Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-10


have had ice three times, with the tempera-
ture at 30 degrees, p degrees and IS degrees.
From a memorial addressed to the Commit
tee on Rivers and HarbOrs OF the National
House Of Representatives by a committee OF
citizens OF Jacksonville, asking for a liberal
appropriation in carrying on and completing
the projected Improvements at the mouth OF
the st. Johns river, the following statistics
are taken:
The values of vessels and cargOes arriving
at and departing from this port in 1882
amounted to $3S.2l0,000. This river IS one Of
the longest and widest upon the Atlantic
coast OF this country. For lis miles from its
mouth it Is from one to seven miles in width,
while 1t rs nayigable for large steamers 80
miles, and for smaller ones 4s5 miles. 1t has
$50 miles Of water tributaries and S65 miles Of
railroad feeders in operation.
"a STEAMERS OF s,I6s tons,
and Of the value Of 100000, now ply its
''This is a greater steamboat tonnage than
there was by the last census reports, OF ocean
and inland in any State south of Maryland on
the Atlantic coast, with the exception Of
Georgia. and more, as appears by same re-
ports, than was then IN service for purely
local inland traffic upon any river on the At
lantic coast south of the Hudson. 1t repre-
sents an employed tonnage by trips both ways
OF over 5000 tons weekly, and is an increase
since 1880 of lbs per cent.
The frelghts brought to Jacksonville from
Atlantic Coast States by railroads for con-
sumption and distribution during 1889
Of 81, 1858. 100, an increase of 81 per cent. over
1850. The outward bound freights from the
same city brought down the St. Johns river
and by railroad through this State for ship
ment to the coast line States amounted to
/ $4,000 tons or $5,0Sl AIS value. The number of
/ passengers brought in Florida by railroad
from coast line states during the same year
4 was 21,135, and carried out to similar points
u, 1884, an increase Of over 1880 of 25S per cent.
none of which freight or travel crossed the
\ st. Johns bar.
In the present condition of the st. Johns
! bar there can he no foreign commerce over it..
! With over 55.000O0O feet of sawed lumber
/ leaving during the wear the shipments are re-
/ strlcted to coastWise ports while cotton and
1 other products must leave by rail lines to
/ seek shipments abroad from ports in other
! States.
/ In the counties bordering the st. Johns
! river, viz: Duval, st. Johns, Clay, Putnam,
| Nolusia, Marion and Orange. the assessed
/ value Of property has increased SO per cent.
! and the acreage under cultivation 30 per cent.
! since 1850. IN the same counties the popula-
] ton has increased over % per cent. during the
! last two years
The railroad lines tributary to the st.
! Johns river lying within the State Of Florida,
have S65 miles in operation, and l22 miles
under construction. They have increased 1856
per cent. since 1880.
! The United States Land ONCE at Gaines
/ vile shows the following sales at private
/ entry excluding committed homestead and
/ other entries,l lSS0-6,44S 32-l00 acres, ISL
31,21S 2S-l00 acres, lSS2-l40, l63 45-l00 acres,
! lSS3-320, 65S 05-lO0 acres.
| The above exhibit should surely entitle this
memorial to the careful and favorable con-
/ sideratiOn of Congress. If the members would
/ give their attention to claims of such
merit and magnitude and ignore those of
trifing Importance, something could be
/ speedily accomplished.
Now that the holidays have ended we may
/ look for a heavy rush Of travel. 1t viii COM
| mence about the 18th inst. w. II. b.