Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-08
THE DIssToN LAND SALE.
Sir Edward Reeds Interest i'm Other
Hands.
c0TTeaDOndeHce Of The Mornin0 Ne,cs.

Hands.
CoTresD0ndence Of the Morning Neacs.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Nov. 5.-Much svm
pathy has been expressed by our citizens for
the calamity that has befallen your commu
nlty' 50 large proportion of the people of
TINS state are natives of Georgia that auy-
thing CONNECTED with that commonwealth is
matter Of general interest and is widely
discussed. The commercial relations existing
between this State and Savannah are so vast
and important that very strong bond of
union and confidence, the growth of MANY
years, has been firmly established, connecting
them in strong ties of mutual esteem and
friendship. Hence the great fire that has
destroyed so large portion of your fair city,
and rendered so many homeless, is greatly
deplored. If call is made for the relief of
those left destitute by the recent disaster.
| doubt not that generous response will be
made by Florida.
The reported sales of the DIsston and Sir
| Edward Reed lands may be accepted as being
| based on better foundation than mere ru-
NOR. 1t will be remembered that the latt ter
| gentleman purchased of the Disston company
| some time since 100000 of acres at 90 cents
per acre, Mr.. Disston reserving the most val
| liable portions of his original purchase 1t is
| now stated on satisfactory authOritv that Sir
| Edward Reed has disposed of this Interest to
| wealthy English corporation, some of the
| directors of which, in company with a nOble-
man OF high rank, are now on their way to
| Florida. IL Is presumed that one of the pur-
! poses of their visit is to survey the property
and determine upon its adaptability to Eu-
| ropean colonization.
OF THE TWO MILLION ACRES
| retained by the DisStOn Company about 900
| 600 have been sold and reserved, leaving
100000, which, it is said, have also been sold
to English capitalists at 81 25 per acre. This
| showing viii leave handsome balance on the
| right side of the ledger for Mr. Disston and
| his associates. Mr.. DIsstOn, who is very
| largely interested in the Okeechobee Drain
! age Company, Will now be able to devote
| more OF his attention to the reclamation of
the immense area now covered by Lake Okee-
| chobee and the Everglades, embracing the
| enormous eXpanse of 100000 of acres. By
| the terms of his contract with the State he
VIII be entitled to One-half of the lands when
| redeemed by drainage. Already a large pOr-
tion are ready for the powshare
| The two sales above mentioned have aug
| mented the present interest felt in Florida
| lands, and will inspire additional confidence
| in their value and desirability. These pur-
| chases will probably be followed by active
measures on the part of the owners to settle
these lands as speedily as possible, and to
render their investments profitable. This
| may bring in its train the establishment of
an early line of steamers direct for this State.
| the great advantages of which it is needless
| to enumerate. The transactions must be con-
| sdered as pregnant with great prospective
| a. A COLONY
| of the hardy sons of Great Britain would be
| valuable acquisition to our population, and
| would receive cordial welcome The State
| appears destined to be filled by English
| speaking inhabitants, those speaking other
| tongues being very few in numbers.
MR.. CHENEY, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
| for this district, and Chairman of the Repub-
| ican Executive Committee for this State has
| recently published a significant letter. Mr..
| Cheney is an acute and skIllful politician and
| thoroughly understands the tone and temper
of his party in Florida. The epistle may be
| taken as an exposition of the position occu-
| pied by the Republicans to the Independents,
| and the latter nondescrlpts are welcome to
| any comfort they can derive from iii pages.
1t is an unexpected dash of cold water that
4 will reduce to zero the hopes of the newly
fedged patriots. Mr.. Cheney tells them very
neatly, but very bluntly, that he
does. not propose to assist in fur
| these aspirants to power, and that he is
| not anxious to serve as a tail to the soaring
| kite of the Independents. He is opposed by
| the Democrats ON principle, and can see no
| possible good to accrue to his party by plac-
| ing any faction of his political enemies in
| power. When they fraternize with the Re-
| publicans in name as well as in principle, and
| give assurances of good faith and fealty, the
| fond aspirations of some of the more deserv-
| ing recruits may be deemed worthy of recog-
milton. Until that time he will paddle his own
canoe, and will not be chained down to the
benehes of the Independent galleys.
