Savannah morning news., 1886-03-08
PLEASANT LAKE CITY.
THE TOWN ORIGINALLY MOOR
PORATED AS ''ALMGATOR.v

PORATED AS S"ALLIGATOR."
Printed ENaEgerattons-A Great Sea
Island Cotton Centre-How the Lint is
Prepared-The j. & =. Costes Thread
Company Institution
Florida Agricultural Conege-Prof.
Whitner - Statistics and Business
HOuses-The Press-A New Boom. Etc.
The emigrant and traveller entering
Florida is bewildered by the number OF
artistloally gotten up and elegant Illus
trated publications issued for the most
part in the Interest of those who, TO use a
homelY expression, shave axes to grind,n
yet purpOrting to be veracious accounts
of this or that town, county or section.
Some Of these approximate the truth,
while others rival the astounding tales Of
g.. BARON MUNCHAUsEN.
1t is the purpose of the writer In these
sketches to confne himself to absolute
facts so far as they may be ascertained,
believing that our sister State has suf.
fered no little from the exaggerations OF
ignorant or subsidized individuals en-
ployed to paint the situation cOlea,r de rose
ON all occasions. Florida has nothing to
lose by his candid revelations and is
abundantly able to survive the test.
Lake City, the subject OF this sketch, is
pleasant little place OF about $500 in
habitants, situated on an elevated sandy
plain, and noted for its salubrity. 1t was
originally incorporated as the town OF
aHa ALLIGATOR
in 1856, but three years afterwards that
euphonious appellation was changed to
its present name. The first Mayor was
Hon. Dan L. TrezeVant. The question is
still mooted whether the town was called
Alligator after the Indian chief of that
name, or from a large lake near the SUBJ
urbs which is also thus designated.
1t is the county site OF Columbia, and
surrounded in part by several deep and
clear lakes whose cool waters serve ma
terially to abate the ferVid heats of sum-
mer, while tney add not little 10 the pic
turesque beauty Of the landscape.
The town enjoys the distinction of be-
ing the largest interior shipping point for
SEA ISLAND COTTON
on the globe. The usual receipts sum up
about 4,400 bales each season, worth, on
an average, 500 per bale The silky lint
is compressed into huge sacks made from
bagging of much closer and finer tex
| ture than the fabric employed in baling
the short staple, sewed up, but not con-
TO 400 pounds. All this cotton is grown
in the vicinity, and, when marketed, the
proceeds afford a rich harvest to both
merchants and farmers.
AS is well known, the process Of sepa-
rating the lint from the seed is peculiar,
| the former passing through two rollers
revolving in opposite directions, which,
at the same time, reject the smooth black
kernels of seed. This is done to prevent
N n Ffaoao nf ho Icv "a. .r,Ir %
necessarily happens when the ordinary
saw gin is used. Here the
j. &P. COATES COMPANY,
of Paisley, Scotland, of worldwide fame,
have an immense ginnery and cotton
warehouse, under the management OF Mr..
A. q. BIgelOw, and work up and prepare
the raw material for spinning into the
thread 80 faVorably known TO commerce.
| They have like establishment, also, in
Madison, Fla.
Mr.. A. b. Hart, another enterprising
| citizen, runs similar sea island cotton
gin, and has extensive planning and lum-
Der mills, also, in operation.
Lake City is Justly proud of her educa-
tional institutions. The public schools in
Columbia county are supported by taxa
ton and are over 80 in number. The Pea
body Seminary, for whites, under the able
uperintendence of Prof. Henry Merze,
has l65 pupils in attendance, with tuition
free to all.
There Is also a normal colored Indus
trial College here, with IA students, which
is under the joint direction of board of
trustees, composed of some Of the best citI-
zens OF both races. Among the first Off
GERS chosen appears the name of Hon. G.
r. King, president, who is one OF the
most highly respected and eminent jurists
OF the county.
THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
with an endowment of $l55, 600, arising
from the sale OF the land donated by the
United States government for agricultu-
raj purposes, has entered upon It's second
session with full aud excellent corps of
instructors. The faculty is as follows:
President-A. Q. Holiday, A. NJ.
Professor Of Agriculture-J. N. Whit
ner, A. NJ.
Professor of Mathematics-E. w. Da-
Wis, A. Nj.
In the Chair of Chemistry-J. N. Pc
chel, A. M.
The number of matriculates, which
counted 40, has been somewhat reduced
Of late Dy the prevalence OF measles, but
bids iair to be largely increased in the
future. The course Of instruction, which
is very thorough, embraces not only the
Department OF Agriculture, but the whole
curriculum Oi ancient dLu mOQefu uLera-
tUre, including military tactics.
The main edifice is 4jX95 feet, three
stories IN height, and surmOunted by
tower whose altitude is 95 feet. 1t is sub
stantially constructed OF brick, and pre-
sents quite an elegant appearance. In
addition, cOmmOdi0us dormitOry has
been erected for the accommodation of the
students.
The writer found his old college friend,
Prof. Whitner, true 10 his calling and in
stincts, at work 10 his truck patch, cheered
by the presence and assistance OF his
cara spOsd, who is much the better half OF
the cOnjugal unit. How pleasant thus 10
meet on the great highway OF life from
time TO time with some Of the stricken
few Of our early companions who still
survive. The college is picturesquely
located and owns ll2 acres OF arabic land,
which will make an admirable expert
mental farm. Lake City contains five
white and two cOlored churches, an ex-
cellent system OF water works, good
race track and fair grounds, and numer-
Gus handsome stores. Some Of the pro-
prietOrs OF these aud other business estab-
lishments, whose names we recall as
patrons Of the MORNING NEWS, are, In
the line OF general mere bandise, the
clever Mayor, Hon. James ". Young, who
also runs a separate furniture store, /. r.
Baya, with two stores opposite each other
across the principal street, Edge Il Porter,
Futch Brothers, Perry Brothers a Taylor,
A.W. Curry, B. j. Roberts, W. Il. Hoover,
A DaVidsOu and j. pOdedamer. who.