Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-15
FLoRIDA's NEGRO CONVENTION
italian vs.. Negro Labor-FIOrida's EA-
hibit at New Orleans.


Correspondence of the Morning Ne'os.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Feb. 13.-Nothlng OIL
Importance was accomplished by the hesIo
convention held last week at Gainesville. Inc
honorable Mr.. Bisbee issued pronunclamen-
to to his sable supporters, which, coupleu' "S
rumor has it, with the usual promises hau
the effect of chilling the ardor OF the leaolns
malcontents. This astute politician wei I'M
derstands the material of the troopers WhoHl
he leads and the appliances by which to re-
duce them to subsection. With but very
small modicum Of personal popularity, ne
possesses the qualities of boldness, resolution
and perseverance, and there is no member OF
his party in this State who IS more ulsuKeG'
and at the same time more feafe9 Dy IIs du-
herents. There are numerous hepuDIlCaHl9
who would be rejOiced to see nm uhnoIseu,
ana yet there are few who would venture 70
cross lances with him as an antagonist. Inc
convention was admirably handled by tne
henchmen of Col. B.sbee, VINO from tilS tSi !,
nettle, danger, plucked the flower, saIety,
and succeeded in stifiinga denunclal0ry resO-
luton referring rather harshly TO the mem :
Der from the Second district OF tlorlQa; IN
fact the convention marched up the NIL 10
the shrill blasts of the trumpets and thump-
ing of drums. and having gained the helght'
limped down the other side, TO the huhlOIe
strains of penny whistle. ..
Everywhere the orange trees are Rl4 Ing
cheering evidences that they have escaped Sc
rious injury. All over the city new leaves are
appearing at the eXtremitles even OF tle zen =
derest twigs, and farther up the river 1 IiS
fruit buds are forming. The late sptoHulu
weather has pushed vegetation Forward WIN WIN
exceeding rapidity, and the naked llnDs ol tlS
trees Will soon be arrayed III thelr Deau1lu "
spring drapery. Yesterday the WINDOWS .,
the churches were opened to AUNT the
breeZes, which were as mild ana sou as Ihose
of June in a northern climate All over thg
State the planters are breaking up lheH lahu
4
at present as if winter was over, put tne sea
son has been so peculiar that some mlsglVIhSs
are still entertained.
AN EXPERIMENT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN
by the Paatka and Indian River Railroad
Company to test the value of Italian and ne
gro labor. Two hundred of each class VIII be
placed on respective sections OF the rOau, anu
their efficiency will be carefully tested.
large portion of the Transit railroad was con
structed, previous to the war, by lrlsHHeh;
who proved excellent labOrers, and endured
the summer remarkably well. The above eX-
pertinent will be carefully noted by railroad
men, who are greatly annoyed ny tue UNI eli
ability of the negroes. This being the year
for a general election, negro labor Is llkely 10
be very uncertain, as the charms OF brass
band and barbecue are altogether TOO seuuc-
tive for the average freedmen to resist, ana
the probability is that the railroad contract
ors VIII be forced to submit to frequent inter-
ruptiOns
1t would be a great boon to the housekeepers
Of this city if white domestics could be obtain
ed, and would relieve them of constant annoy
ance and anxiety. The general worthlessness
of the negro servants is subject of never
ending complaint. Owing to this cause many
families here who occupy their own houses
take their meals at restaurants and hotels.
Another highly important industry has Just
been commenced at Hawthorne, in Alachua
county, in the manufacture OF 1ertlllLefS from
the phosphate deposits found in that locality.
An analysis shows that the crude material
contains from 10 to % per cent. OF phosphorlc
acid. equal in value to from ~ to 5l12 percent.
of bone phosphate. For years past the use OF
commercial fertilizers has been largely and
steadily increasing in Florida. until the Dusl-
ness has assumed big dimensions. Now If we
can prepare in our midst an article equal to
that obtained elsewhere, and put it on the
market at a reduced rate, the economy OF the
transaction is at once visible. The prospect
is not only that Florida will supply her own
fertilizers, but that she Will be able to export
largely to the neighboring States. Immense
beds of phosphates are known to exist in Hills
borough county, and geological survey
would discover the existence of similar de-
posts in many other sections.
ACTIVE STEPS ARE ALREADY BEING TAKEN
to get into working order the machinery ne
cessary to provide for a splendid representa-
ton Of Florida at the coming Cotton EXPOSE
ton at New Orleans. From the
interest already manifested and the character
of the gentlemen who are engineering the
matter its success is already assured The
Florida display will be on larger and more
general scale on that than on any previous
occasion. and she will endeavor to eclipse the
honOrs obtained at Atlanta and Louisville.
Directors meeting Of the kissimmee Land
Company, Lake Butler Village Company,
Florida Land Improvement Company, and
Atlantic and Gulf Coast Canal and OkekchO-
bee Land Company were held last week, and
reports of progress received. These COM
panies all grew out OF the original purchase
and drainage contract of Mr. Disston and
associates. Encouraging reports were re-
ceived from the various enterprises. Six hun
bred thousand acres of the Florida Improve
ment lands have been sold within the last
year, and applications for large areas from
Europe and elsewhere are now under con-
sideration A dividend of IS per share has
already been made and the funds in the
treasury will admit of another, OF $40 share.
THE DRAINAGE OPERATIO Ms
have been very satisfactory. The general
level of Lake Okeechobee is twenty eight
inches lower than it was a year ago. Lake
TOhOpekaliga has been reduced six feet and
a half, and a large area Of fine land suitable
for sugar cane and other crops has been re-
claimed. The two original dredge boats are
still cutting out canals, while a third, of
great capacity, is now being constructed at
kissimmce.
Quite a number of bridges on the Jackson
vile and Atlantic Railroad have been con-
structed, and it is hoped now that this
avenue will be completed by May or June,
enabling our citizens to indulge in sea bath
and inhale the invigorating ocean breezes
cheaply and eXpeditiOusly. w. ii. b.