tractive as in former years. That it pos
sesses medicinal qualities, and wonderful
cures have been effected from bathing in its
waters, more than one of my acquaint-
ances can testify, for they went there help
less crIppleS from rheumatism and re-
turned without their crutches, and in two
instances completely cured. An analysis
OF the waters proves that their sanative
properties are equal to some of the famed
sulphur springs in Virginia.
VICE PRESIDENT PAGE
of the Thomasville, Tallahassee and Gulf
Railroad Company, has returned, but as
he has not unbOsomed himself to me, am
unable to give your readers any of his
plans In prospect relating to his COM
pany. Various rumOrs are afioat, but as
these are mere cORjectareS, l will not re-
port them. Hands are employed in grad
ing-hQW many know not. But they are
at cork, beginning has been made and
work is going on steadily. If Mr.. Page
does not succeed in building his road,
it will be through no fault Of
his. He is deVOting his whole
time to it, and success must eventually
crown his efforts. There are some who
know no such word as fail, and though
the energetic Vice President has been dis
appointed and thwarted, his energy, tact,
and the influence he can get to bear, will
all tell in his favor by ultimate success.
If the company he represents were not in
earnest they would not be spending money.
While, therefore, their course is open to
criticism, | still repeat my former con-
viction that the road 1CiU be built. But
when? Oh! that is difficult question to
answer. Very soon, it is hoped.
Surprise has been expressed at the
paucity of Florida exhibits at the Louis
vile Exposition. 1t must be remembered,
however, that the exposition will not
close until the early part of November,
and that it was impossible to send on
certain class of exhibits when the exposi-
tion opened. Oranges are not yet ripe,
cotton is just coming in and sugar cane
has not yet matured. This has caused
many counties to delay sending on
their exhibits for a Hmore con-
venient season." Mr.. B. A. Meginniss,
one of our enterprising Young mer-
chants, who has been active in getting the
people to contribute in this matter. as
sured me this morning that the Leon
county exhibits would be shipped from.
here aCithiR the meet ten days. One or two
have already forwarded their individual
contributions, but it is proposed to send
one Or moro paPC a cn0oiol nv bil,if f.O,,,
Leon county. What is beng done here is
being done in other counties, and IN six
weeks from now visitors Will be as much
surprised at the extent of the Florida
exhibit as they are now at its present
smallness.
AS CORRESPONDENT
of the News have always sought to state
facts obtained from reliable information.
If rumOrs existed, | mentioned them as
such. Hence / was very much surprised
to see it stated in the FTOridjQn of 14th
that l was in error as to the colored teach
ers at the State Normal School not paving
board and their numbers falling off. AS
to free board, my information / regarded
as trustworthy, as it came from reliable
gentleman who had taken a great interest
in the normal instruction of the col
Ored people, and his informant was
the late cOlored principal AS for there
being decadence In their attendance, /
inferred it from the fact that | saw less
in the streets, and / am still of
the opinion that / was correct in that re-
spect. If my informant was in error, it
gives me great satisfaction to know that
it was error; for not only our own well
fare, but that of the colored race in orr
midst, depends upon their being educated.
There can be no more dangerous element
in a community than a mass of igno-
rant humanity, who have the ballot
box in their hands, especially
if they constitute the majority of the cleo
tors. They can be swayed by designing
men, their worst passions aroused. and
peaceable, law-abiding citizens made to
tremble. But give them the benefit of
good mental training, learn them to think
for themselves, and reason rather than
passion will prevail. Whether the colored
paid their board or not, or
whether there was a decadence in their
their coming hither was COM
IL Il.