The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-09-18
RAILROADS.

present rate OF five mills"
RAILROADS
In what way does the State encourage the
hlidny OF railroads ~
RtllIOai construction is encouraged by grants
Hom the Internal Improvement Fund, men
toned previously. In some cases lands have
been granted 10 the extent OF 10000 acres for
each mile O! read built. Such grant was made
To the Pensacola and Atlantic road other roads
have received $500 acres per mile in alternate
SECTIONS.
What lines are now under construction ?"
Since | have been in office TWO and halt
wears, the Fernandina and Jacksonville and the
East Florida, from Waycross to jacksonville,
have been completed.
There has been commenced and completed
-iucc 'haf Time the Pensacola and Atlantic, 16l
miles in length from Pensacola to Chattah0ochce,
Oh the Apalachicola river, connecting with the
} ,cks"uyile, Pensacola and Mobile
The Florida Southern has built about 100
miles {" lis line and construction is being pushed
lapldiy. lhls line WAS projected to run from
Lake City to Charlotte lIarbor, via Gainesville
and Tampa, with branch nom Gainesville To
PAl.'ka.
The South Florida has been pushed from
Orlando bD kissmncc, and by January /, 1884
will he completed to Tampa.
he Jacksonville, ST. Augustine and Halifax
has been constructed from jacksonville TO ST.
Augustine.
The jacksonville Tampa and Key West road
i traded from Jacks onvilc to Palatka, and will,
10 two months, be properly equipped and have
trains passing over il.
The ltoWland's Bluff Railroad, having been
built from Live Oak to New Brantord on the
SuNanncr, is being pushed rapidly south via
NcWnansvIllc
The ST. Johns and Halifax has 10 or II miles
al the track ilnncd, and the work Of cOnsruc-
In, he \ h. for
ward
a railroad has been built from Sanford, on
Lake Monroe, 10 Lake Jessup, i'll Orange county
as Il branch OF the South Florida.
The ST. Johns and Lake Eusts road, com
mencing at Aston, on the ST. Johns river, has
been constructed to Fort Mason and through
Eusls 10 IavaIcs
There is also being built a road from Tava
res 10 Orlando, where it is to connect with the
Sonth Florida road. After reaching Orlando it
VIII probably be continued to an Atlantic port.
"A branch of the Florida Transit is being
graded and tied far as Leeshurg, Sumter
county, and is expected To be pushed to Tayares
he Green Cove and Merose road has six or
seven miles ironcd the entire line located and
hope, Will soon be pushed to completion
"'Ihc Jacksonville and Atlantic, from Jackson
vile 10 the ocean, near the mouth OF the St
johns river has been located, and the entire CAP
iiai stock subscribed
The International Railroad and Steamship
Company are building from Tampa to connect
with He Transit system at or near Sumterville.
ana has Il considerable portion of the line already
graded. From Sumtcrvillc ii will probably
strike III Il northeastery line through the State
as they have already done considerable grading
between Palatka and Jacksonville
he brownsville, Tallahassee and Cult road
has been located and work commenced This
road when completed, will give Tallahassee
Townsville and the surrounding country an
other connection to deep water on the Cult.
"Ihc Palaka and Indian River road has had
a considerable amount of the line graded as has
also The Seville and Halifax
In mentioning the roads built and in course
of construction have omitted those completed
tctorc came into office. Florida has built more
roads III HE last two years than She has ever be-
tore i'll her entire history. One OF the chief rca-
SONS tor This great progress in railroad building
was, as | mentioned before, the practical relief
OF The Internal improvement Fund bv the Diss-
ton sale"
"Whai has been The effect of the roads on the
development of the STATE"
"Thcy have had wonderful effect in increas-
ing The population OF the State and in develop
ing our large landed domain. They have added
immcNcly to the value OF our lands bv atJ1rdiny
transportation for their products. The scacoast
and many inland towns owe their increase in
wealth aud population to great extent to the
railroads.
fruit growing portion of Florida Will need IA large
aln"uml OF transportation. Take, for instance,
oranges. Ii is estimated on good authority that
an acre III lull bearing will produce POO 900 or
""gc> which, boxed, will weigh 100000 pounds,
or three carloads Of $4,000 pounds each Cot
ton will not average in the United States over ii
bale 10 three acres, and n single car will carry off
90 bales compressed, or the production OF 1870
acres SO acre OF full hearing oranges will
require three times the cars TO transport them
that $50 acres OF cotton will. Astonishing as it
may seem, the conclusion seems inevitable that
l20OOO acres III oranges in good bearing will re-
qurc more cars TO move them than to move
5000 900 bales Of cotton, the production of 49,
OO0,0OO acres. The roads are assisting emigra-
tion 10y advertising their lands in the State and
giving rates ol transportation.
" Ihc State limits the charges for passengers to
llvc ccnis per mle-the usual rate charged is
about three cents The charges on freights are
limited by law There are no State Commits
si"ners To supervise the railroads"