Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-05
FLoRuDA,s EDITORS.
a Price on Signatures to whisky Petit
tiOns-Railroad Projects.

Correspondence 0fths Mor1ling Neaos.
JACKSONVILLE, March 3.-Returning mem-
/ bers OF the press gang, who attended the con-
vention held last week at Sanford, report
large meeting and a very pleasant reunion.
AS was expected they were most Hospitality
received and entertained by the citizens of
sanford. and their reception at Tampa was of
I an equally hearty character. These annual
{ gatherings bring the craft together and enable
/ them TO become acquainted with each other.
/ Although they may have consumed gallons of
4 ink and braudished dozens of lances in the
/ shape of Faber's pencils in their fierce on
I slaughts, they meet In a friendly and social
/ spirit and forget past antagonsms until
/ the next cause Tor war Is given, For the pro-
motion Of social Intercourse and friendly
/ feeling these reunions are desirable
/ but beyond these effects they accomplish little
+ that is profitable. 1t Is true that an
/ opportunity is afforded Fl0Tidians for observ-
( ing the collective wisdom and dignity of so
/ distinguished body, and Of being awed into
astonishment by the presence of such an array
of talent and ability. Well do the brethren Of
{ the quill deserve an occasional iunketing and
/ the relaxation which it affords! They are far
more frequently the achitects OF the reputa-
/ tlon and fortunes of others than of their own.
/ and are q charitable, public spirited army of
workers ear after year it is very pleasant
i to notice how rapidly the standard of Florida
4 journalism is being elevated and to note the
/ improvements that are made in the editorial
/ and mechanical departments. In these
4 respects tEe press of this State will compare
I favorably with that of any other.
/ n IS SAID THAT THE THRIFTY FREEDMEN
around the city are working a new bonanza
I very pr0htaby. They charge the IldnnT deal
I ers who make applications for the renewal Of
/ their licenses various rates, amounting often
( Go 81 80 each, for their valuable signatures.
the vast majority Of which show the cabalistic
cross-mark. Ii mas become regular trade,
under the local option law. for the rum sellers
to employ men to do all the labor of obtaining
and witnessing signatures, etc, and to pre-
. - rI.a Ia rtf,s,5y
This involves considerable expense, amount
ing often to several hundred dollars.
! That the business is highly remuneratIve is
I shown by the TACT that very few, if any, sa-
/ looms in this county have been closed by their
1 present occupants. In several of the counties
! there cannot be found single liquor sal on,
al having suecumbed to the pressure of pub
lie sentiment.
THE TEMPERANCE PEOPLE
had q number Of meetings last week. which
were addressed by distinguished advocates.
MIR. 1tearns, Secretary of the National Tenn
perauce Association, remarked that tine ma
i0rity OF those who dealt in ardent spirits at
the south were not natives of that section.
There can be no doubt that the movement is
gaining strength in this State. and that it is
eniisting the support, not only of the better
elements of the white population, but is find
ing many adherents among the more lntelh-
gent negroes.
Next Thursday the first train Of cars Will
be run over the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key
West from this city to Palatka. The run viii
Nc HtdUG III TWO anu Il Hdil HOUEs at nESt.
which time will be reduced after the roadbed
has settled. This reduces the time to Pa
/ latka one half and opens another avenue to
our visitors.
Jacksonville continues to stretch out her
/ arms in all directions and is fast graphing
I important points in the interior by hooks OF
( steel. Five different railroads now have their
termini in this city and another viii be added
4 to the number during the summer. 1t viii
+ thus be seen how rapidly she is rising in the
scale OF commercial Importance. and that.
HnP
is assured. A heavy sale of property last
I week nsureS the erection OF another splendid
/ brick block and or more substantial
/ wharves on Bay street.
THE GREAT POINT
/ to which our business men should direct their
I energies is bringing a steady and unrelaXing
/ pressure TO bear upon Congress to obtain ap-
/ Preparations sufficiently large to deepen the
4 water upon the bar at the mouth of the St.
4 Johns. This Is all important. and the work
I should be prosecuted vigorously. With those
/ distinctions removed, jacksonville and the
/ entire river country would put on a growth,
and show an increase in population and
Y wealth that would have no parallel in the his
4 tory of the South. The entire State would
/ feel the mighty impetus, and its development
/ would be phenomenal.
An immense consolidation of railroad inter-
+ ests was effected last week in the combination
I of the Florida Central and Western, the Tran
I sit and Peninsula, the Fernandina and Jack
sonyille, and the Leesburg and Indian River
4 lines under one general syetem. These roads
Z
makes system of great strength and vast
/ importance. Extensions of these roads and
/ the construction of new links are freely spO-
] ken of, and must follow. Among these is the
construction of a road from Millen, in your
State TO Hart's Road on the Transit and Pc
! nlnsula. where lt viii connect with q ROAD
/ now running to this city. New lines of steam
I ers are also projected, so that it is quite pro-
bable that there viii be for the present no
diminution in the task Of supplying Florida
/ with facilities for moving freight and passen-
/ gers.
( MARCH HAS COME
/ in its usual clustering style, bringing cool
( weather. No damage was effected to vegeta-
4 ti0n in this vicinity. The orange trees in the
I city are prOlusely studded with buds that re-
I semble, before they expand, pearls in shape
/ and color. From present appearances a full
/ crop OF fruit IS promised, as the bearing trees
/ have sustained little or no injury
/ The increase in the arrivals at the hotels
/ mp to the present time, over last season, has
I reached nearly 5000, and there is no falling
4 of IN the tide of travel. W. II. B.