Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-23
A Florida Epidemic.


For several years past an epidemic OF
town-buhding has been raging IN this
State. Along the lines of new railroads
we find new towns going up at the end OF
every two or four miles of distance, and
this regardless OF what the bantling may
have to depend upon for its future sup
port.
An article reproduced on our first page
from the Savannah NEWS contains a good
deal of truth and common sense on this
subject. 1t may he remarked, however,
that all our new towns are not projected
or built for the purpose simply of utiliz-
ing our "black-jack barrens." There are
several classes of new towns, aud they
may be characterized as paper towns,
winter towns and real towns, Those
built in the black Jack deserts are
about equally divided between the
tirsttwo classes; some of them exist only
on paper, in gorge Gus maps aud flaming
advertisements, or IN the able fancy Of
those dupes who believe that valuable
"town" lots in Florida may be bought for
from 81 TO So each. Others are towns only
in winter, when the influx Of people flee
IN from colder climate gives them an
appearance Of life and boua tide existence.
These are built up sure enough: have line
hotels, churches, stores and numerous
residences, are gorgeous in winter with
people In fine clothes and resonant with
music furnished by the enterprisiug hotel
keepers and prOprietors Of the place. In
summer, however, they are deserted and
are as lonesome as graveyard. They
have no back country to support them,
and, consequently, can never rise above
the dignity and Importance of mere winter
resorts.
But Florida has a good many real towns
towns that have sprung up from both
the eXigencies and advantages Of the stu
alton, and which, therefore, viii nave an
existence co-eternal with that of the state.
Occupying situations which the ai1roads
or water-courses, or both, have rendered
both eligible and necessary as points of
distribution for commercial purposes and
depots for the shipment OF the products
OF a fertile surrounding territory, their
existence is an unavoidable necessity and
their permanency Is thus assured.
To this last class belongs Wildwood.
| Fertile farms and bearing orange groves
surround it for miles on all sides and the
products Of these find market or ship
ping point here. The junction OF the
railroads, giving it outlets north, east and
south make il an excellent distributing
point, while its natural advantages, such
as health, fine water, and lands rich
enough for man Nth moderate
energy to make a living on them. have
| all combined TO enforce it, as il were, into
existence in spite Of many unpr0pitious
circumstances That attended its incipi.
ency. The most important result, per-
haps, of its many advantages, is the per-
manent character of the population which
we have. We have no transitOry or win
ter citizens; our people have their homes
here and live here the year round. They
do not live In some other State and sim
ply come here to spend their winters.
| Having, therefore, no other homes, they
are improving their places here as fast as
their means Will allow, and consequently
the country is gradually, surely and pref
tily buildingup.
We have not been advertised and
''puffed" and "bOomed" with deceitful
map, mendaciOus circular, alluring pla-
card or callIOpean announcement in sub
sidized newspapers; but we have grown
oteadily on nevertheless, and the adjacent
surrounding country has kept pace with
our growth, and has uearly filed up with
a moral, industrious and abiding popula-
ton. In word, Wildwood is real
town, and Is destined TO remain so.