The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-08-07
Jacksonville Correspondence.
JACKSONVILLE, July 80, 1885

| JAeAoON' lLLh, July 1000
MEssRs. EDITORS: Though perhaps little
late, yet | wish TO congratulate you upon your
suspicious new departure, and trust you will
keep right on until you reach the golden gate
and enter into tina, city where editors and prin-
tiers are ever more at rest.
Am sorry to lose Captain Dyke as an editor
tor he was the best of all in the State and well
understood his business. By argument and clear
reasoning he has always maintained leading
position editor. How different with the
old Nestor and the new hedgllngs. The FLoRI-
DIAN has been regarded as authority on all State
matters, always furnishing data and facts to sus-
tain its assertions. Free from personalities and
mean, ll-natured filings and personal squabbles,
which seem 10 be the whole stock in trade of
some journalists III the State who might learn
| something by example from the FLoRIDIAN
were they not so self conccted This latter
| class endeavor to force all opinions and ideas
| upon the reader correct without furnishing
any reliable data to substantiate such facts, fur
| than than Z" we say So, which they consider
all sufficient. ain sorry to lose the Captain as
an editor and trust he may find recreation and
profit III all future undertakings. He has hun
dreds OF friends in this section, all Of whom ex-
tend their best shes for his future success and
happiness | believe you Messrs. Editors, will
| continue 10 make the old FLORIDIAN as great
tavonte as it has hitherto been among the better
classes OF our people. That the mantle Of the
retiring editor has fallen worthy shoulders
| will ere long be conceded by all.
The usual dullness Of summer in these parts
| is apparent to all residents, but visitors from
the interior seem surprised at the life and activ
| iy here at this season Of the year and some
declare ii has more thrift and stir than exists
either at Charleston or Savannah Every SUM-
| mer for five years business has increased here,
and in a few years more II it continues Jackson
| vile will have no dull season.
Smallpox gave business u setback in May,
| but that has all been overcome, and the disease
scarcely heard Of now. Once in awhile
| some country coon is reported having it,
and when such report proves a fact ii is directly
| traceable 70 some article OF clothing sent some
| weeks before from infected house TO rela-
tive, or stolen from such place and secretly dis
tributed among the kindred OF the sick, who
| perhaps reside many miles away. A negro ser-
| ously regrets 10 part with old clothes and this
is verified from the fact that in spite Of all eau
ton, warning, etc, by friends and physicians,
| they had rather risk the disease than suffer the
loss of head handkerchief Many have paid
dearly for their folly.
Finding il impossible 10 persuade them to
keep away from infected clothing or premises,
| compulsory vaccination was inaugurated and
| this seems 10 have almost completely wiped out
| The disease. The negro who has not been vac
cinated here is rare object and unknown TO the
| authorities.
missioners, who have been active and prompt in
! all matters pertaining 10 the welfare OF the
county. 1t was through their action that small
pox first received check, and now they have
| just completed the purchase of 81 acres Of land
| from Mr.. w. w. Douglass, two and half miles
north Of the city, upon which they propose to
erect buildings TO meet all similar emergencies
as the one through which the city has just passed.
| Upon this land pest houses, poor houses, etc,
| Will be erected, and the present buildings demo
ca1 onAt land tl,, ,<F
the city has brought it into too thckly popu-
| lated locality for safety from infection.
| The congregational, Ocean Street Presbyte-
ran, Trinity Methodist. attended mostly by
Northern people are all closed for the season
| The Baptist Tabernacle has also closed doors Cor
the summer. The Episcopal Methodist, Luther
an, Newman Street Presbyterian and Catholic
have no holiday season, but keep going through
Out the year, just as they did in dnte Jellum times
Some people will be old-fashioned in spite OF
new examples.
Excursions TO Green Cove Spring, ST. Angus
tine, Fernandina and Mayport are better patron
| lied now on Sundays than the chu ches
We have wild shoolist down here by the
name OF Dock Smith, a bar-kccper. Last month
| he had few words With w. II. HaZen another
bar keeper, on Bay street, and when no one ex-
pected II, drew pistol and commenced firing
al HaZen, however, wlthOu, injury TO him. Fri
day Dock tried his little pistol on good natured
ex-polcemau Jack Keete, who was at the time
in kece's thigh but he is last recovering from
the wound Strong threats of lynching Smith
were at first INDUCED in, but lie was soon in
| Jail and no effort to carry them into execution
were afterwards made. Smith is comparatively
stranger here, and is said To hail from Georgia.
| He is either l.borhg under some mental dcrange-
ment or is naturally blood thirsty man
| Yesterday of the largest funeral lpr"ccs-
| sions III this city followed the hoiy al
| E. s. Francis Ia lhe grave yard Besides The
| m 6r,.tis nj in
carriages AM, on horseback were in line. De-
ceased was foreman Of the Duval Fire Company,
which Was organized and equipped through The
| aid and direction of ex-Mayor w. S Boyd,
some eight years ago. Francis, although II
| gro, was white in skin, and was more polished
in manners than many Angl" Saxons. He did
| efficient service among his race for The Demo-
erals during The Tilden campaign
| Iron is going down rapidly on the lies OF
the new jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
| Railroad. This road branches of from the
| Florida Central about TWO miles west of the de
pot and runs parallel with the Florida Central
Railroad about u mile, when it curves To the
South.
Our over-caulious authorities have prohibited
after the ls prOx. the sale Of watermelOns
weighing less than fifteen pounds If they were
MS particular about some fish and meats offered
for sale in our markets, they would probably
ind ii useless 10 condemn melons while these
were allowed sold daily without hindrance
Usually one or two he seen at each dock,
but yesterday only six along the river could be
seen.
Four deaths occurred in the city last week
II is estimated that about 5000 melons have
been consumed per week this season in the CITY,
Georgia and Middle Florida had to furnish
supply several occasions.
New buildings are seen in every direction and
al the present rate OF building jacksonville will
be equal in size to Savannah two years hence.
Our street railways are being heightened out
every few months the buildings on the
suburbs progress
The city is remarkably healthy for the season
and with proper efforts ON the part of the sani-
tary officials will probably be kept so all sum-
mer.
Have had some warm weather here the past |
month, and several transforms which equaled |
any ever seen in these parts for severity Elec.
trcity was abundant.
Another change of schedule was made by the |
mail train Of the Waycross road yesterday. Ar |
rives here at 346 instead of 4:45-iust in time TO
be too late to connect with train leaving for Tai
lahassee. MONROE
After eating each m on IN r a a doao oc proun'a