Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-06
JACKSONVILLE AND THE STATE
A Collection of Items of Interest on
Many Subjects.

A Collection of Items of Interest on
Many Subjects.
CorrssDoadsaes OF the Morning. Eslrs.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. Feb. 4.-Webb's new
directory is VERY gratifying to the pride Of the
citizens Of jacksonville. The figures given
show most conclusively rapldity Of growth
and breadth Of development. The work forms
q volume OF considerable size, and Is nllea
with valuable information. II IS quite com
plete in all its details, and Is creditable 10 the
industry and cOmprehensiyeness Of the com
pler.
As an evidence Of the increase in the pop
ulation. the directory u lsSo gave the number
OF residents in this city and suburbs as l5,4'o.
In lSs2 as 1891, gain in the two years oI
2.434. The present publication fixes the res
ident population at 1910. being in increase
IN the last two years Of SO. II We continue
10 progress in the same ratio, the census OF
ls90 VIII show population Of $1,000. Ihis Is
certainly cheerful prospect. and encourages
hatteriDg antieipations Of our future imPor-
lance. Jacksonville is. and must be, by her
position and numerous advantages, the met
rOpolitan city Of Florida.
Webb mentions the following articles
among the manufactures of the city: Axle
grease. boats, beer, boilers, books, BRICK. cast
ings. canes, cigars. confectionery. fertilizers,
Florida curiOsities. furniture. ice, lumber,
crates palmetto work, preserved fruits,
shingles. vessels, steam engines. vehicles, aItl-
fetal stone, etc. New buildings 20 the value
Of S55s,50O have been erected since the issue
Of the last Directory. and the general I'M
prOvement has been marked and satisfactory.
There are is hotels and 4 boarding houses.
/ Of churches there are 2S-l5 whites and -
cOlored. Four banks oil the wheels Of trade.
In the learned professions there are - clergy
men, = Of whom are eOlOreq; 81 lawyers
colOred and "A physicians and surgeons. OF
females. =
papers are published in JacksOnvllle, ,
/ dallies, Weeklies, and semi monthly. Two
Of these journals are edited by negroes.
The name Of Williams IS very popular heres
the Directory mentioning no less than 80,
leaving the familiar surnames Of smith, Jones,
johnson, Brown. jackson far in the distance.
SIX negroes boast the distinguished name OF
George Washington. The Directory contains
Loss names.
ANOTHER Use HAS BEEN DISCOVERED
for the once universally -despsed saw pal
mettO. The fine fibre obtained from the inner
lining OF the bud Is now manufactured INTO
substance so closely resembling human hair
that it Is employed as a substitute for the
genuine article. and now ornaments the
graceful head Of beauty. 1t can be had OF
any length. and, being capable Of taking any
/ color. the ladies can now indulge in black.
I brown. laXen and auburn tresses, so natural
in appearance as even TO deceive barber.
/ Thus not only the hat but the glossy locks
I upon which it rests are now furnished by the
palmetto. from which source also comes the
/ fan 10 cool the heated brOws and the material
/ TO stun mattresses wherein to repose the
wearied body. Who would have thought ten
wears ago that this plant. regarded as an en-
( cumbrance Of the land it covered. would have
been converted into so many articles OF value
( ana utltyf faper uDre. mats, Ians, pdlr'
/ etc. are now furnished from palmetto, and it
VIII yet provide material for cOrdase and
/ clothing.
! Willis T. Menard, a prominent cOlorcd man
/ and eX-member of Congress, maps out in his
/ paper, the Key West 2etrs. some Of the sub
I jects that will occupy the attention of the
! negro convention to be held this week at
Z Gainesville. According to him. the points
/ sought t. be accomplished are the obtaining
increased educational facilities for the blacks,
/ with the enjoyment Of the same advantages
4 that are possessed by the whites. The con-
4 vention will claim that the East and West
I Florida Seminaries and the State a Agricultural
/ College should make provision for the educ2
/ ton Of the negroes. who are entitled to the
{ same benefits extended to the whites
The elective franchise OF the negro Will also
( be discussed. and an effort will be made to re-
! peal the law Furnishing with Acknowledgement
the offense Of petty larceny.
