Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-08
WEST FLORIDA.

WV NNNA hub ofAA
road, after skirting Escambia bay, with
its beautiful bluffs, picturesque villas and
lovely expanse of water, in less than one
hour pauses at
MILTON,
twenty miles distant, where he will do
well 10 tarry at least for one day. He
VIII mud handsome little town of 1000
lnhaoitants prettly situated on the banks
OF Black Water river a deep and naviga-
Dle stream, where there is dry dock for
the repair of the Pensacola shipping) and
We'll shaded with outrageous live
shlre town OF Santa Rosa county,
ana boasts public library,
with 1900 volumes, four white aud one
colored school, six churches, one foundry,
three gristmills, two hotels, and quite a
number of thriving business establish
msnts. The writer was nicely cared for
at the santa Rosa hotel, which is kept by
Mr., j. W. Amos. Among the principal
business houses are, in the line vi general
merchandise, G. A. Creary, W. Thomp-
son, $. II. Blake, John j. MINIS, Mayer
Bro, Johnston Il Bro, J. Ollinger, X. Il.
sheppard, who il also clerk of the court,
and w. II. Gaines. Confectionery and
groceries, I. H. Curtis; cabinet-makers
aud undertakers, Joseph Marsh and l. S.
Liiias; steam sawmill, +. Jernagan.
Hon. Ii. Rowe isthe popular Mayor, and
John Car0vitz, Postmaster. rhe latter is
model officer. The County Judge, Hon.
John Chain, is an octogenarian, butin the
full possession OF all of his faculties,
and deservedly held in the highest estlma-
ton.
the Tax Collector, Mr.. w. j. Williams,
has been in Office for IL years. He re-
ports the population of Santa Rosa county
to be 1000, and its taxablo values $l.575,-
40. There are IL sawmills 10 the county.
BLAcKwATER.
This is the name of another village for
merly called Bagdad, which is the seat OF
an immense sawmill. and one of the larg-
est sash, blind and door factories ia the
South. The former is owned by j. Il.
Creary, and cuts 100000 feet of lumber
daily. No less than 1, 1000, 900 feet Of lum-
Der were to he seen piled up on the banks
OF the river ready for shipment. This mill
employs 800 hands. The other concern
uses cypress, chiefly, In the manufacture
of blinds, and they are equally as light
and far more durable than those made of
white or yellow pine. A speciality also is
the construction OF cypress water tanks,
for which there is an extensive demand in
Mobile, New Orleans, and elsewhere.
Blackwater has ~ business houses,
ara 900 inhabitants. In this connection
We would also mention the Santa Rosa
Academy, at Milton, which, under the
charge OF Prof. W G. Carpenter, assisted
by Miss Ready, is largely attended and
doing much for the good OF the commu-
nifty. The professor is a cultivated gen.
tleman and experienced educator.
DE FUNIAK SPRINGS.
Sixty miles east of Milton the train
stops again at this remarkable place,
Nnch bids fair to become national re-
sort for the Invalid and tourist. Imagine
a lovely lakelet one mile In circumference
rs transparent as crystals, and 60 feet in
depth, perched upon lofty pla eau go
feet above the Gulf of Mexico, and sur
rounded by noble pine forests. whose tree
tops ever send forth the tabled music OF
the spheres. This is DeFunlak, the
"Florida Chautauqua."
In imitation of the New York original,
which has earned an enviable reputation
as humane aud literary foundation, a
similar institution has been formed and
located here, under the auspices and pat
ronage Of many OF the brightest lights In
the armament OF letters. Among these
may be mentioned Rev. Charles f. Deems,
ID. d., of New York; Rev. W. Adams,
u. d., OF Augusta; Rev. G.. A. Nun
nally, ID. D., OF Eulaula; Hon. ). Il.
Mallory, OF Florida; Gen. Loring, Of
st. Augustine, Fla; Bishop j. M.
Walden, Ill. d., OF Chattanooga; Judge
A. +. Maxwell, Of Pensacola, and many
other learned and distinguished dignI-
tarles from the North and South. The
object OF the association IL to promote the
cause OF education in all OF its depart
ments. These will embrace the art school,
! the Sunday school normal, the kinder
garten, the school Of cookery, the school
OF music, forestry and agricultural meet
ings, the ministers institute, teachers
institute, elocutiOn, etc. The exercises
the present year will begin on Feb. % and
continue FIVE weeks.
The MANAGEMENT, AT an expense Of$7, 600,
have secured long list OF names cover
ing many OF The most distinguished
scholars, orators aud diyincs OF the Union,
who will deliver addresses upon appro-
pirate subjects during the session. A
large attendance OF visitors IL expected,
and every effort will be made TO entertain
them comfortably.
DeFuniak, albeit in its infancy, already
has three hotels, one public school and a
which is the initial building of the Meth
odist college. That denomination, and
the Presbyterisns also, have secured eli
gible sites, and intend TO establish liter
ary schools. Considerable sums OF money
have been subscribed and donated for
that purpose. The population Of the
place last July, by actual count, was
600. Nearly all OF the settlers are in good
circumstances and have planted their
stakes here for life. At this time there
are thirteen stores and new residences In
process OF erection.
To show that DeFuniak is not merely a
Florida city on paper, we give the names
OF the following business firms, who are
all subscribers and readers OF the Savan-
nah MORNING NEWS; general merchan-
disc, Is. +. MarZOni, q. ID. McSwain, A.
p. Jones. King, King Il Co., Chisholm n
Manning; drugs, l.. Z. Campbeli real
estate agent, r. 7. Wright; express
agent and telegraph operator, j. B. Nc
ElwaiD, an old knight OF the quill, and
A. q. Hutchison, livery and sale stables.
The "New York Boarding House, is
quite a popular resort, aud additional
places Of entertainment Will soon b. In
readiness. The climate 10 simply delight
fui, and no spot In Florida offers superior
Inducements 10 those in search OF health
and recreation.
The Chatauqua exercises, as stated,
commence on Feb. 20, and the programme
Is exceedingly interesting. To the Secre-
tary Of the ASSOCIATION, Mr.. G. &. Bauhi,
the writer Is under many obligations for
Information and c0urtesies rendered.
Once more resuming his explorations
In the "Land OF Flowers" your CORE
spondent, taking up "hls carriages" de-
parted for that ancient maritime town,