Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-10
FL0RIDA'S BARGE CANAL,
ITS SALE TO AN ENGLISH SYN.
DICATE RUMORER.


Railroad Enterprisel in the State
JacksOnville's Limits to be Extend
ed-DuvaPs Map.
Correspondence Of tie No,.1jng Ve,es.
JACKSONVILLE, Oct. S.-A rumOr. based
on good authority, prevails that the char
ter granted to the Atlantic and Mexican
Gun Canal Company, by the last Florida
Legislature, has been sold to an English
syndicate. This is an enterprise in which
georgia and Florida are jointly interested.
as the proposed line will pass through a
portion of both States. Gen. Joseph f.
Johnston, Gen. Lafayette McLaws, Joseph
shepard and others were Incorporated as
a company for this purpose by the Geor-
gia Legislature of 1876. Our Legislature
/ granted authority to eX-Gov. George F.
/ Drew, Gen. j. j. Finley, George r. Fair
banks, of this State, and James ;. Bailey.
OF yours, to extend the work from the
| Georgia line to the Gulf of Mexico. The
conditions required that the line of said
canal be selected and marked within one
| year after the passage of the act, that ten
miles are finished within two years there
| after, and that the work be completed
ten years thereafter. This canal is known
as the Barge Canal" as contradis-
tinguished from the ''FlOrida Ship Canal
an entirely different enterprise.
The cost of this work has been estimated
! by General Gilmore at S. ,000, 900, and the
/ formation of the country through which
/ 1t would pass would indicate the entire
| feasibility of its construction. The barge
! system, now in general use upon the
mississippi and great Northern lakes, has
almost revolutiOnized the carriage of
heavy treights on those waters, and has
vastly diminished the expense. With the
! prospective enormous increase of our
orange ana vegetable crops, it must soon
| come into general favor on the St. Johns
single powerful propeller, towing a
meet OF barges, could transport an aston
lshlng amount of such products on our
noble river, cheaply, safely and eXpedi-
! tiOusly. By such a thOrOughfare the corn.
wheat, flour, bacon and other staples of
the great West could reach their markets
ON the Atlantic in the NEST economical
! manner.
ANOTHER AND VERY GREAT ADVANTAGE
! of such a canal would be the effectual
drainage OF that valuable area of lands
! embraced in the OkeefnOkee swamp.
lying on the borders of Georgia and
Florida. These lands, when reclaimed,
would soon be occupied and converted
! into productive farms, thus increasing
greatly the population and resources Of
both States.
If the rumor be true that British gold is
to be invested in this great enterprise. we
may reasonably expect that the work
Will be commenced at no very distant
period. There should be no rivalry what
ever between the Barge and "ShiD"
canals. They will both, if constructed
be OF great benefit to this State, involving
| as they necessarily must, the eXpendi-
ture of large sums Of money, the employ
ment Of numbers of laborers, and render
! ing the State one of the great thorough
fares OF this country for commerce and
travel. Florida will derive an immense
advantage from the construction of either
or both of these grand conceptions. and
! Will hail their commencement with eN-
ceeding qualification.
There are now 800 hands at work on that
portion of Gen. GOrdon's railroad, the In
! ternational, lying between Tampa and
the point where it is expected to intersect
| tne transit system, Il few miles south of
! Wildwood. l hear that the work is being
! prosecuted vigorously, that an additional
! force VIII soon be employed and that
! neither means nor material will be lack
| ing TO carry the enterprise to completion.
If stranger picks up map of this
state, wing the railroads completed.
those in process of construction. and
1 those projected, he will be very ant to
wonder if they will ever obtain sufficient
| business to meet their current expenses.
The map presents the appearance of a
| grldlrOn, or checker-bOard the yariOus
/ lines crossing and recrOsSing each other
! in every direction. When the peculiar
| character of our products are taken into
! consideration, however. and the great
! amount OF transportation that they III
] will hn
roads will find employment. 1t is mat
ter of surprise. even to those engaged in
the business, to see hoW RAPIDLY the
/ frelghts increase, and Just to that extent
it is an indication of our growth both
in wealth and population. The railroads
ana steamboats, have as much to do as
they can attend to, and a constant stream
OF travel is pouring in. A very lively
! winter season is promised and a brisk
! demand is anticipated both tor improved
and vacant lands. There are, even at
/ this early period, but few houses for rent.
and applications for accommodations are
frequent. A larger cOncourse of visitors
than usual is expected, and a prosperous
winter will be the result.
SUNDAY WAS THE MOST PLEASANT
| day we have had for a fortnight. The
weather hasi been out Of Joint recently.
the thermometer having reached 30 de-
| grees ana upwards for number of DAYS
| cOnSecutIVely. The oldest Stagers nautpd
and grOaned and grumbled, and vowed
That In all their experience thev had
! never seen such weather in October. The
! general health eff the community is excel
| lent, although a few cases of dengue
fever have made their appearance. Those
VINO experienced an attack of the E'brOken
bone' last summer, have no desire what
ever to have another encounter with the
same disease.
There will be a fair attendance from
this State at Louisville on E'Florida Day.
| Several members of the State Press will
DE present. Some of the Commissioners
are now here for the purpose of adding to
the collection. | can only add to what |
have already said on the subject. that 1t
is an exhibition in which this State is vi
tally interested, and that it is the duty of
each and all of her children to do some
thing to promote its success.
hey west and the islands in its vicinity
| Will soon be objects of great beauty. over
half million of cOcOanuts have been
| planted upon them within the past five
years, and their shores will speedily be
| ornamented by long lines of this most
| graceful palm. 1t grows rapidly, and the
nuts are in great demand. Millions
! should be raised in South Florida.
A committee was appointed at a recent
meeting of the City Council to confer
| with the citizens of the surrounding
suburbs with the view of increasing the
| limits of Jacksonville. The annexation
of the suburbs was attempted during the
| last session of the Legislature. but did not
become a law. There was serious ODpOsi-
tiOn at that time to the project, both from
the city and the suburbs. There has been
some change in sentiment since, OCCASION
! ed by the smallpox excitement last
| spring, but there will not be much more
| discussion until just previous to the meet
| ing of the next Legislature.
VERY UNUSUAL AND REMARKABLY
! beautiful sight was visible in the western
heavens this evening for nearly an hour
after sunset. A rich rOseate color.
varying from crimson to a light pink,
| perVaded that quarter of the horizon.
and stretched almost up to the zenith.
! The waters of the river reflected the bril-
| liant glow and resembled a sea of fire.
This strange phenomenon excited general
attention, and had it happened in the
| North, would at once have been declared
an exhibition of the Aurora BOrealis. As
| 1t Is, must leave the explanation to some
| scientist. The moon was shining brightly
| at the time.
The various railroad lines from Florida
TO Louisville are offering round trip tick
cts from this city to the Exposition for
$l5 80, good for seven days. These lib
eral rates Will have the effect of attract
ing many from this State. None should
go empty-handed.
Our street railroads are branching ont
in all directions. They extend now TO
East Jacksonville, BROOKLYN. and SDrjno-