Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-10
FLORIDA'S FAIR FIELDS.
GEN. SEBRING TO BE AT THE
IMMIGRATION MEETING.


IMMIGRATION MEETING.
Advantages Which should Attract
Thousands to Southern States-A
Building Boom in JaclxsonviIIe-Tam-
pa Leaping to the FrOnt-Thousands
OF Tourists still Pouring In to the State
Correspondence ofthe Morning Netcs.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, March Gen.
W. H. Sebring, Presidential Commission
er from this State to the Cotton Centen-
NAL at New Orleans, Will represent Florida
at the meeting of the Southern Immigra-
tion Association at Nashville. A brilliant
array of talent will be present on that
occasion, and great good will doubtless
arise to the South from the deliberations
/ Of the distinguished assembly. Savannah
has done well IN sending a delegation of
her leading citizens to lend weight and
| dignity to the proceedings.
/ 1t is quite evident that general atten-
ton is now being directed to the extraor-
| dinary advantages and wonderful facili-
ties of this section Of the country, and it
/ Is the part of good judgment and pru-
| dence to avail ourselves of the favorable
| winds that are bearing the South to her
| destined haven of greatness and pros
! perity. In all the departments of in
/ dustrY, agriculture, manufactures and
| commerce, the South is showing pro-
| gress and development that amaze her
| own people and astonish outsiders. Capt.
tai, labor and enterprise are quick to per
celYe and occupy new fields, and these
great levers are being freely employed to
elevate the Southland to the lofty position
she Is designed to occupy.
HER OWN SONS SHOULD DIRECT
and control the operations of the mighty
machinery whose pulsatiOns are being
felt in every nook and corner of her vast
domain, and hence every true lover of the
South should hail with joy the Organi-
zatlOn OF such an association as that
which meets next week at Nashville.
Composed of representative men from
each of the fourteen Southern States its
influence must be widespread and uni
yersal. Combined for the peaceful and
patriotic purpose of peOpling the country
by inviting settlers from home and abroad,
It's objects will escape the shafts even Of
the most invidiOus critics. Even the bit
terest defamers and enemies of the South
cannot deny her the right to heW out a
broad path to fame and fortune.
Let us then compete with the Northern
and western States in an honest rivalry,
and although those sections are far ahead
of us in many points, the light that can
be thrown upon the resources and OppOr-
tunities of the South will soon attract and
invite cOnsidera ton. That once secured,
prejudice will soon disappear. for s'the
almighty dollar' is always on the lookout
for an opening to reproduce itself, and
the gentle tide now flowing Southwark
will become powerful stream, bearing on
its broad bosom all the elements of
strength and gradeur. Let us seize it on
the Hood and bend all of our energies to
the accomplishment of the noble designs
for which the above organization has been
formed. 1t is great and patriotic OBJ
ject and one that should not only enlist
the warmest and heartiest support and
sympathy of all of the Southern people,
but should disarm all opposition and repel
all charges OF a sectional spirit.
The PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION
will be awaited with eager interest, for it
is hoped that it will take the initiative in
putting into operation a movement that
will be of vast Importance, not alone to
the South, but to all portions of the CON-
mon country.
A very large amount Of building has
already been put under contract for the
ensuing summer. Three fine brick blocks, |
containing fifteen or sixteen stores, three !
stories high, are to be erected in the bust |
ness portion of the city, while a costly and !
commodlous court house is also to be con-
stlucted. Mechanics will be in demand
during the summer, while the various
railroads now being built in the State will
furnish employment to large numbers of
labOrers.
Last Thursday the first train from this
city entered Palatka, on the Jackson
vile, Tampa and Key West road, and
the occurrence produced scarcely ripple
of excitement. That active and ener-
getic town, Palatka, will feel the impetus
of this connection, and her enterprising |
citizens are making the most of their ad- |
Vantages. Palatka now boasts a spicy |
and well conducted daily paper, that will |
aid greatly in promoting the boom which |
this town is enjoying.
SINCE THE COMPLETION OF HER FIRST
railroad, Tampa also is moving forward |
to the front and is filling UP her vacant /
lots with commendable rapidity. Her |
future looks bright and promising and |
many of the Spanish dOublOons received |
in exchange for Florida beeves in that |
portion of the State, will now be invested |
in bricks and mortar.
Jay GOuld's yacht is unable to cross the |
st. Johns bar; so that our aching eyes |
will not have chance Ofseeing his beau |
tiful vessel. The great millionaire |
himself has not put in an appearance,
and will probably attempt to slip through !
as quietly as possible. There are so many |
notable persons here, and we are so ac- |
customed to their presence. that even this |
great tinancier would hardly attract more |
than passing notice. The community |
is not given to the sensational, and man. |
worship is as yet unknown.
Strawberries are showing their ROSY |
faces, and are purchased by wealthy Wis |
ltOrS at dollar and a half per quart OF |
course "natives" cannot indulge in such |
luXuries at present. In New York, to |
which shipments of this fruit have been |
forwarded, they probably bring three or |
four times the above price. Some few |
early vegetables are also coming in, but |
everything of the sort is month behind |
the usual season.
VISITORS ARE STILL POURING IN
by the hundreds and thousands, and there |
seems to be no diminutiOn in the daily |
list of arrivals. The hotels are full, and |
the steamers and trains 90 and come |
crowded. Many purchases of land are |
daily made all over the State, and the |
orange fever shows no signs of abatement. |
The winter has been n prosperous one,
and the coming summer will be a period |
OF activity and progress. Florida is con- /
stantly gaining in prestige, and the good |
character she has acquired has been
strengthened by the experience of the |
hordes of new visitors who have passed |
the winter under her balmy skies.
The weather is as pleasant as possible.
and our principal business street during /
these soft spring days is moving mass Of