Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-14
JACKSONVILLE JOTTINGS.
THE TIDE OF TRAVEL AT IT'S
FLOOD.

FLOOD.
wealth and Distinction Seeking Healtl
The international Railroad Pros
poets of the Indian River Region
schemes for ImproVements-The City,
GrOwth-Strawberry Shipments.
| JACKSONVILLE, Feb. l2.-To see this, tn,
metropolis of Florida, at the very height o.
She gay season, one should be here at this
moment. Every hotel and all of the boarding
houses, whose name is legion, are filed from
the lowest to the highest stories with stran-
/ gers. AT all hours of the day and to a late
hour at night they can be observed, gTip-sacks
In hand, on the search for accommodations
This is the month when the tide from the inte-
rior and up-rIyer counties begins to drift back
IN this direction, to pass few days and make
their purchases of the countless knick- -knacks
known as "Florida curiOsities," in turning
their faces homewards. Here they meet the
throngs that still continue to pour Southwark.
with, rs yet, no diminution in their numbers.
and the city is necessarily taxed to the very
limit OF its resources to house and feed the
daily increasing multitudes To meet and
overcome this emergency requires all the en-
gineering ability of our perspiring Bonfaces.
and in some mysterious manner they contriye
to stow away these anxious and hungry guests.
Every inch of space is utilized, and every nook
and corner harbOrs some person who feels
thankful for obtaining shelter
venture the assertion, without fear of con-
tradietion, that nowhere south of the Potomac
can there be found such collection Of the no.
ted, solid people OF this great republic as can
now be seen in Jacksonville at present. Glance
into any of the hotels and there are groups of
retired bankers, wealthy manufacturers and
merchants, railroad magnates, millionaire
miners, learned lawyers, skilled scientists
and others who have reaped their full share
OF lame ana fortune, and who have come to
tins little city in quest of health or recreation
Among them is an unusual per centage OF ell
derly ana middle aged men. who, having ac-
cumulated a sufficiency of this worlds goods
now seek this balmy climate to escape the vi
clsSltudes of Northern winter, and To enjoy
the results of lives of labor and anxiety. Here
they avoid the piercing winds, the frozen
rivers and lakes, and the snow uncovered fields
OF their homes, and reYel in spring like at
mosphere. Unencumbered by fur coats and
heavy wrappings, they can take their exercise,
sit out on the broad piaZZas and look over the
stock lists, take sail on the river and enjoy
existence in hundred ways denied them in
the zee bound regions from which they came.
This life here is revelation, q new expert
ence, an oasis of comfort and delight to those
who for the greater part of each year hunger
for the springlng grass, the leafy trees, and
sudden conversion of winter into spring, can
be enjoyed within forty eight or seventy-two
hours after leaving home. Is it any wonder
then, that the flow to Florida steadily in
creases from year to year, and that those who
have previously visited our state continue to
return.
Each recurring season also opens fresh IA
cllities for examining those portions of FlOri-
da heretofore almost inaccessible to tourists
One can take the cars at this point now, and
going west for nearly four hundred miles find
himself in Florida's Queen City of the Gulf
Pensacola. SO few hours trip viii land you
in Wildwood or Kissimee. Within three
months the distance between Jacksonville and
st. Augustine will, by the new railroad, now
rapidly approaching completion, be an agree
BILE run of an hour and half--a mere baga-
telle,
Those who come down next winter can di-
verslfy the usual routine by taking run upon
the far famed waters of the Suwannee river.
and there find scenery riyaling that upon the
OclaWaha, or take a steamer at kissimee City
and explore the banks of the mysterious Lake
OkeechObee, thence TO the Gulf of Mexico by
the splendid CaloOsahatchie river.
Florida Is alive with the sounds of progress,
the whirr and rattle OF machinery and the
busy hum Of industry. A new life has been
infused into the veins of long neglected West
Florida. Vigorous and thrifty towns are
springinS into existence all along the route of
the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad and the
good people OF that fine region are responding
heartily to the golden opportunities offered to
their acceptance.
