Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-11
A GROWING FLORIDA TOWN.
Points About Railroad BuiIding-Im
migration and Farming.


O'BRIEN, FLA. Feb. Cit strikes a
casual observer that, as a State, Florida
and Georgia are not fully appreciated by
many who have never known any otner
homes. Both have natural advantages
that should long since have made them
very populous and wealthy. But this
State particularly seems TO have, TO some
extent. been permitted to take care OF IL
self, because of either failure to see Its
capabilities or alack of people and money
to push it forward. But the nucleus is
here, and is bound to show up sooner or
later. AS the population increases, and
the country IS opened up and new towns
spring into existence, that great ana pO-
tent factor of thrift, prosperity ana Wealtn,
the railroad, strikes out in all directions,
lending its formidable aid and encourage
ment to the people of heretofore isolated
sections. With the presence OF the
railway. newly settled sec
tiOn of country grows rapidly, ana Tue
land increases in value. In the last IOuf
years there have been practically con-
structed in Florida 1000 miles OF IRON
highway which is a remarkably goOd
showing for any State, North or cOulD.
From the time of the States admission
up to 1881. there had been built but lit
tie over 500 miles OF road, and to-day
there are equipped and in operation here
nearly 800 miles, with nearly 800 miles
graded and now being completed.
Locally the numerous advantages OF
railroad have been felt and realized in
Suwannee county. Two years ago the
enterprising Savannah, Florida and west
ern Company extended Its ROAD from Live
Oak to Gainesville, since which time a
nr0Tl-
Using towns have been born along its
route. In this list is OBrien, which
is building up quite rapidly, and
is becoming important enough IN
it's own estimation at least, to need
and be entitled to a good-slZed depot
building, the demands for which the peo-
pie here hope and believe the company
will very soon see. If the proper shipping
facilities were to be found here, this
would quickly become quite extensive
shipping point for truck farmers, cotton
and sugar growers, lumber merchants,
turpentine manufacturers, ETC., as other
wise it is the most desirable point for
miles around. 1t is to be hoped the OBJ
| serving management OF the savannah,
Florida and Western will take
prompt cognizauce of these pointers,
which are given gratis. A half dozen
or more Northern families have recently
taken up their residence at this point,
and each new conner is urging frozen-up
Northern friends to ''fOllOw the Southern
star of empire" There is plenty
room here, and large quantities of good
land for any kind of farming. The ques-
ton and feasibility of constructing sur
face bed for the underground por-
tiOn of Little river, from
point four miles northeast of O'Brien
to point near the Suwannee river, where
it again appears on the surface, is being
earnestly discussed along the proposed
route, and if the scheme is carried out
this section will be blessed with plenty of
good fresh water. The cost of unearthing
this subterranean portion of Little river
will be small in comparison with the great
advantage to be derived. We hope the
idea will be promptly carried out.
Farmers at and around OBrien expect
to ship large quantities of fruit, vegeta-
bles, cotton and sugar TO Savannah and
other markets during TIE coming season.