The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-02

4 0Foae D0y n - 4Do0vl40s
The inaagarasion Of he Clyde Line Of
steamers betwsea NV Yotkesnd jack
s6aville last Thprsday afforded Tho Fioria
do city an opportunity II showing her
notable public spirit and hospitality, and
full well was the opportunity improved.
The guests of the city crowded her streets,
but they did not exceed the measure Of
her hearty welcome. saa carried back to
their homes bright impressions of Flori-
da's eastern emporium, her genial, kindly,
energetic citizens, who 30 we'll deserve the
prosperity they have attained. In the
morning the steamer Cherokee, pioneer of
the line, fine vessel of over two thousand
tons, passed the St. Johns bar with over
q foot of water to spare, and at her wharf
in the city was visited by thousands of
people who admired her elegant cabins
and examined her powerful engines. In
the evening banquet was set forth at the
Everett for the entertainment of two
thousand invited guests, who were re-
ceived in the spacious dining room of that
hotel. Col. J. J. Daniel presided and
welcomed the guests in an appropriate
speech. Col. w. T. Forbes read letters
from Gov. Perry, Judge Raney and Hon.
S. Pasco regretting their inability to at
tend. MIR. B. F. Clyde, one of the pro-
prietors of the steamship line, was intro
duced and in his remarks expressed entire
confidence in the success of the enter
prise. Mayor McQuaid spoke next and
then followed, we are told by those pre-
sent, regular ovation of enthusiastic
cheers as Bloxham I" Bloxham :" was
called for to respond to the toast "Flori-
d." When he could make himself heard
above the noise of his greeting the eloquent
Ex-Governor spoke admirably, as follows :
Mr.. Chairman and FStloD citizens
am glad to be with you on 60 joyful, yes so
important an occasion. When the shrill whistle
of the Cherokee was heard to echo through the
palatal streets OF your beautiful city, announcing
as an accomplished fact the establishment of an
other line OF first-class ocean steamers between
New York and Florida, there was not FOrid.
ian who heard the echo but whose heart beat
lighter and prouder. The pulsation Was felt too
throughout the entire length and breadth Of our
State for the corporate body is like the physical
whatever gives health and vigor to one portion
invgOrates The entire system.
ln business point of view, and as q means of
attracting the serious attention of the immigrant
and business man, il is one OF the best advertise
ments that the State could possibly have. Let
the business man, let the man seeking home in
the South, let the capitalist open paper and read
the head lines of the press dispatch announcing
the fact that a line of steamers has been estab-
lished between New York and Jacksonville, and
it will carry more weight than the best prepared
argument you could possibly present. 1t is q
volume in q word-muitum in parco. And why i?
Because Their is cold business fact that demon
strates that your civic prosperity is established
on firm basis, that 1t is progressive and growing
10 such an extent that your present extensive sys
TENS Of transportation have to be supplemented
with direct line of ocean steamships TO accom-
mOdate the increasing business of your energetic
and progressive business men.
Your city is, of course, dependent upon Flor
ida for its wealth and progress; yes, its exis-
tence, and the establishment of this line is but
the cumulative evidence of the gigantic strides
our'State is making. l say gigantic strides, for
where is there a State that has mole than trebled
her railroad mileage in the last six years? When
you take her population and wealth and calcu
late the percentage, she has built nearly two
miles of road to any other States one in that Pc
Rod. Where Is there State that has nearly
trebled her taxable resources In the last few
years? Her educational facilities have kept
pace with her growing prosperity; and in her
moral and material development she marches 10
The very front rank Of the most progressive
States. Throwing aside the lethargy OF centu-
ries, she at once rises up like Minerva from the
brain of Jove in the full armed panopIy of a
youthful, but vigorous manhood
The event we celebrate to night is but another
evidence of her material growth, and trust, the
prelude to q grander future
A few weeks ago it was announced that the
Baltimore and Ohio road, looking to the rich
fields of Alabamas coal and iron, and a Central
American trade, contemplated making Escam-
bias beautiful bay-PensacOla's splendid harbOr
her Gulf terminus We all rejoiced, for Pen
sacolas anticipated prosperity, like your own or
that of any other city or section, would be felt
throughout the entire State. We rejoiced when
they connected West Florida with the other
portions of the State by bands Of steel
We rejoced When Middle Florida's road was
rejuvenated, and East and South Florida rami-
fed by transportation facilities, and the spark.
ling waters of growing and prosperous Tampa
held the floating palaces that gave us easy access
to Key West, that beautiful gem that rests like a
jewel on old oceans heaving bosom of beauty,
from where We can gather the commercial
wealth whilst luxuriatine in the sunny smiles of
the Queen of the Antilles
But these are accomplished facts, brought
about 50 rapidly, that the Imagination even
halts at the grand conception. But what of our
future growth? That narrow neck Of land,
known az Central America, cannot long block
the worlds commerce between the worlds two
great oceans-wbeiher it is to-day or o-morrow,
whether it will be by marine railway or canal,
that obstacle will he removed and the commerce
thus resulting will necessarily, with our railroad
facilities, invigorate the trade and business OF
our gulf ports. Those ports should receive the
fostering care of the general government for
present purposes and to prepare them for that
great future II is also absolutely necessary that
we should secure deep water at your Atlantic
ports for Florida's energies and great resources
will always be cramped without 1t.
With the accomplishment of such results,
with varied soil to respond 10 cultivation, and a
genial cline that trust may prove fountain
OF youth to every visitor, there are no reasons
why Fioridas future should not be grand and
proud one.
As the temple was built upon the mount by
Canaanite and Tyran, as Lebanon gave her &C.
dars to II, and Ophir her gold, so let US rear
Florida into one vast and teaming common
wealth ny the aid of the brain, the muscle, the
energy and the capital of men from every cline
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