The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-10-16

The St James, kept by my genial host, G. A.
Lamb, has just been repaired repainted and
newly furnished, and is now open for guests. II
Is 4 most excellent hotel, and your correspond
EN- can recommend il. The Leon House will
be opened LIST November
The suburbs of Tallahassee are simply beau
tiIul and charming. You see elegant residences.
with their gardens and lawns filled with superb
magnolias, lemon and orange trees, banauas,
figs and hundred other trees, shrubs and flow
ers The scene is both pleasing and picturesque
IN The most charming degree. The perfume Of
h"wers reaches the senses on every side, while
The musical voice of hooking birds, those cum
ming arttcers of natures songsters," is heard
everywhere
The society of Tallahassee is the very best, the
citizens hospitable, and extremely social In
short, 1t Is n most excellent place TO spend the
winter or to locate for lite.
Governor Bloxham is a genial, affable and
hosptable gentlemen, glad to welcome YOU and
make you feel AT home at the capitol. His ad-
mlnlstratiOn so far has been eminently successful
and of great good to the State. 1t fully justites
the high confidence the intelligent people OF
Florida had in him in placing him nj the helm OF
State. Florida now has no floating debt, and
her taxable resources have increased in the last
two years over ten millions OF dollars. More
miles ot railroad have been constructed i'll her
limits during the last two years than In her en-
tire previous history. OF course, all this vast
Improvement in the general prosperity and ad
vancemen of the State, is not due to Governor
BloXhams administration alone, nor does he
claim 1t; but 1t speaks in trumpet tones for the
rule OF the Democratic party 1t shows that the
Kepubllcan party has been turned out OF power
in the State and mast stay ont. From all your
correspondent can learn, Governor BloXham
has, by industry, hrmness, intelligence, and Il
conscientious, faithful discharge Of his duties,
deServedly won the esteem of the people, and his
administration will no doubt prove one of the
best the State ever enOyed.
THE CONVICT CAMP
Last Sunday, in company with Hon. J. E
4onge, The gentlemany, attentive and efficient
Adjutant General of the State, your correspon-
| dent took the opportunity to visit the convict
camp, located about eleven miles from Live Oak,
in the extensive pine forests of Suwannee county
Alter an easy and rapid ride of eighty miles over
the Florida Central and Western Railroad
through. one OF the most picturesque and attrac-
tive sections OF the State, crossing en- route the
beautiful and song famous Suwannee river, we
arrived at Live Oak, where were met by
Henry NJ. Wood, agent of the lessee, MIR. G. h.
Duttol, who employs the convcs in rosin and
turpe1tine farming. Securing spring wagon,
drawn by two splendid mules, a drive of two
and half hours through as fine pine forest
The eye ever beheld, The tall branches, spire-ike
trees standing silent and immoveabe in the pass
ng breeZcs, like so many drilled sentnels, we
cone upon the camp in the very depth OF the
immense forest. The management of the camp
doubtless is and ought to be, matter OF interest
To- every good citizen of the State The treat
nent aud proper Of the prisoners confined
there by authority of the Stale should be a mat
.cr OF special interest to all, and they will no
doubt be soicilous to know how they are getting
along under the leasing system. From what
your correspondent could see-and it being Sun
day, and the prisoners all in camp, the OPP
| al
the camp was very favorable - the leasing
system is certainly success. To assert
there are not the same number of men in
penal bondage in any other State in the Union
that show evidence of better care and treatment
than the coLvicts OF Florida, is but speaking the
truth. There are now 1913 convicts at the camp
Ot this number there are only about IL white
aud the general appearance of them all is that Of
Well-lreated, well-ted, well-sheltcred and we'll
clothed men. They are doubtless worked hard
in The pineries, boxing and dipping gum but
they do not bear any evidence OF ovcr-work
Thcy are fat and healthy. There was not a sin
@ie case OF sickness in camp, and the Warden
Captain J. G. Powell, said they were unusually
subordinate and cheerful. They are preached to
every Sunday by Rev j. NJ Bridges, an efficient
chaplain, and many converts to religion have
been made among them since he commenced his
ILLUSTRATIONS. The camp is IOOmy and neatly
kept. No one could visit them as now situated
and not come away convinced that the leasing
system is the best for them and the State; cspe-
ciay when it is remembered that under The old
system they annually cost the Stale many thou
sands OF dollars, and now the State receives
handsome income from the lease, above all ex-
penses. The State will receive 81 500 revenue
from them this year, and for the two years lease
$4,000. Certainly good showing over the old
plan.
Those who disposed to grumble at the
leasing system should investigate the manage
ment of the convics under the present admins
traton before giving vent to their censures.