Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-17
JACKSONVILLE JOTTINGS.
ANNUAL MASONIC CONfMUNICA-
TION.

Meeting of the Grand Lodge-The Water
way Across the Peninsula-Various
Opinions-Pensacola and Atlantic
The Coast Canal-City Extension
Freights from Savannah.
JACKSONVILLE. Jan. I5.-At u O'Clock to-
day the Grand Chapter Of Royal Arch Masons
OF Florida assemble in annual communication
in this city, and tomorrow at the same hour
and place the Grand Lodge of Free ami Ac-
cepted Masons hold their first meeting of the
session. These grand bodies will have dele
gates in attendance from every section of the
State-from Key West in the extreme South,
and Pensacola and Milton in the extreme West
Already many have arrived, and every train
and boat increases the number. From the
Grand Secretarys records the number of
lodges in the State is put down at Sc, with a
total membership of 3 III. There are but six
Royal Arch Chapters, located at the following
places Gainesville, Warrington. Jackson
vile, Lake Butler. Key West and Fernandina.
Several have died out within the past few
years, some from neglect and others from
financial embarrassments, removal of active
members. etc.
The present Grand Lodge officers are as fol-
lows: Grand Master, VIM. +. Anderson. of
Santa Rosa county; Deputy Grand Master,
Robert j. Perry, of Key West; Senior Grand
Warden, Marcus Endel, of Gainesville; Junior
SSrand Warden, n. r. Carter, Of Levyville: :
Grand Treasurer, DR.. Henry Robinson, of
Jacksonville; Grand Secretary, ID. e. Daw-
kins, of Jacksonville.
Grand Chapter officers: Grand High Priest,
Hon. W. A. Mclean. of Jacksonville; Deputy
Grand High Priest. W. E. Anderson, of Santa
Rosa county; Grand King, w. F. Scott, Of
Fefnandina; Grand Scribe, G. s. Hallmark, of
Warrington; Grand Treasurer; L. McConihe
ldeceasedl; Grand Secretary, w. A. Young,
both of Jacksonville; Grand Chaplain, Rev.
John Penny, Of Archer.
THE FLORIDA SHIP CANAL.
Saturday and Sunday Messrs. "A. w. Jones
and Michael Jacobs, the gentlemen appointed
by the Florida Ship Canal Company TO lay the
claims of the company before the Legislature,
we're in the city, and freely conversed upon
the subject of their great enterprise. They
say they ask no more of the State than its
laws offer to such enterprises, and we see no
reason why they should not secure the neces-
sary charter to enable them to construct the
canal canal A copy OF the charter,
members desk in the Senate and Assembly,
and if there is any objection to any part or
clause, they want to know it, and feel conf
fdent they can convince all that it is no wild
cat scheme, but an honest and legal PROPOSE
ton. Mr.. Jacobs says all they ask is the
charter, and all they expect to givein return
is the canal which will be commenced at once
and as rapidly constructed as men and money
can do it. The capital, these representatives
assert, is ample, and now from thirty to forty
millions of dollars await the action OF the Leg
islature, to be either spent in the construction
turned away.
PUBLIC OPINION.
In this city the general sentiment seems to
be favorable to granting the charter. Some
of the more intelligent citizens believe it will
be the best thing that can happen for Florida,
while others are not quite so sanguine, and
think the matter should be well weighed be-
fore final action is taken.
Messrs. Jacobs and Jones leave to-day for
the North to await the action of the Legisla-
ture, saying they are willing to wait for all
necessary investigation and inquiry to be
made by the State authorities, as they ask
nothing but what is legitimate and proper;
no advantage.
THE PENSACOLA AND ATLANTIC.
The completion of the Pensacola and At
lantic Railroad from Pensacola to ChattahOo-
chee is watched with interest. This road will
join the western extremity of the Florida
Central and Western Railroad, which ends in
jacksonville. The completion of this road
will be the connecting link between the
largest and most important seaports in East
and West Florida.
ITS EARLY COMPLETION.
