Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-11
COLUMBIA COUNTY. FLORIDA.
Matters Personal and Otherwise in the
SUnIit Section.

Matters Personal and Otherwise in the
SunIit Section.
CorrsS0oadeacs ofHe N0rajpg Ne,cs
FORT WHITE, COLUMBIA COUNTY.
FLA, sept. 81 have perused with inter-
est the columns of your weekly visitor
hoping to see something from the facile
pen OF some of our more gifted citizens
in reference to this part-the southwest
portion of Columbia it seems that
the rapid strides and wonderful progress
that is being made has wrapped them in
solitude OF their own Imagination and
they are lost in wonder and admiration.
while the falling timber, buzzing saw and
sound of the hammer is heard throughout
the land.
We are abreast if not the vanguard of
the state in the onward march Of develop
ment. Two years ago thousands of acres
of government land in this section could
have been entered at Gainesville at 81 -
per acre. To-day it Is all taken up.
Comfortable cottages are going up all over
the land, trees are being girdled and corn
fields fenced. Everybody is alive to the
times-nO drOneS here. \ confident feel
iug of hope and a bright future pervades
the land, as our soil is generous and
fertile. producing an abundance of all the
general crops grown in our state.
The orange tree grows here as finely as
il does further south, and rarely ever the
tenderest branches are nipped by the frost.
And. as to size, SmOOthness, thinness of
peel and delicacy of flavor of the fruit
they are equal TO the faT-famed Indian
river orange. Peaches do better here than
anywhere else l ever saw. All varieties
of the grape l have seen tried do well.
The black Mohawk. black Hamburg and
scuppernOng do splendidly. With our
sunny salubriOUS cline, and constant
gentle breeZes, if we could only see the
snOw-capped cliff Of some lofty peak OF a
rugged mountain in our background,
we would feel that we We're in the vine
clad lands of Italy.
The Savannah, Florida and Western
Railway passes through our neighbOr-
hood satisfactorily TO all, and the depot is
very centrally located.
The iron is laid from BranfOrd this way
about ten miles, reaching this side the
Ichetouchanee river and in about three
miles of our depot, at which place rapid
improvements are being made.
Quite a town has been laid off and a great
many lots sold. There is a great draw
back to the future development of the
place in the narrOwness of the streets they
being only sixty feet wide.
Mr.. John Mckinney, who has been mer-
chandising at this place for several wears.
is an original character Beatty's full
stop steam bellows organ. whose prelude
can be heard all over the cOunty-bring
up your cash and secure great bargains.
Mr.. Furman Williams Il Bro have
just opened up in their large new store a
full and varied stock of merchandise
Mr.. Henry Stringtell0w has in course of
construction a nice large store.
We have the very best OF church and
school privileges.
We hold To our able and beloved pastor.
Rev. g. L. Leitner, who has served us
with fidelity and acceptance the last three
years. He is a pillar to our church and
a lamp unto our feet.
our teacher, Mr.. +. G. Persons. is quite
an accession 20 our nCighbOrhOOd. He is
very talented and handsome young gen.
tleman. controlling a school of forty SchOl-
ars with credit to himself and satisfac-
tiOn TO the patrons. We hope to marry
him 10 some of our pretty daughters, set
tie him down and keep him with us un-
til we have a great many Persons.
In setting forth facts of this country !
am not trying to induce immigration to
this particular part. Captain Getzen,
Messrs. David Jordan. George Elice and
Joseph Terry convened themselves in
council and unanimously agreed that i'm
migration was not necessary to the set
tling up of this country. What it lacked
they would take it upon themselves to
supply. That they had now already on
hand between them thirty-nine children.
The four together make the best vocal mu-
sic ] ever heard. carrying all parts with
such power, pathOs and expression that
you feel translated to the better land where
the angels are touching lightly on the
strings of their golden harps,
Corn crops are very good throughout
this country, but the caterpillar has
ravaged the cotton crop, cutting it off
very materially. our farmers are as a
class, home sustaining, keeping their
cribs and smOke-houses on their own
premises, and know nothing of mortgages,
liens, etc, consequently are not hurt
their profits are short, but they hope by
nice handling to make up in price what
they lack i'm quantity.
With the advantage of the new railroad
there Is quite a feeling for truck farming
in our country, and with our generous
soil, / believe we can compete success
fully with any part of the state.
There is already a laudable society
fully organized at our new town, with
the great inventive genius, Joseph p.
Terry, who has invented the highly priced
doUble-acting, self-Sacking plow, as Pres
ident, and the distinguished Capt. Lloyd,
Il. y, q. c., as Treasurer; Mr.. +. Hatner,
recording angel; 1Ir. Guyraff Griffin, a
very estimable young man, holds the re-
sponsible position OF ''set 'em up" They
have taken the very appropriate name Of
Help \ our NeighbOr."
Ihey are gentlemen of broad views,
expansive stomachs and coming appe-
/, tltes. We look forward TO the develop
meDs ot wonderful results.
Florida las ever been noted for its
beautiful ladies'. .Olumbia' more beauti-
tut than any other part of the state. and
Our particular part of Columbia the most
beautiful Of all the descendants of Eve.
Ii President arthur could see some we
have here, he would weaken: but they
are NOT commodities Of export, there
being a ready demand for them at home
There is a great deal said now about the
local option law, 1t is being agitated in
our precinct. While ! do not favor the
liquor traffic, feel that we cannot guard
too sacredly the rights and privileges OF
our citizens. 1t is a nice thing to legis-
lata from us our freedom. One privilege
NAV fOllo-r another. We become use To
the fetters until we are unworthy the
Of rr.,o,,,o,, NnN DOpTTTT.