Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-17
FLORIDA IN MID WINTER.
The Effects of the Freeze Less Disas.
trous Than First Reported.

mat continue to arrive from the inferior M
1ne enects Of the late freeze are more favor
aoie than those at first received. A more
hopeIui feeling prevails, and the depression
OF last week Is subsding. There is aI1r.,s :.
falling of in business Just after the bol,,i.,,s
and this fact, coupled with the gloomy advices
OF the injury inflicted by the cold wave
brought about pretty general desmond
ency. NOW the sales Of the merchants ara
encouraging, strangers are arriving in large
numbers. and the c0untenances of the coror,1-
nlty are again irradiated with cheerfulness
Visitors report terrible cold IN the North and
west ana appear delighted to reach a climate
Mhere Ihey can take outdoor exercise without
the danger Of losing their ears and noses
Hereafter the preachers of the frost linz
ttheory should hold their peace, for the de-
fusion winch has so long misguided them has
DeSu IS..t; exposed. There are very few, il anv
RoItlOns OF the state, that are absolutely free
from the nipping touch of Jack Frost,s
myers While here and there there may be
,o Miuo areas IN which the general vegetation
mas escaped serious injury. tender nIants
everywhere have suffered. One very e-rstif,-
ing indication Is manifest, that the beari1g
orange trees are unhurt, eXeept in the bliybto
lns Is Vi some OF the young shoots, aud the she'd
Jung OF leaves. The few late warm davs are
bringing on considerable exfoltatfon erd
many OF the trees in this vicinity will nre-
sent somewhat bare and naked appear-
ance IN fortnight.
My acquaintance with the State ru,,s bool
IOl period OF thirty years, and although
WITHIN that term / have seen the ther1noraSe
Yer lower than during the recent cold snap. I
HaNe never before experienced such con-
tlnuanee OF freezing weather. For seven d9Is
IN succession we had the temperafura at
some some portion OF the twenty four hours. below
oIuiilt3 oIia.3 -tMo degrees The number, even of the
OI9Sst t lhhaDltants, IS very small who can re-
caii similar experience. 1t is alfogether
od0 ana unusual, and rarely occurs twice in
the same generation.
ORANGE TREE
will endure greater degree of cold than was
supposed, and also that the tree is caDabIa Nv
process OF aeoiimatiOn, Of habtuating itself
70 a more severe latitude. 1t is only fifteen
\, FIoi sidce tne orange fever became epidemic
IN riOIida, ana within that short period a vast
Iund or useful information has been collected
relaJlVe 10 Its successful and profitable culti-
Vation. Experience and experiments VIII add
s1. " tills stock OF knowledge, and the time may
come When hardy variety capable of resist
ing a temperature Of 10 degrees or lower NAV
De discovered. This would be proparated in
tlii tlie eias'erhl middle and western portions of
floIluss, Whlle the more tender and delicate
varieties would be planted in the southern
sections Fatlent research ana investigation
iead TO great and remarkable results. and
mere Is wide field for exnloration This IN
dustry Is becoming so important is en~aoing
so much ability and intelligence, and employ
ing SO much capital, that skill and talent viii
continue to be taxed to devise the means bv /
which disasters may be averted The formida
bic Insect that once threatened the aImosf |
complete determination of the orauae trees |
mas been encountered and conquered Meth |
must be understood and practiced. and cont |
flower, safety"
lt L. may be slsO that the recent experience
VIII induce some or many to engage in the |
cultivation of other products besides the or |
ange. 1t Is neither safe, wise nor desirable |
tnat the bulk OF any population should confne /
themselves to q single industry Such a nrac /
tice sometimes leads to WidesDread ruin and |
Had the cotton States abandoned to
some extent the cultivation of the feoGv sta |
pie-so long and so universally pursued-and |
ulVefsined their Industries bY raising larger |
bread crops, more swine and cattle erectinp /
more factories, etc, who can doubt that their
condition would have been materially i'm |
pfoVedf In Florida there are so many ave- !
nues TO wealth quite as certain and profitable !
az the orange culture, that prudence should |
dictate the employment Of large proportion /
Oh means and energy in such occupations. To-
pacco, Jute, rice and sugar all great and i'm |
poftant staples, have been wonderfully ne
elected. These crops promise as much success !
ana remuneration as the culture 0f fruits and |
and are perhaps not eypOspd 70 as |
great ana as frequent viclssitudes. These |
must, IN the course of time, attract their vO-
tarIes, and the sooner the better for the gen.
eral welfare. 1t must be confessed, however
that there is a peculiar fascination about or
=
crate capital required, the almost assurance |
oil success, and the promise of independence |
after comparatively short eXDenditure Of |
labor and endurance.
