Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-25
TALLAHASSEE.

Oordon-M1ss willard and Her Address
Southern VS.. Northern Printers-An-
other Link Between Georgia and FIori-
da-The Barge Canal-LOok Out for
POsterity-AssemblyS Substitute for the
Senate Convention Bill.
TALLAHASSEE, Jan. 23.-Yesterday's trains
brought back those who had availed them
selves OF the recess on Saturday to visit their
homes, and the members buckled down with
vigor to their labors. In the Senate the large
number OF eighteen bills were passed. while
numerous others were referred and ordered
to be engrossed. 1t was heavy days busi-
ness, and' as the lawyers would say, ''the
dOckets were cleared"
That noble gentleman and gallant soldier.
Gen. Gordon, of your State, visited the Senate
in the morning and was rendered the priv
ileges of the chamber. This mpliment was
gracefully paid him by a Republican. 1t is
said that he has not fully accomplished the
business that brought him here, and it is
probable that we may see him again before the
close of the session.
In the afternoon, almost the entire Legisla-
ture, and large number of citizens invaded
the Assembly Hall, to hear an address upon
the subject of temperance by Miss Willard.
The lady advocate made a strong argumen-
tative appeal, and that too without address
ing Eerself directly to the sympathies of the
touches OF pathos that told powerfully upon
her hearers, and | could see here and there
strong, bearded men, who used their hand
kercciets freely and who did not appear to be
suffering from severe colds either. The speaker
possesses fine voice, las an amiable cOunte-
nance and an exceedingly copious command
OF language, and enlisted from the begin
ming to the end of her address the closest at
tention and complete respect of an intelligent
and cultivated audience. A hearty and gem
eral manifestation of applause greeted her at
the conclusion OF her remarks, and 1 am sat
lshed that her effort produced a strong i'm
preston, and Will be attended by happy re-
suits. She was introduced by Governor Blox-
ham In his usual pleasant and courteous man
ner.
AS the MORNING NEWS made a bid for the
printing and binding of McClellan's ID igest,
and as there were several other competitors,
u may not be out of place to mention some of
them, especially as it will serve the purpose
OF showing, contrary to the general impress
sion prevailing on the subject, that Southern
publishing houses are able to do this class of
work even more cheaply than those in North
ern cities, with all their bOasted facilities.
The bid OF Little, Brown Il Co., of Boston,
for 5000 copies of the work, without side and
foot notes, was 5,656.
That of Rand, McNaIly & Co., of Chicago,
was 1850, with accompanying notes.
The MORNING NEWS bid was $5,6O5, while
that of Captain Dyke. of the Tallahassee
FIorididn, who obtained the contract, was
$4,950.
There has lately. been introduced a bill.
welfare
both of your State and Florida, deserves spe-
cial notice. 1t is intended to open a steam
boat and barge canal from a point on the Gulf
coast OF this State through the celebrated Oke-
hnOkee swamp, to the head waters of the St.
Mary's river. General Gilmore estimates the
cost of the work at $l0,000,0D0, and SURVEYS
snow that the summit level Of the contem-
. plated canal is ll7 feet above tide water In the
st. Mary's. The vast and mysterious swamp
whose surplus waters empty both into the
Gulf and Atlantic. contains nearly million
acres OF land, much of which is said to be of
wonderful fertility, about fourth of which is
embraced in Florida.
The projected enterprise, when comnleted
would reclaim this vast area the value of
which would almost meet the cost of construc-
tlon, besides making magnificent highway
for commerce and cheap outlet for the pro-
ducts OF the immense Mississippi valley. There
is natural land-lOcked passage WaV between
the Gulf terminus of the canal, along the line
of coast to the mouth of the Father Of Waters
ana the immense products of the great region
lying along ITS banks would, by means of this
canal, find quick, safe and easy TRANSFORMATION
to the Atlantic at very reasonable expense.
The visible benefits of such a work are enor-
nous and need not be re0aptulated
There need not be any conflict whatever
with this enterprise and that of the ship canal
projected across the peninsula. The first is
Designed more especially for domestic pur=
poses, and would scarcely be used except by
vessels carrying our national flag, while the
other is designed for the commerce. of the
world, and would be used by ships of the heav-
needed, and both will tend to an unprece-
dented degree to develop our country, add to
her resources, and promote her prosperity
Generals Joseph K. Johnston and Lafayette
McLaws, Joseph Shepard, of Georgia. and
others, are the inc0rpOratOrs of that portion
Of the canal lying in Georgia, while ex Gov.
GeoTSe r. prev, ten. j. j. Finley and Major
George X. Fairbanks will represent the Florida
portion.
Two existing evils are sought to be remedied
IN the bills prepared by Senator Leslie of
fhn nCrrNx orOfa,
TO prohlblt the catching of food fishes to be
used in the manufacture Of artificial fertil-
lzers. There are always to be found those
whose cupidlty induces them to kill s.the goose
that lays the golden eggs" and it is to be
feared that such avarici0us persons exist In
Florida. The selfishness of those who say.
After us the deluge," should be summariiy
checked, and they should be made to learn
that the gifts of Providence are not alone for
the present generation.
The Assembly substitute for Senate bill No
10, that passed that body, known as the ''short
cut way to calling constitutional conven-
ton, and which has been made thu special
order for ii a. m. Tomorrow, is quite brief
and contains the following features: The
election is to be held on the first Tuesday in
April of this year, and will be governed blythe
election laws now in force. Each county will
be entitled to as many, delegates as she has
permitted to designate in addition ten dele
gates for the State large. The qualifications
OF the delegates shall be the SAME as those of
vention, If called, shall meet in the Assembly
Hall at II m. on the first Tuesday in July,
when the Secretary Of State shall call the roll
and the convention will organize and adopt
rules for its government. Twenty five thou
SAND dollars are appropriated to carry into
effect the purposes of this act.
1t is still asserted and generally believed
that the bill, even in its altered shape, will
fail to receive a majority in the Assembly.
The bill creating a RnreaU of Agriculture
and Commissioner of Immigration was taken
"qp this morning, and gave rise to considerable
discussion: Much opposition was manifested
and several amendments were offered. The
bill was FeeOmmitted.
The ship canal bill, on its second reading.
came from the committee with a load Of
amendments, and gave rise to a spirited de-
bate, in which some heat was manifested 1t
was deferred until next Tuesday. The fate
OF both these bills is regarded as doubtful.
Gen. Gordon's visit is said to have been in
the interest OF what is known as 'sThe Great
Southern Railway" AS originally mQjeSted
this line was to commence at Million, In Geor-
gia, and to pass Through the peninsula of
Florida, with its southern terminus at Kew
West. t'i- '" s'f e.
The bill for direct line of steamers from
European ports to Fernandina and Jackson
vile raised little breeze in the Assembly. A
colored member from Nassau contended that
Fern9ndina should be made the terminus on
this side. w H b.