Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-16
JACKSONVILLE AT EASE.
ALL TRACE OF THE SMALLPOX
PANIC DISAPPEARING.

Quarantine Against the City Raised
Shotguns Prove a Better Preventive
Against its Spread than Vaccination
Railroad Rumblings-The Ship Canal
L Vegetable Shipments and Other Topics
JACKSONVILLE. MAY 1.-THE panic is
over and all is quiet along the ST. Johns
again, and 1t Is with pleasure that your
| correspondent announces that the small.
pox has almost entirely disappeared from
hereabouts. Not a case has been reported
as occurring in the city for two weeks
One or two persons have been stricken
with the seOurge in remote places far re-
moved from the city. Those unfortunates
/ yet at the pest house are all cOnvalescent,
and hopes are entertained that no more
patients will be added to the few now under
treatment. A very rigid enforcement oflaw
and an obedience to the rules adopted bv
the Board of Health have proved success
full. Every new case was followed up.
and an immediate isolation of the prem
ises required, and they closely guarded
day and hight for three weeks after the
| patient had been removed to the pest
! house. The disease was always confined
to the colored people, and, as usual, all
their cousins, their aunts and their uncles
must visit them, and at first it seemed
almost impossible to check this calling
business, but some strong measure was
necessary to stop it, as we'll as the spread
OF the disease, so the ''dead line'' was
drawn, and guards, armed with double
barrel shOtguns, stationed around each
house, with orders to shoot every person,
except physicians and nurses, seen enter
ing an infected house. This order had
the desired effect, and the result is the
disappearance of the "Spanish measles"
as it was at first called by the negroes.
BuckshOt is a much better preventive
than vaccination to the spread of small
poX.
Quarantine has been raised by the
nelghbOring towns, and the country peO-
pie are no longer afraid to visit the city.
This disease and the building of
new railroads have carried many of the
negroes from the city. Men are paid 81 %
per day to work on the roads, and as il re-
quires no extra ability to shovel dirt,
many have engaged in that healthful
pastime. This is a little better pay than
the common labOrer can obtain in the
city or at the mills, and they have packed
off in large numbers to the various rail-
roads now In course of construction. 1t
Is earnestly desired that something may
continue to draw them from this city. as
veniently spared.
This employment for the summer on the
new roads will greatly assist both white
and cOlOred through the long dull season,
and enable them to better maintain them
selves and families. The demand for
labor has never been sufficiently met vet,
and agents for the roads are soliciting
help daily in this and other cities. The
weather has been very favorable for rail
DIII6inO and on
hour i'll pushing their great enterprises
ahead.
The Jacksonville and st. Augustine
Railroad is not yet finished, although its
completion has again and again been
promised on such date. Six miles of iron
and cross ties are yet to be put down be-
fore it reaches the Ancient CITY. Its
present terminus is reached from st. Au-
gustine by means Of carriages, busses,
etc. An occasional passenger train is
run between Jacksonville and the south
ern terminus. The rolling stock so far
received is said to be very good. particu-
larly the passenger coaches. The process
is slow, but probably sure.
Mr.. Astor's Railroad from Tocoi to St.
Augustine will be kept in operation, as
he is able to run it at IA loss if necessary.
The new road will divide the business
with the old one and probably greatly re-
duce freight and passenger charges, for it
is said that these have been exceedingly
high, and are the prime cause that pro-
jected the new road. Some are of opinion
that William Astor will purchase the
new road should he find 1t an injury to
his property. n prominent attorney
stated a few days since that the purchase
was courted and desired by some of those
interested in the new enterprise, but this
is mere rumor and has to be taken for
just what it is " Orth.
The organization of the Florida Ship
Canal Company has been the theme of
much conversation and speculation the
past week. Maps and charts have been
studied as to the route and the location
of this mammoth enterprise. Particular
attention and discussion has been directed
TO the point where it strikes the st. Johns
river-twenty miles south of this city,
Land owners along the proposed line are
being hunted up and consulted as to the
value Of their property, but no purchases
have yet been made, as the keen-eyed |
speculatOr is little backward in risking |
thus early in the undertaking much in
Florida dirt. Should the plans adopted
by the company be carried out and work
commenced in September, FlOrida's boom
will be immense, and ther6is no telling !
the end thereof. The building of four |
railroads and the canal at the same time !
in this section of the State will increase |
her nOtOriety and prosperity far beyond !
the conception OF any one,
Land hunters continue to come, and ali |
classes are represented in the number. |
The speculatOr is, however, on the alert |
for profitable investments; the intended |
settlers, too, arrive by every train, bring |
ing their families, looking for houses, |
who either buy or homestead land. much |
of which is now considered almost worth !
less, but, as has been so often heretofore |
demonstrated in this State, will, in few
years, be the most valuable in the coun- /
try, Many come with ample means to sur |
round themselves at once with all !
the comforts and cOnveniences of /
good home, while others come |
with very limited means, and are COM
PEELED to start in an humble way. But,
with energy and perseverance, the re-
suits are substantially the same, except !
that those with the most cash bring them
about in the least time. These home |
hunters cOnfine themselves to no particu- |
lar portion of the State, but a majority |
seem desirous of locating on the st. Johns |
river, Especially is this the case with /
the New Englanders.
In this city and within a radius of six |
miles every quality of real estateis stead
lily advancing in price, and what many |
now being sold at from Sc to SIS per acre, |
In the city real estate climbs upwards |
daily, and the poorer classes are being |
constantly pushed to the suburbs. In
very few years, at the present rate of ex- |
pansion, the city limits will be removed a |
mile or two farther out.
Immense quantities of vegetables are |
being shipped from East and South FIori- |
da to the East and West. A number of |
the growers have changed their market
this season from the Eastern cities to |
those of the West, and report returns |
much better than usual. The crops is in |
fine condition. The greater portion is !
shipped over the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railroad to Savannah, thence NV
steamer East. A lerga amount Is |
also sent Wast via JesJip, thence by the |
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia |
roads to Atlanta, connecting here with |
Western and Atlantic, and hurried On Dy |