Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-12
Since 1877. when the State wont

/ cratlc, the state tax has been diminished
/ from twelve and half to five mills.
The real debt of the State is only $3.50 :
90O' Inc seven per cent. bonds are worth
100. with none on the market. There is
no floating debt. Taxes are met DromntIv
and the assessment is fast increasing
being this year over 30, ,0OO. 900 as comnared
with 10000, 900 in 1880. The public schools
number 1926 with an attendance of nearly
1 $4,000 pupils. Over seventy per cent. of
the school population attend school, and
/ over $2OO,OOO are annually expended for
the support of schools.
Inc Governors review of the present
condition of our State is an excellent
document, and sets forth briefly the rapid
progress that Florida is making along all
the avenues that lead to wealth and
greatness. Since 1879 Florida has almost
doubled her railroad facilities, having in
creased from 519 to 1,02S miles within that
period.
a splendid collection of the native
WOODS OF tlorlda was sent from here last
week to Louisville. 1t embraced one hun
dred and eighty species, or twO-fiftbs of ali
the woods found in the United States. In
JhlS cOllectIOn are seVenty-fVe kinds of
trees found nowhere else i'm the country
This exhibit is most valuable contribil-
ton TO the display of this State, and must
attract great attention. The specimens
are polished ON one side so as to show the
grain and color of the wood. Most of tho
rare varieties come from South Florida.
but two, the Torreya and ToXus Floridi-
ana, are not to he found anywhere else in
Jne world except on theApalachicOIa river.
Inrec or more car loads of articles will
be forwarded this week to Louisville. and
by the end of the month Florida will be
handsomely represented in the EXpOsi-
JlOn. \ general movement has been made
TnannflN fO hnx h.,
that city, and the result has been most
gratifying.
Jacksonville is to have still another
seaside resort. Fort George Island, near
the mouth of the river, has recently been
purchased, and is to be used as a water
ing place. 1t is now in contamination to
connect 1t with this city by means of a
railroad. A short line Of eight miles, di-
Nerglng from point on the Fernandina
and Jacksonville Railroad, will effect the
purpose. BY next summer we shall be
well provided with comfortable and
pleasant retreats on the shores of the
ocean.
Although the water furnished by our
works is not generally used for potable
purposes, Its value for eXtinguishing fires
is lnestlmable. Since its Introduction we
nave mad no fires in the city of any mag
hltude, and when they occur, they are
usually controlled with but little Difficult
ty and trouble. Even in this view of the
case the water works are well worth all
they have cost.
A weekly Republican paper is shortly
TO be published in this city. Its editors
nave not been announced. 1t is quite
GNidehJ that the g. o. p. intend to play
mana next summer, when the Presiden-
Ilal campaign opens, and they are getting
ready Tor the conflict. At present. they
nave no acknowledged organ in the State.
ana put few papers that fly their colors.
AnOtner negro paper will also be issued
next Saturday.
Yesterday some of the operators in the
telegraph office in this city had telephone
COMMUNICATION with gentlemen in your
Guy, ana III Charleston, the former III
and the latter 2S5 miles distant, Con-
yersation was conducted without anv
difilculty. What is to prevent the use of
the wires from being extended to still
greater distances, so that we NAV event.
ually talk to friend in California or in
London?
Heavy rains fell yesterday and the
storm signal has been f1ving for FORTY
eight hours. The weather was so cool
this morning that fall clothing was in de-
mand. At no time did we have much
wind, and the severity of the gale has
been spent elsewhere.
An enterprising Snowman has dis
covered in st. Johns county. a couple of
boys, whom he calls 'alligator children
Ihelr lower eXtremities are said to re-
semDie those of a saurian, and they are
described as having caudal appendage
hVe feet long. They are to be taken to
Louisville tor exhibition. The proprietor
has invited the newspaper men and
scientists Of this city to visit his wonders
next Wednesday.
An effort is being made to establish
FLORIDA commission house in New York
for the sale of fruit, vegetables and other
products from this State. and to prevent
the frauds alleged to be practiced on our
growers. If properly conducted, such an
establishment would certainly tend to
the security Of those making consign-
ments. Year by year more purchasers
come after the fruit, and it will not be
long ere the bulk of it will be disposed of
here.
Quite number of handsome new
cOastlng schOOners, intended for the Ium-
Der business, have arrived here during
the summer. Some OF these vessels are
very finely finished, and are intended to
run on regular lines.
n case to test the legality of the local
option law wiIf&be argued before Judge
Baker, of this circuit, on the 18th instant,
and will probably so up to the Supreme
court w. III. b.