Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-31
JACKSONVILLE J0TTINGS.
THE RAINS EFFECT ON BUsI-
NESS.

Muddy StreetS-City Extension-Amuse
ments-C Constitutional Convention
The Steamship Line to Europe-Vari
Gus TOpics-Agricultura College
Sale of the ''Union."
JACKSONVILLE, Jan. 29.-After a week O
bright skies, warm sun and balmy atmospher,
the pitiless rain began to fall Saturday morn
ing ana continued to patter throughout the
day, and yesterday the clouds were threaten.
ing and heavy and day poured down again
There is no place south of Washington where
the weather at this season of the year makes
such difference in business, amusements and
all other affairs pertaining to a progressive
city as it does in Jacksonville.
Business Is prosperous and rushing here in
good weather, and the reverse in bad. 1t af-
fects alike the merch ants, the hotels, and the
public thOroughfares. Activity is apparent
every where in East Florida in the winter sea
son, nut Its changes are very perceptibe on
fair and foul days. One serious drawback Ia
Jacksonville during wet weather is the muddy
streets.
The principal street is Bay, and it is always
a street OF mud after a rain, and there is no
such thing as pedestrians crossing it dry shOd.
None of the other streets are quite so bad
Were It not for the good sidewalks of brick
ana stone On Bay street there would be no
such thing as go as you please, and these walks
are more or less wet and covered with thin
coverings of the black. dirty mud, thrown
there from the street by the wheels of vehicles
and the feet of the steeds drawing them. The
paving OF the streets is a perpleXing question
tnat mas harassed every board of Aldermen
since 1877, and none of them seem capable of
deYlslng ways and means to accomplish this
much needed improvement. The best and
most economical way to do this work has
never yet been agreed upon, but before many
more months pass it will be a matter of mu-
nlclpal politics, and all will not be promises
linen. Vsil ar,l I,
more tangible.
The city extension has not been as much
agltated since the bill was withdrawn at Tai
lahassee last week as it was before The
adherents OF the measure assert their inten-
ton of further efforts to secure los passage by
the Legislature, but in a somewhat modified
form to what 1t was at first. Some kind of a
compromise has been agreed uDOn by q part
of the two factions, bat there is vet stern
ana stubborn opposition to annexation mani
tested by many of the best citizens of the city
ana suburban toYns, and just so long
as these object to the movement they
is what the Legislature is calling for
on this subject, and from the number of
attorneys and other interested parties that
visit the capital the members should be amply
supplied with all desired information. x
prominent member of the Assembly was in
the city Wednesday, and he did make diligent
inquiry as to what the better portion Of the
community really wanted. He said both sides
had drawn pretty picture, but the ground
work was too darkly shaded when seen closely
in political point of view. In plain language,
it is black, negro majority from five to
seven hundred thrust upon this city overbal-
ances with many all arguments in favor
of annexation. Pensacola and Fernandina
are now writhing under such mismanagement
as would surely be placed over this fair and
progressive city. With an ignorant and ire
sponslble city government Jacksonville would
march backward instead of forward. There
has been enough of this kind of government in
the South, and every white man should take
warning of the future from the past. A num-
Der contend that they can control the colOred
voter, but experience does not substantiate
this assertion. If these colored voters could
be controlled there would not be such dele
CATION in the Legislature as now represents
DuYal, the largest tax paying county in the
State. Nearly twenty years have elapsed since
the enfranchlsement Of the negroes, and not a
Democrat has ever been elected to the Legisla-
ture during all this time. Where is the
controlling influence which is so powerful in
city elections and not in State elections? These
black irresponsible, men who pay no taxes,
actually dictate to the property holders of this
populous county who shall represent them in
the Legislature, and their wisdom generally
DICTATES three or four of their own race and
one or two white Republicans, Out of the
four members from Duval to-day in the Legis-
lature j. G. Greeley is the only one capable of
filling the station, and he is easily whipped
into party measures. This teaches many that
it will not do to trust to controlling tile col
ored vote" after annexation.
Amusements here have been numerous the
past week, and all we'll patrenized in numbers.
