Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-30
JACKSONVILLE AND FLORIDA.
The Severe Cold Weather Brings out the
Hardness of Orange Trees.
Correspondence of az Nornin1 Netrs.

Hardness of Orange Trees.
Correspondence ofthe Morning Netos.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 2S.-It is rather
amusing to notice the efforts that are being
made all over the State to palliate the injuries
resulting from the remarkable cold weather
we have had during the winter Everybody
who can find an orange blossom or vegetable
that has escaped blight parades it before some
editor as an indubitable evidence that his own
grove or turnip patch is securely protected
from the rayages of frost, and then calmly
adds leo per cent. to the former value OF MS
property.
The general result is summed up in the fact
that it has been cenclusively demonstrated
that the mature or bearing orange tree Is cap
able of enduring even a continued low TEN
perature better than was expected. Few, II
any, show any symptoms OF permanent or Sc
riOus injury. The shedding of the foliage IN
dictates that they are already making VlgO-
rous effort to repair damages, ana lew weeks
of lne weather will have the effect OF reha-
bilitating them in all their former luXurlance.
The present season has been the severest test
to which the industry has been subjected
since 1t assumed It's present dimensions, anu
it may be safely assumed that long series OF
years will elapse ere we shall undergo SIM
liar experience.
EARLY VEGETABLES
throughout most of the northern portion OF
the peninsula have been either destroyed or
so severely nipped as to require repiantlng.
As general thing, they VIII be marketed
month later than usual, when VIII entall con,
siderable loss, as Just to that extent they VIII
be brought more closely into competition Win
the same produce from Georgia ana South
Carolina OF course their value and the
prices they bring depend upon their fore
stalling other sources OF supply. Inc straw
berry, which has been largely shipped Tor sew
eral years, and which was becoming very
profitable crop, will also postpone us appear
While these are the gloomy SIDES OF inc
situation, the picture presents many pright
aspects. Prominent among them IS the cheer
full fact that there has been no lalllng OIL III
the demand for Florida lands, and no abate-
ment in their value. Real estate agents re-
port an increase in their correspondence ana
in the number of their visitors. Numerous
letters from the North and West speak shiv-
eIingly of the intense cold, and the majority
of them express the intention OF the writers
to seek q warmer climate. / leel perfectly
satisfied myself that the influx OF population
into Florida will neither be diminished or re-
tarded by this peculiar winter, parallel to
which may not occur within the present cen
fury. just SO long as our advantageous
climatic conditions exist, varied only by
rare and occasional interruptions, Will our
shores be sought by the agricuturist, the
tourist and the invalid.
CHEAP LANDS,
easily cultivated, susceptible of a great varie-
ty of most valuable products, a peculiarly
mild and balmy climate, adapted to the relief
and cure of the most prevalent and serious
maladies Of Northern ATTITUDES, tropical
scenery, fine hotels and an abundance of game
and fish, will continue to attract the capital
list, the feeble and the pleasure seeker. We
have lost none of these blessings, and the tide
of immigration Will continue to flow into our
borders with an increasing volume. The con-
traSt between the temperatures or the extreme
North and West and that of Florida. Is too
great and marked not to cause most favora-
bic comparison to be instituted in favor of the
Land of Flowers. Year by year wealth, ease
and debility shrink from cncOunterlng the
terrible blasts that chain nature in an icy
bondage. closing navigation, impeding labor,
blocking the wheels of trade, and compelling
a constant conflict for comfort and existence
with the forces of the elements. Men natur-
ally seek to avoid such a struggle, and in their
quest for a new home where can they find one
in this country that Will meet their wants
more fully than does Florida? The newcomer
ueed not expect to succeed here without effort
and energy. and his success will depend great
ly upon the employment of these attributes,
but he viii find soil chat will respond most
generously to proper cultivation, climate
that will permit him to work in the open air
every day during the year, and that will not
require him to eXpend large share OF his in
come for the purchase Of fuel, blankets and
clothing. The future Of Florida is too well
assured to be dlmmed by a freak of weather,
and her course will still continue to be on
ward and upward.