The Republicans fully understand the dan
ger in permitting their negro cohorts to be-
come mystifed on the subject of politics.
| They can be kept in hand and under control
! when voting for gtraight-oHt anu aVawed
| Republican, but if instructed to vote for an
| Independent Democrat, the camp will be
| thrown in cOmmOtiOn. Discipline would be
| lost and Generalization would ensue.
| Breaches would take place in the ranks that
might prove lrretrievable. In the negro's
| opinion, if he can be induced to vote an indie
| pendent ticket, it would be but step further
to support that of the Bourbon Democrats,
THE FLORIDA SOUTHERN
have completed their road as far south as
Lake Weir, and grading has been completed
to Leesburg. A fine hotel is under contract
at Lake Weir. which is a most attractive
locality, the waters being beautifully clear,
and the banks slOping gradually up into bold
| bluffs, the most OF which are crowned by
handsome residences embOWered in thrifty
orange groves. The company contemplate
| the erection of spacious pavilion at this
| charming spot for picnic purposes. The road
| bed is said to be a remarkably fine piece of
work, all of the crOss-ties having their ends
sawed, and being laid with the utmost regu-
larty. The chief engineer, Mr.. W. p.
COuper, is from your State-Brunswick, |
think-and is winning splendid reputation
for skill and efficiency.
On the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
Road track has been laid across the bridge
and trestle over McGirtis creek,six miles from
this city. This has proved an impediment,
costing much time and labor, and now that
it has been removed the work will progress
WltHOub IuTlncT u6ldy3 anu Will NO COHlQleLeu
to Palatka, 1t is now believed, by January.
There seems to be no deficiency OF materials
for the construction of this enterprise, as
cargOes OF bolts, spikes, fish plates and steel
rails are constantly arriving.
THE COLD WAVE THAT STRUCK Us
last Friday was quite unexpected, and gave
rise to a brisk demand for fuel and winter
clothing. 1t was followed on the ensuing day
by light frost, not sufficiently severe to affect
vegetation. 1t was hailed with great pleas
ure, as it conveyed the promise of an early
termination of the dengue fever, which is
still prevailing.
Quite a number of bold and successful bur
glaries were committed in rapid succession
last week that induced considerable uneasi-
ness, many hOusekeepeFs rubbing up their
rusty and trusty reVolveFs and placing them
In convenient reach when retiring to
their slumbers. The arrest of a noted
rascal and eX-convict, day or to after these
robberies, was followed by his Identification
by one OF the victims, and the recovery of q
large amount of the missing property. 1t is
hoped that the rogue, who is, almost as a
matter OF course, negro, will do the State
ten years service In the convict camps.
The action taken by the United States Su-
preme Court in reference to the civil rights
question did not produce the slightest ripple
of excitement in our midst. The matter has
been very little discussed even by those
mouthy negro politicians who are always
ready for an occasion to make personal capital
by discharging cargo of bombastic nonsense.
White and blacks go about their business as
usual, and there is not the slightest disposition
to indulge in jeers at the expense of The freed
men, or to abridge their privileges. The de-
eision was not even three days wonder.
1T APPEARS TO NE THAT THE INVENTION
of the South Carolina "cottOn plcker,' should
it prove a success, will affect the descendants
of Ham far more seriously than the opinion
of the above tribunal. IL a single machine.
operated by a. man and horse, will do the
work of ten ordinary hands in harvesting our
great staple. then much of the occupation Of
the negro field laborers VIII be seriously
jeOpardiZed, and the white man can assume
a more independent attitude. 1t must
certainly work great revolution in diminish
ing the cost of marketing the crop, and will
prove an lnestimable boon to the planters.
Mr.. VIM. AstOr, one of the great capitalists
Of New York, is here On visit. Mr.. Astor
has always manifested great interest in this
state, and has invested largely in different
portions of Florida. He is gratefully re-
membered for frequent acts of Kindness.
w, IL, B.
Brunswick Items.