CIVIL RIGHTS,
+ 20 far as travel over the great lines Of trans
( pOrtatiOn are concerned, Will also receive at
4 tentiOn. 1t viii be argued that If the negroes
4 pay for first-class tickets they should be
/ Titled to first-class accommodations.
4 Some Of the negro leaders say that they in
/ tend to cast their votes and influence in favor
/ Of that party that promises the most liberal
/ policy to their race, and that 10 secure such
advantages they are prepared 10 disregard
their former political affiliations. which
I hitherto have held them in slayish subsection.
Whether this be true or not. II j. evident that
/ the white Republicans hacks are watching
their movements with ill-cOncealed anxiety
and nervousness. There have been OF late
/ several symptoms Of dlsafectlOn and evidences
/ Of a spirit of independence among the negroes
/ that nave aroused the fears OF the national
4 Office holders, who feel that they are on
/ the brink Of serious danger, and
! who see the necessity Of pursuing
1 a delicate middle ground between
/ the prejudices Of the negro on the one hand.
! and the new ideas of the better element OF
/ their party in our midst on the other IL IS
/ mighty ticklish ground on which to stand, and
| il will take superior navigation to steer clear
/ Of Scylla and Charybdls. The Republican
hacks are afraid Of the negroes, and the rank
/ and file Of the negroes are afraid of their
/ leaders, who have often heretofore sold their
people for pef or position. The convention
/ will be purely Ethiopian in its personnel, the
/ Caucaslans being admitted only as specta-
i tors.
/ A Board Of Trade has been organized among
I the leading merchants and business men Of
I the city, similar TO like institutions elsewhere
which, II IS thought WIZ exert q penencIal
/ effect upon the general Interests OF this COM
/ munitv. In union there is strength, and COM
| bined effort is difficult to resist.
THE PROSPECTS ARE FAVORABLE
/ for a small government appropriation for con-
] tnuing the jetty work at the mouth OF our
! river. strong delegation OF our clLlLcn5 Is
1 pressing the matter upon the attention OF
/ Congress, and the skies just now look auspl-
ciOus. A small amount now would enable the
4 contractors to protect the work already ac-
complished. and to preserve it from injury.
4 Mr.. Hamilton DisstOn is now in the city for
the purpose Of attending the annual meeting
/ OF the various land companies with which he
/ Is connected. An immense dredge IS now pc
! ing constructed for operations on Lake IOh0-
/ pekaliga and KIssimmee river, which VIII
I very greatly facilitate the labor OF draining
/ the country in the vicinity Of those places.
I The Earl Of Huntington, Chairman OF the
/ Florida Land and Mortgage Company, which
] owns two million acres IN tins state Is mere
also, with party Of distinguished English
men. They have gone down to inspect their
property, and will take early steps towards
/ Its improvement and occupation, by the in
/ PRODUCTION Of immigrants from the old country
ORR DELEGATES IN CONGRESS
are striving to have the St. Johns river
/ Thoroughly lighted This improvement is de-
manded by the great increase Of navigation
I on that stream. much Of the business being
I carried on at night. 1t is difficult during a
/ heavy fog to avoid the shoals sometimes, and
/ there have been some annoying detentlOns
this winter by steamers running aground.
A Northern company is about to plant 200, .
/ COO cOcoanuts on the Islands around Key W est.
/ Those keys, hitherto barren and unattracuye,
bid far soon to be converted into scenes Of
beauty and to be clothed in all the rich luXu-
rance Of tropical yerdure.
There will be at the State Fair, in the way
| OF amusements racing. military drills, tour
naments, target shooting, etc. The outlook is
1 good for an excellent exhibition. A free ex-
! cursOn from Tampa, over the South Florida
| Railroad, viii be given during falr week,
which will bring large number OF visitors
/ and exhibits from that section.
The weather has become ashamed of its re-
cent eccentricities and has settled down to
succession Of clear, mild, pleasant days, that
fiji the streets with crowds of joyous pedes-
/ trians. who absorb the bright sunshine and
balmy brcezes with evident delight. Most Of
! n irv
/ the up-river country. or the interior, as there
are but few in the city. Bay street presents
highly interesting scene to visitors and cltl-
! Zens. and can show a large percentage OF the
] ..-..,L.h I..hlnn ..ul LaIauL Of the cnunLrL-