One, Leayltts New York Opera Company, had
good houses, but not much pay, as it collapsed
last Wednesday, leaving large number of un-
paid bills as mementOes. 1t existed about two
weeks after opening here Morton's Big Four
Minstrel Troupe had crowded houses at each
of its entertainments, and gave general salts
faction. From Jacksonville they went to St
Augustine and Palatka, and this week, on
their return from up the river, they will give
QTlap in SI~ l.
and then visit Fernandina. Miss Katie Put
nam occupied Metropolitan Hall Friday and
Saturday evening, and completely captivated
her patrons on both evenings, Her trOuDe WAS
the favorite with the people here of all that
have performed this season. Only one skating
rink Is open now, one having closed, and the
two companies consolidated. This rink has
large patronage from old and young Besides
the above, there has been several minor affairs
in the amusement line ON the boards the past
week. The patronage has been much better
this winter here to theatres and other exhibit
tiOns than ever before. The reason given for
it is that the people have more money to spare.
and better class of troupes than formerly
visit the city.
The news of the defeat of the constitutional
convention bill by what is termed the
''short cut" method by the Legis-
lature was not unexpected. Many intelligent
citizens have changed their ideas as TO this
mode OF calling convention since the Legis-
lature convened, as the outlook for its ratifi-
cation was not good. The Republicans. of
course, were all opposed to a change of the
organic law, or at least by the ''short cut"
not believe 1t the proper course to pursue. and
would have opposed its ratification. With
these two dissatisfied elements combined. its
defeat was almost certain.
Seth Green and Robert Roosevelt of New
York, were in the city the first of last week.
They came IN their own little yacht. Both of
the gentlemen are members of the National
Fish Commission, and no man in this country
n GrrTET flTTC C1Vrf{N fnl,
and care than Mr. Green. He is held as
authority in New York on all matters per
tanning to fish. These gentlemen are here
partly ON pleasure and partly on business,
and will go up the river as far as Enterprise.
RumOr is that they are searching out good
orange groves as well as fish, These scientific
gentlemen say they wish TO give the Florida
fish some study and examine the different
species and classify them.
Colonel Linderman, one of the neorporators
OF the new foreign steamship line, Il In the
city waiting the action Of the Legislature.
lie says TINS line is no wild cat concern, but
charter is granted by the Legislature.
Since the change in the management of tho
Florida Southern Railway road few
has been drawn to it, Sherman Sowariy laerry
ESQ, the manager, says the line Is
now being surveyed from NewnansyjIle 70
Lake City; and it is the intention of the COM
places al ge9n as practicable. Ths road ofTerS
an annual pass to actual settlers on the lands
along the line, and 1t is stated that land own
ers VIII also give land to the right kind of
settlers. The road is in fine condition. runnino
two passenger trains daily. 1t penetrates 4
magnificent orange producing section,
The people in Suwannee river section are
much pleased with theiN prospects, Tor trans
pOrtation, and new Life seems 10 have been in
fused into that whole river country since the
Of the railroad from live Gstl 10
The river and the arrival Of the steamer Caddo
Belle, which is to run in connection with the
road. Strangers are focking into this section
and new farms are being opened up and new
hotels and dwellings erected, Investments he
ing made lp lands ON this and the Santa Fe
river ny lqmhermen and turpentine dis tillers.
Inc Louisiana sugar planters have been
prospecting for localities in the ST. LOhn's
river country, and are favorablv Impressed
with the lands in Marion, Sumter and Put
man, station on the Florida Southern Rail
way, their headquarters. Lands in that sec
tlon VIII he converted into sugar plantations,
a number Of Western men have visited this
port9n Af the state since the 1st inst. in search
If homes and lands for themselves and Others
VINO wish to come to occupy them In nearly
Every instance these advance agents return
Win favorable reports. Their descriptions of
orange groves are encouraging to those who
Ike themselves, know so httle about them
,he care of making. etc -"
Ihe groves from IiAtatka south. saws a gem
leman~ was the grandest picture he ever be-
leld. One grove at Seville, ne SAYS, was begun
I've years ago, and this season 10000 fine
oranges were gathered from it. Others were
continually coming into bearing, while the
1roprietors were at the same time making
heir own bread and meat. These stranger
III say Florlta is the easiest country to make
living in they ever saw" HOne farmer laid
me Of these home hunters, Gexniained to me
low he made his little piece OF land produce SO
9uch. Between the rows of sugar cane he
llanted, last season, vegetables from tie sale
# which he realized $lo0, and ss1i00 from the
ugar and syrgp,'n = S"OO i0HA VIZ
lit dne iAstienltsral College subject is being
lr0sSo" % the front again alter lying dormant