TO LOOK AT JACKSONVILLE
now would convince anybody that the usual
amount of travel had not been checked in the
slightest degree. The registers OF the hotels
show heavy lists of arrivals, and the papers
cannot find space for their publication. Bay
street this morning was thronged with
strangers, enjoying the bright sunshine and
pleasant breeZes, examining the show
windows and sauntering through the stores
devoted to the sale OF curOsities. These peO
pie represent the better classes of society. and
their general appearance indicates that they
are easy with regard to money matters, and
have a handsome bank account. The amount
of solid capital represented in Florida during
the winters is very heavy, and would aggre
gate startling amounts. Hotel proprietOrs
say that there has been a decided increase in
the travel up to this time over previous sea-
sons. The rush will continue for two months
longer before it will begin to turn backward.
A great portion OF TINS movement is through
your city, although multtudes now reach us
by the way of Pensacola, coming via the
Pensacola and Atlantic and Florida Central
and Western Railroads. This route enables
strangers to see the most beautiful portion of
Florida, passing, as it does, through the
charming hills valleys and lakes of
Gadsden, Leon, jefferson, Madison and Jack
son counties. This affords an opportunity to
see portion of the State heretofore but little
visited, and varies very agreeably the usual
routine BY the completion of the South Flor
ida Railroad to Tampa, new line of travel
through a very interesting portion of the
State has been opened, which will become
very popular. AS these roads open the coun-
offered TO tourists. who eagerly avail them
selves of every additional method to see sec
tiOns heretofore somewhat inaccessible. More
strangers than usual have gone up the river
and into the interior this winter, and
the hotels everywhere are reaping q harvest.
Florida is receiving her usual share Of gratui-
tous advertising. for in addition to the regu-
lar visitors, there is always a long array of
newspaper correspondents who, as rule,
find something to admire. The state IS very
fortunate in this respect, and much of the at
tenti0n she has received, and IS receiving, is
due to the knights of the pencil at home and
from abroad.
WITH TIE WHEAT
come also the tares, for adventures Of all de-
scriptiOns abound. Here cOngregats at this
season sporting men, the modern name for
blacklegs, with all sorts of devices to entrap
the unwary, and they manage to find victims
and fat pigeons to pluck. Bunco steercrs ply
their thievish arts in obscure places and often
strike rich bonanzas. Quacks flourish here
also, and their notices Whlten the streets.
Wealth attracts the dangerous classes just as
sharks follow in the wake OF shoals of herring
in their annual migrations.
The organization of the Jacksonville Club
adds another attraction to those already eX-
isting in the city. Its first reception was
given last week, and was numerousy attend
ed. This association of gentlemen have furn-
ished a handsome building in elegant style,
provided with dining room, billiard tables,
files of the leading papers, best magazines,
etc. and rendered it a most attractive resort
Club gives a series of balls during the winter
which afford much pleasure to the citizens
and strangers. For the coming two months
Jacksonville will be lively enough, as the va
rlOus hotels succeed each other in weekly
hops and entertainments.
NEW CITY DIRECTORY
has Just been published. 1t contains about
twenty-five per cent. more names than that
issued by the same compiler two years ago.
This may be taken as fair index of the rapid
increase of our population. Bay street does
not contain a single vacant store, and business
men will soon be compelled so erect stores
either in the next parallel street, or in some
of the intersecting thOroughfares. 1t is truly
wide-awake, progressive little city, and JIM
presses strangers very fayorably with its pros
poets and general air of activity, Night and
dav the river is plowed by large fleet of
steamers, while the constant arrival of trains
on the five railroads having their terminus
here, provide plenty of work for the hotels,
hacks and drayS.
When the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key
West Railroad is finished to Palatka, which
will be effected in few weeks, il will provide
additional facilities for reaching South Flor
ida. The distance to Palatka from this point
by rail is 81 miles, from thence by steamer to
Sanford 1913 miles, and from that town to Tam
pa by the South Florida Railroad ZIG miles,
making POI miles between Jacksonville and
Tampa by the route just opened. Persons IN
Tampa and vicinity will no longer be forced
to rely upon the Gulf steamers, somewhat I'M
certain in their arrivals and departures, or
the tedious and fatigung stage trip between
Tampa and Wildwood, but can make the jour-
ney with comfort, expedition and certainty.
AN IMMENSE LIST OF SIGNATURES,
numbering q 900 names, has been obtained in
the counties bordering on the st. Johns river,
and appended to petition praying govern
ment aid in the improvements that have been
commenced for the deepening Of the bar at
the mouth of our great river. A deputatiOn
of prominent citizens will add their influence
and DersODal efforts to the promotion of the
project. If this important work could only be
cnntinunnslK nrosecmted by q sufficient appro-