Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-01
TALLAHASSEE.


Gen. GOrdOn's Gigantic Enterprise-
PROBABILITIES of its CompIetion-Its
solid FOundatiOn-Names of the In
cOrPOratOrs-RaiIrOa and Telegraph
Lines-State Aid.
TALLAHASSEE, Jan. SO.-The bill known as
Gen. Gordon's bill, and entitled SAN act to be
entitled an act TO incorporate the Interna-
tlOnal Railroad and Steamboat Company Of
Florida" contains the following features As
the contemplated road will have its initial
point in Georgia, and is intended to traverse
the entire Peninsula of Florida, sketch Of its
provisions cannot fail to be of interest to your
readers in both States.
General GOrdOn's high character, his execu-
tive ability, and his admitted mental qualif-
cations, all combine to commend the enter
prise to public confidence, and give assurance
that the scheme Will not only be commenced,
but carried to completion. The great lmpOr-
tance, also. of Kew West as a station for sun
plies, and its proximity to the West Indies and
South America, would seem to indicate the
necessity of such an undertaking.
The first section of the bill, after reciting
the names Of the incOrpOratOrs-Gen. John
p GOrdOn, OF Georgia; Jonathan {. Greeley.
John NJ. Bryan, John L. Lesley and William
Bethel, Of Florida: Hugh j. Jewett of New
York; William ID. Watson, of England; Ma
thaniel Green, Of England; Edward Warren,
OF France; Hugh 4. HARRISON. of Alabama:
Robert W, Hunter, of Virginia, and James
NJ. Pace, GeOrgia-cOnstitutes them and their
successors a body corporate under the title
above given, to construct and operate a rail
ROAD from a point on the line of Georgia to
Tampa and Key West. 1t also cOnfers on
them all the rights and privileges usually en-
JOyed by ssCh associations
The capital stock is not to exceed the sum of
SlS,OOO,OOO, to be divided in shares of 500 each,
each share TO be entitled to one vote.
\ board Of directors is to be elected al the
nrst meeting OF the stockholders, not less than
five nor more than thirteen, to hold Office for
one year, and until their successors are
chosen.
The directors are to elect President, make
all necessary bylaws for the government and
control OF the board and company. and ap-
point and employ such officers, agents and
servants as may be necessary.
The company is empowered to survey, To-
cate, construct, build, equip and operate
railroad and telegraph line between the points
above named, and also to lay submarine tele-
graph lines to any foreign ports. to accept,
purchase and hold any property real or per-
sOnal, to borrow money, issue bonds and to
erect all buildings and operate such machin-
cry are required
They are privileged also To purchase. lease
or consolidate with other railroad companies,
and TO acquire other railroad franchises and
property.
Whenever question arises as to the right
OF way or terminal facilities il is to be settled
IN the usual manner provided in such cases,
by the verdict Of a jury, who shall determine
the value of the property at issue and the
amount of damages.
Land or other property can be received in
part payment Of subscriptions TO the caDitaI
stock at such value as may be agreed uDOn bv
the rules and regulations of the company.
By way OF aiding the work, Florida is asked
70 grant alternate sections of the Internal
Improvement lands, within six miles of each
side OF the road and its extensions. Provided
that the company complies with the prOvis-
ions OF the Internal Improvement act and is
not required to use iron rails weighing more
than fifty pounds to the lineal yard.
When ten miles of the road are graded
cross-tIed and lrOned, titles shall be issued
ana deeds made for the alternate sections for
that distance.
As soon as the survey of the selected route
Is filed with the Internal Improvement Fund,
a survey of any twenty miles thereof
the trustees shall withdraw from sale the odd
or even numbered sections for such distance,
which shall again be offered for sale if the en-
tire route Is Is not surveyed and filed within
twenty months after the passage of this act.
The company Is also granted the privilege of
holding, owning and hiring such vessels pro-
PEELED either by sails steam, as may be
requisite to connect with said railroad for the
purpose of conveying mails, freight or passen-
gers.
SEC. y. In consideration Of the benefits
that will accrue to the State by the cOmDle-
ton Of It's original system Of internal improve
ments, and the connection by railroad OF the
entire southern portion of the State, including
the ports OF Tampa and Key West, with their
geographical and commercial Importance,
with the other sections of the State and the
United states, and in consideration of the ma
terial developments which would ensue from
the construction of such road, and the large
amount of traffic and travel through the entire
length of the state to and from the West
Indies, Mexico, and Central and South Ameri-
ca, the State Of Florida hereby grants to said
company $1,000 acres per mile for each
mile that said company may grade. cross tie
and iron, of the lands granted to the State of
Florida by the aforesaid act of September 2Sth.
y. ID. 1880. said lands to be those which NAV
be nearest the line of said railroad and its eX-
tensions. And it is further enacted that all
Ofthe lands granted as aforesaid, lying south of
the twenty-seventh parallel of north latitude
are hereby withdrawn from sale for applica-
tlOn under the provisions of this act, including
as well those now decided under said act as
those to be hereafter patented.
No rights shall vest under this act unless
the road Is commenced within one year and
be continued with reasonable progress, and
no right shall be derived on account of anv
part constructed after seven years from the
passage of this act.
The road stipulates not to charge passen-
gers more than five cents per mile, and any
officer or agent charging more can be pun
ished by fine not exceeding one hundred nor
less than twenty dollars.
The act is declared public act.
The distance from the Georgia line to Kew
West Is said to be in the vicinity of four hun
dred miles. The construction of this road
would bring Key West within thirty hours of
New York, and make the Florida terminus a
great commercial emporium. \ fast line of
steamers would land passengers in Havana in
six hours from KEY West. That city would
become a vast cOaling station, and port for
the discharge Of cargOes bound North and
South. and would necessarily involve the ne
cessity of the establishment Of first class navy
yard. The possibilities and probabilities that
attend the completion of the proposed enter
prise are immense and widespread.
1t is limited here that Gen. Gordon will be
likely to receive government aid in the public
lands belonging to the United States along the
line of his contemplated road.
Most of the land lying south of the twenty
seventh parallel are on the other side of Lake
OkeechObee, and are cOmprehended in the
Everglade region.
The bills establishing a Bureau of Agricul-
ture and Commissioner OF immigration, and
that providing for changing the seat of gov
ernment from Tallahassee to Gainesville,
passed the Senate this morning.
Both houses have held afternoon sessions
and have accomplished considerable business.
W. ii. B.