From information obtained from passengers
coming to this city over this road twill be
only few weeks before its entire completion
will be announced through the NEWS. There
remains but seven miles of track now to be
laid on the road, and that is west of Marianna,
and this is being done as fast as possible.
Trains run from Pensacola east as far as the
road is finished. Passengers and small freight
are carried about seven miles, where they
meet the train on the eastern end and proceed
to Chattahoochee, and connect there with
trains for Jacksonville.
THE BRIDGE AT CHATTAHOOCHEE
will not be ready to receive trains for a month
or two yet as such heavy work is necessarily
slow. This iron bridge was made in Louis
vile, and it is constantly expected at Chatta-
hoochee. The brick piers have been complet-
ed and are ready to receive it, and the trestle-
ing will be finished this week.
THE CIJMAX TXTENgIOE
Upon the completion of this long line of
railway, one of the contractors says the Gil
max extension of the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway viii also be finished.
BUSINESS FOR JACKSONVILLE AND SAVANNAH,
The finishing of these great public thorough
fares in Florida is already having its effect.
Parties from Jackson and Gadsden counties
say it is turning business towards Jacksonville
and Savannah, and away from Columbus and
Mobile.
The completion of the above roads will be
hailed with joy by the timber merchants of
Pensacola, as it opens up to them one of the
finest timber forests IN the world, and the
great drawback to-day in that progressive
city is the scarcity of timber.
ANOTHER RAILROAD.
A letter received from the President Of the
Atlantic, st. Johns and Indian River Rail-
way, who is now in Illinois, states that he will
soon be here and his railroad will be pushed
forward on his arrival, he now having about
perfected arrangements to carry it through.
ANOTHER CANAL,
The Coast Canal COmpany's dredge is grad
ually working its way towards Indian river
from st. Augustine. The dredge cuts from
500 to 200 feet per day, and at this rate the Of
fcers of the company confidently expect to
enter Mosquito Inlet within sixty DAYS The
people along the line of this canal are in high
spirits over the prospect of having in so short
time such splendid water transportation.
FLORIDA's BOOM.
Florida is now in the midst of big boom,
which is perceptible in the rapidly increasing
business of all sections, the volume of trade
and travel, the number of buildings under
contract and in course of construction, the
demand for building material in this city
and all along the ST. Johns river as far up as
Sanford, the large number of strangers flock
ing here for observation and location, and the
increasing population, are unmistakable signs
OF bright and prosperous future.
NO EXTENSION WANTED.
The merging of the suburban towns into
Jacksonville, a bill for which is now before
the Legislature, meets with decided opposi-
this city, and such an extension of the limits
is characterized by many as political scheme
or as some financial chicanery. This large
addition of territory would be burden in
stead of a relief TO the taxpayers as 1t would
require additional policemen, gas, sewerage,
etc, and the property embraced
compared to the expense as the greater
portion of the buildings are small and Cheap
1y constructed. The whole taxahlg pFoperty
of LaVilla, East Jacksonville and BROOKLYN
would not equal that of four or five blocks in
the city, while the addition of territory would
greatly increase the city's expense and re-
sponsibility. Besides all this, the IEorst fea-
ture Of the passage Ct sueh bilf Is the fixing
forever OF negro government upon this fair
city, more intolerable than the one now ruling
Pensacola. Every one of these suburban pre-
einets are densely populated with negroes.
LaVilla alone has soule GOO negro vo-
ters, whlch Would be sufficient 10 give them
full control Of the city, to say nothing Of the
600 voters in the other two places.
FREIGHT FROM SAVANNAH
There is a general complaint from the mer-
chants of Lake City, Welborp ana other inte-
rior towns about delayed freight from Savap-
nah, The Lake City merchants say their
freight is at times from one to three weeks in
reaching them, and 1t often entails upon them
a heavy loss-so much so that they win have
to purchase nearer home II aremedy il not
forthcoming. This is matter which should
receive the attention of the business men of
Savannah, or all that trade will soon depart
from them.
SHORT NOTES.
The police are still pursuing the recently
escaped prisoners from the county iaIl. Two
white and one colored man nave been cAn-