WITHIN A SINGLE WEEK
one useful citizen came to his death and |
another mans life yet hangs in the balance |
from the use of the ready revolver in the
hands OF men frenzied by whisky The F.egis- |
lature would discharge a duty 20 society if /
they enacted statutesimpOsng a heavy pen |
atty OF not less than 500 upon all convicted OF |
carrying concealed deadly weapons, with con- |
nScdt1On OF the weapon. II shOuld he IN ade tho /
duty of the Circuit Judges 10 bring the law /
specially to the attention of grand iuries /
anu 10 see TO Its strict and rigid enforcement
Inc imposition OF one or more such penalties |
In every county an this State would not only l
render the abominable habit unfashionabIe. |
but as dangerous to the wBaFer as to the com |
munity. There are numerous callow BOYS and |
oralnIess men, who cannot spell the word |
pistol, and who yet consider it an evidence |
Oh bravery never to be without one Of these |
dangerous implements. It is a silly, unneces- I
sary and cowardly habit, which society should /
punish as criminal.
.Pere Hyacinthe leetHred twice in St. Johns |
church, and attracted large congregations. |
As his remarks were delivered in the French 1
language, only a small proportion of his hear 1
ers was benefited. 1t is quite unfortunate |
That this distinguished divine has not mas /
tered our dialect rs his commanding abili- |
lies would exercise so much more influence 4
among an English-speakingp population. Those 1
who were able to comprehend his arguments /
express the highest admiration Of his logic /
and eloquence. He went up the river vester-
lay, and viii visit Tallahassee and Pensacola /
before taking his departure from the State. !
THE GRAND LODGE OF THIS STATE
commenced It's annual session to-day, with a /
Iull attendance from the subordinate lodges. |
About 200 delegates were present and as /
body they would have attract /
ed attention anywhere. Among them were |
-he veteran grey boards. thoroughly versed in /
-he intricate lore Of the craft, and experts in |
rs laws ana usages, and young and enthnsi-
lstlc Workmen fresh from their apprentice l
ship, all meeting upon a common level. Twas /
goodly gathering, composed of the worth 1
Oone ana sinew Of Florida. Delegates were
there from far off Pensacola, and from the re-
mote island city, Key West. The order is in 1
good condition in Florida. popular and pros +
porous, and the Grand Lodge, nov in session,
may be accepted as a fair tyne of a brother-
hood respectable in numbers and influence 1
Fhe Grand Chapter is also in session.
Inc Grams Division Qf the Sons Of Temper
ince was also convened this morning. These
and faithful workers are doing much
good quietly and without ostentatiOn. and
heir power has been shown in the shaping of
state legislation. Year by year they are
pushing forward their columns and tbey de-
serve the sympathy and active support oil the 4
better portions of the community
A splendid herd Of blOOded cattle princi-
Dally Jerseys, and numbering nearly iOO has /
been offered for sale here, and presents
plendid opportunity for the Improvement of
'ur inferior stock. In Middle Florida much
attention has been given OF late TO the raising
II fine horned cattle, and it has been found SO
profitable that the business is rapidly growing
Il Importance.
IT IS A SUBJECT OF REGRET
hat food fishes in our noble river are dimin-
shing In number and quantity. That dainty
ish, the shad, is said to be fast disaDpearing 1
steps are now being taken to restock this /
tream Gill nets and steamboats, have fright
med away the tinny tribes. aad FROM present
appearances this healthy and nutritious artI-
md uncertain.
The Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
railroad is completed to within fifteen miles
# Palatka, and 300 hands went down this
week to finish the gap of twenty mil9s be-
ween Sanford and Tampa, on the south
florida Railroad. This important line will /
oon be In operation, and the citizens of that
eetion will be happy in quick aud certain
Every effort is being made by the managers
4 the state Fair to demonstrate the fact that
,lthough we have been recently visited BY
destructive ffGets, Florida can vet make an
Exhibit OF fruits, flowers and vegetables that
VII be remarkable both in quantity and