New-York tribune., 1885-03-02
FEATURES OF WEST FLORIDA.
CLIMATE, RESOURCES AND POLITICS.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PENSACOLA
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE OUTRAGE-RAILROA


DEVELOPMENT.
TRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUsE.l
PENSACOLA. Fla, Feb. 24.-Visitors returning
rom New-Orleans by way of Florida will find at
TINS place an agreeable change in the climate.
Ihere Is less wet weather here, and the changes
are not so frequent as In the Crescent City. But
tine traveller who does not come provided with
ooth winter and summer clothing will find himself
decidedly uncomfortable. The changes are fire.
qnent and sudden and are the cause of many con-
nlcting reports about the climate. description
OF recent day in Pensacola will serve as an Illus
tration. The sun gave out an intense heat, there
was warm south wind and the air was that OF
summer. The trees retained their foliage and
stranger would naturally imagine that he had at
last found that delightful winter climate which he
had been led to expect. But it was net long before
"northcr" set IN. and in few hours the tempera-
ture lowered to 80 degrees Winter clothing and
glowing fire were found to be essential 10 comfort.
The inhabitants here believe that they are
the proprietors Of the most wonderful climate
in the world, and the stranger who Is
not prepared to admit that q fact is set
down rs prejudiced. But IL is superior climate to
that OF New-Orleans. as the experience OF travel
lers and the meteorological records prove Florida
is abou 400 miles long from north to south, and in
that distance, of course, many varieties of weather
may be found.
The ride from New-Oreans here is through
slightly varied country. The road skirts the Gulf
ot Mexico all the way to Mobile 40 miles. A vast
pine forest seventy five to 100 miles wide, reaches
almost the whole length of the coast which is
broken by bays. inots and marshes, the home of
the alligator and apparently, of malaria. 1t is
sald however that the balsamc Odors of the pines.
ming Cling with the salt brcezes OF the Gulf bring
health and STRENGTH RcauyOn the home of JEFF
ferson Davis, Bay ST. Louis. Pass Christian and
other villages on the Gulf through which the roId
passes summer resorts. though they do not look
specially inviting Mobile is the only place of m
portance on the way. An interesting visit may be
made to the old forts and earthworks used in the
war. and made historic through Farragut's disman-
Ting them. There IS a striking difference between
Mobile and New-O orleans, though they are so near
together. Mobile is an American city; in appear
ances New Orleans is not. The shops closed iD
Mobile on Sunday. and there an air of Sunday
quietness wholly unknown in the Crescent City.
where the Sabbath Is given over to public cock and
dog fights, excursions, theatrical matinees and to
shows If all kinds and where liquor shops and
gambling houses IN full blast on that day.
From Mobile to Pensacola the traveller continues
to gaze into the gloomy depths of endless pine
woods with their weird sameness. Turpentine
white and coored men, and now aud then saw
mill are the chief evidences of civilization Nearly
the whole South is said to be forest region. and
riding through IL by rail furnishes good evidence of
the fact Florida alone has IS. 600. 0O00 feet OF
standing pine. while the three great lum-
ber States Of the North-MIchigan. Wiscon-
sin and Mlnnesota-have only $1,000, 100000 feet.
Besides her great area of yellow pine there is in
this State a large supply OF cypress. hickory live
oak cedar and other timber The vast cypress
swamps, hung with Spanish moss aud nteraced
with maze Of vines and cree pers. are an interest
ing feature In tho scenery. and this timber is unex
celed for the manufacture OF slaves for syrup and
sugar barrels, and is in large demand for railroad
ties. The difficulty lies in getting at ii in the
Iagoons and swamps, which never freeze. AS trans
portaion facilities are increased and manuiactnr-
ing developed. more attention will he directed to
the lumber industry. II s now the principal busi
ness in West Florida. From Pensacola Lumber IL
shipped largely to Europe and the West Indies.
Last year nearly GOO vessels entered this port with
q total tonnage of 3iSBiS. With few exceptions
they were sailing vessels engaged in the lumber
trade That has been affected by the general de-
preston in business.
WHAT Is NEEDED IL THE SOUTH.
What is needed here is the need of the entire
South-a diversihcation in trade and industry, and
more public spirit and political tolera-
ton. These will follow the Increase of
Immigration now coming into the State
through the extension Of tho railroad
system. There is yet too much of the old Spanish
feeling, well expressed the other day by n Daigo"
who said that the night Is for sleep and the day
for rest" .
Railroad. which was finished In 1888. West Florida
was almost cut of rom the rest of the State. There
was no railroad communication except from Pensa-
ola ,,th ila md Qhyil liza ata
To reach Tallahassee required several DAYS travel
over heavy roads In private conveyance Now that
city II on through route 10 New-Orieans. Ihe
railroads are doing much to develop the southern
country. The development comes as much from
the Improvement OF the rairoadsand railroad stock
as in the amount OF mileage laid. There never was
such a collection of broken-dOwn and dilapdated
railroads those the South possessed III 1868 be-
ginning had been woll said w a railroad expert
nowhere and ending Nowhere rusty and win
brokon rails, worn-out cars aud useless engines.
During the past eighteen years the southern rail-
roads have been extended li,Ooo miles, the
and newly equipped. The result is increased bnsi
ness. and the consolidation Of small and weak lines
into big corporations has formed trunk lines with
sufficient capital TO do much toward building up
the country. The railroad operators IN Texas ot
Could aud Huntington are said TO have conduced
to the immigration OF about 100000 people to that
State Florida held ITS millions OF acres OF land until
within u few years without hnding any sale Tor
them. 1t then adopted The policy of making land
grants to railroads There arc nov about 800 miles
of completed road in tho state, and there are no
less than twenty-eght projected roads with char-
tiers. many OF which now building.
The pppu auon Is Increasing IN greater ratio
than that of any ohor Southern State, aud the com
parativey rapid development of the state Is beyond
question. 1t IL almost entirely duo to Northern
people and Northern capital ond wherever is seen
The hand of progress Is sure to be found an enter
prlsng "Yank" Ii has been hard
struggle for many of these mon TO fight South
ern prejudice and intolerance. Ii Is a struggle |
by no means over. II IL wero possible now Tor |
northern men to exercise the political freedom
here as at bone the State would develop more |
rapidly. Through the railroads, however land Is |
increasing IN value in many parts OF the state
nearly doubled and trebled within few years |
There are still people IN the South who persist |
emily set their faces against the railroads ihey |
are the same class of people who half a century |
a.,a in tur ohiacted having the |