So in the extreme South, q nerfect conf
dence is entertained in the ability of General
Gordon to construct his great trunk line from
the borders of Georgia to Tampa and Key
West. In less than one week after the nd
journment of the Legislature, gangs of Ia
borers nave been placed on that portion Of the
road between Tampa and Ocala, and five hum
dred wOrkmen are needed on the section be-
tween this city and Palatka. South Flori-
da is filled with hope and inspired by the firm
belief that their present difficulties in the
way Of transportation and travel will soon be
relieved by the construction of this impor-
tant enterprise. General Gordon's name is a
magnetic tallsman that carries with it the
judgment to plan, the strong will and pnr-
pose to execute, and the ability to perform
the assurances he has given to carry through
eXpeditiOusly and successfully this gigantic
conception, so fraught with the progress and
prosperity, not only of Florida. but OF the
entire country. For through this great ar
terry are destined to pass the endless. varied
and valuable products OF the tropics. The
mighty valley of the AmazOu, the wonder
full wealth of the Antilles, and the fertile
fields and teeming mines of Mexico will.
through this source. find quick connection
with the worlds markets.
In his advocacy of the passage of the bill for
the charter of the International Railway and
Steamship Company's railroad through the
Florida Legislature, General Gordon used
none of the arts and appliances employed by
lobbyists. Ills high character rs a Christian
gentleman, his irreproachable recort! rs q
statesman, soldier and private citizen, all
to induce the universal belief that he would
effect to the utmost extent the pledges frank
ly and honestly uttered. Scheme and artifice
are foreign to his nature, and this great Lien
tenant Of the immortal Robert f. Lee would
scOrn such means as he would Scorn an insult
TO woman, or blow to q suppliant enemy.
Those who dwell upon the banks of Indian
river are watching with undisgIIised interest
the working of the machinery Of the powerful
dredge now cutting through the distractions
that isolate them from the re naming portions
OF Florida. Within few months at farthest
almost certainly by the coming fall, the peo-
pie as far south as Lake Worth will be able to
reap the rewards of their patience and indus
try, and to send their cocOanuts, pineapples, :
oranges, vegetables, turtles, etc, etc, by n
route swift and certain to a remunerative
market. BY the opening of next season line
of comfortable, light draft steamers will be
taking tourists away down almost to the South
ern extremity of Florida, and introducing
them to fresh experiences. tropical scenery
and untried pleasures. My old friend. Colonel
Coryell, is digging his way through shell beds
and sand banks with his accustomed zeal and
energy, and with heart full OF faith in the
success of his enterprise, and, with an indus
try that knows no tagging, is rapidly nearing
the contamination of his aspirations.
All over the State new enterprises have
been organized in the way of railroads, canals
etc. Some of these will be built, while many
Will never be worth the paper upon which
they were first brought into existence. Still,
they serve TO indicate the general desire
among the people for internal improvements
and the development of the country and are
indiees OF the spirit Of progress.
Jacksonville shows growth in every direc-
tion. Numerous buildings have been erected
since the opening OF the year. and large /
amounts OF money have been invested in and
around the city. The keen eyes of the many |
shrewd business men who annually visit MS |
often see an opportunity to turn an honest I
penny, and the Instances are not rare where |
the entire expenses or visit or several weeks /
duration have been betrayed by a prudent |
in real estate. The dealers in |
that description OF property have done well |
here, as they have all over this portion OF the |
state, and FlOridas list of tax payers con- |
tains, from year to year, the names Of individ- |
lals of eminence and reputation. II Presi- /
dent Arthur pays us his contemplated visit. /
you may be sure that he viii become, before !
ne takes his departure, the proud possessor of /
an orange grove somewhere up the river
Florida offers delightful fetreat fur retired (
politicians, and after the 4thaf March, 1855, |
Mr.. Arthur can here pursue his piseatorial l
pleasures to his hearts content.
The near approach OF our municipal election
3 awakening the interest of the small politi-
lions of either party, and the prospect now is
that we shall have spirited contest. What
IS known as "the Citizens party" will hold
their primary meetings in the several wards
Tonight for the purpose of electing delegates
TO the convention to be held shortly to make
The nominations. Several excellent gentle
men have been proposed as Mayor, aud If a
udicI0us selection Is made Jacksonville viii
continue to be controlled by the better ele-
ments Of society.
Virgins threatened storm created not a
ripple OF excitement here, and none of the
guests at the different hotels expressed anv
tesire to remove temporarily to the upper !
stories. 80.
Thousands of quarts Of straw berries are be-
ing sent on to New York in addition to those