Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-24
ORLANDO IN HIGH GLEE.
THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW
RAILROAD CELEBfATED.

Music and Throngs of People Greet the
First Train on It's Arrival --Impor-
tAnce and Advantages of the New
Link-The Country Traversed and the
Terminal Points.
ORLANDO, FLA, June 23.-NO event
in the history of South Florida, and par
ticularly Orlando, has caused such wide
spread interest as the completion of the
Tavares. Orlando and Atlantic Railroad,
connecting by the only all-rail route the
great cities of the South and West with
| Orlando and Southern Florida, shortening
the time from ten to fifteen hours, and
avoiding the breaking Of bulk in trans
| portNhon. In honor of this great occa-
sion the citizens Of Orlando made every
| preparation for big day, banquet and
/ ball, and the result has been most graft
! flying TO all concerned.
ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST TRAIN.
The first train from Jacksonville over
this new road was received by vast
crowd upon It's arrival here to-day, and
was escorted with music to its quarters.
The day was spent informally. Strangers
were driven TO places of interest. AT
O'Clock the banquet was given at the
! Charleston House. The menu was
spOnded to by Messrs. Hoffman, Abrams,
Shine, Beggs, Ammo, Gunby of Orange,
Papy of Fernandina, Wright of Jackson
vile, and Fleming of Savannah, The
opera pouse was magniicently decorated
and filed with beauty from home and
abroad. The grand ball was a great
success.
THE TAVAREs, ORLANDO AND ATLANTIC c
RAILROAD.
A little more than a year ago the Tropi-
cal Construction Company, under the
management OF its efficient and energetic
President Alex. st. Clair-A brams. took
hold of this road with n determination TO
put it through and equip 1t. r. c! Hand,
Esq, was made Chief Engineer and the
work begun i'm earnest, and, nOtwith
standing the most determined opposition
from competing lines, the great depres-
sion in money matters, and the timidity
of capitalists TO embark in new enter
prises, the management, by
the most untiring and per-
sistent effort, succeeded in com
pleting the road and equiping IL in the
best manner. The road extends from
Orlando, ON the South Florida Railroad,
10 Tavares, the terminus Of the Southern
division of the Florida Railway and Nayi-
cation Company, a distance of 20 miles.
The track is Of five-fOOt gauge, is well
laid with steel rails and fully up 10 the
standard Of other good roads. Two man.
moth engines of the Rogers pattern fur
nish the present motive power, and the
passenger and freight ears are OF the
latest and best design. Other equipment
viii be added as the demand makes IL
necessary.
THE COUNTRY
from Orlando to Tavares, tributary
and through which the road passes,
is uniformly good, and presents as
great attractions as any part Of the state.
II is being rapidly filed up with a de-
siTable class Of settlers, and the future
output and demand Of this locality will
he immense. A safe estimate OF the
present vegetable crop Of this section can
be put at $4,000 crates, which will be
largely increased with the better shipping
facilities. FROM one sta:I0n alone, and
in the unfinished state Of this road more
than $500 crates were shipped this
season. Six stations have been placed so
far, and others are 10 be named shortly.
THE TERMINAL POINT,
Orlando, the county seat of Orange,
can we'll claim the position Of the leading
town Of South Florida. Surrounded by a
prosperous and growing country, her
trade and Importance have kept pace
with her extensive improvements, and TO-
somely-built city. Handsome stores or
dwellings are on every street, large stocks
Of merchandise and energetic merchants,
machine shops and warehouses, two COM
peting lines of railway, and new build
ings going up on all sides, are some Of
the characteristics Of Orlando.
TaVares, situated on the beautiful Lake
Dora. has great possibilities. IL enjoys
the privilege Of being the terminus Of
IA
amount OF push and enterprise. 1t has a
good natural position, and its trade Is
bound % Increase. A contract with the
ChattahOochee Brick Company Of GeOr-
gIa for 1000, ,0C0 brick has been made, and
an opera house and row Of brick dwellings
and stores Will be commenced at once.
sOME ADVANTAGES.
The tedious and slow water route from
Jacksonville TO Sanford is avoided by this
line. Leaving Savannah at 1901 a. m.
and changing 10 the Florida Railway and
Navigation road At Callahan, Orlando Is
reached at 80 p. m. same day, while via
81. Johns river 10 a. m. is the arriving
time next day a saving by the new route
Of II hours. Then, too. the gauge being
wide no transfer of track is necessary and
cars from any point can
be- brought TO Orlando. The Tavares,
Orlando and Atlantic Railroad Is at
present in harmony with the South
| Florida Railroad, ana the rates are the
same an rail "a by the river; but no one
| thinks this state Or affairs will continue
very long. and cheaper rates Will come.
/ The new road is naturally feeder
/ to the Florida Railway and Nayi-
I cation Company's lines. and they will
| work this trade for all II Is worth. A
| through sleeper between Orlando and
] Montgomery, Ala. will be- put on next
week via The Florida Railroad and Navi-
CATION and Louisville and Nashville
roads. In any event, Orlando is now a
/ competing point, and a cut by either road
| will but benefit her and the country be-