The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-01-14
Letter from Jacksonville.
THE MARINE RAILWAY. CHRISTMAS AT THE
SOUTH. THE LUMBER BUSINESS. RIVER
STEAMERS. DEATH OF DIR. L'ENGLE'S son.
FIRES. RUBBISH IN THE STREETS.

THE MARINE RAILWAY. CHRISTMAS AT THE
SOUTH. THE LUMBER BUSINESS. RIVER
STEAMERS. DEATH OF DIR. L'ENGLE's son.
FIRES. RUBBISH IN THE STREETS.
Correspondence of the Journal.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Dec 27, 1885. l saw
an item i'll your paper a few weeks ago about
the marine railway Of Drew, Hazeltine & Liv-
ingston of this city, and having recently visited
the railway can give you more particulars
about it. The engine is of forty horse power
and takes a steamer out iii thirty minutes, with
forty pounds of steam, or about half the press
ure allowed. The track is 692 feet long, and
there is twenty feet of water at the outer end.
The cradle is 200 it. long and runs out to about
twelve feet of water. The rollers are fifteen
inches long and five inches in diameter. Every
thing is ;ts solid as wood and iron can make it.
The first vessel, steamer, was taken out 4Au-
gust 2Sth, 1855, in eighteen minutes. The fore
man in charge of the building and running of
the railway is Mr. Winchenbach formerly Of
Waldoboro, Me. The railway cost $4,000.
Perhaps some of your readers do not know
much about Christmas in the South. 1t is
like fourth of July in the North. 1t began
here OH the evening of the 24th with the firing
of India crackers, pistols and rockets, and such
a racket | have not heard for long time.
From appearances | should judge that great
many of the people, both white and colored,
We're trying to see how much they could drink
and keep on their feet. 1t was a jolly time and
was kept up until Saturday evening.
| see Capt. Daniel Shute every day. He was
formerly of Belfast, and sailed in the employ
of 5. A. Howes X Co. He has been here tif-
teen years and is watchlnan at the depot.
The lumber business is quite dull here at
this time. Tho mills cannot get logS as fast as
they want them and consequently there are not
many freights for vessels and they have to 20
to other ports to load. Capt Chaples towed to
Brunswick last week to load for New York
Capt Gilmore started yesterday for Palatka to
discharge the remainder of his cargo Of lime.
lie has not chartered yet.
] recently visited the Lower Mill, called,
(there are five here) which is owned and run
by Wilson Il Hunting, of Baltimore. They
We're saving with two circular saws and told
me they could saw 60 NJ per day in ten hours
When | started to 90 down to the mill took
the horse cars which carried me about half of
the distance, and then | had to foot it. soon
after leaving the cars | asked man how far
it was to the Lower Mill. His answer was:
''About fifteen minutes" | could not tell
whether he took me for Weston or Frank Jor-
dan, but | followed the shell road through the
woods and arrived in about thirteen minutes,
standard time.
The river steamers are quite busy now car
rying passengers and freight. ] am told there
are eghty-two on the st. Johns Of all kinds,
and almost every wharf in the city is steam
boat wharf.
AT 1870 A. NJ. Christmas. John Q. L'Engle,
Jr., age u years, son of DR.. J. G. L'Engle
was shot and died instantly. He took pistol
from the mantel in the parlor and in returning
it the hammer caught in his coat and it was
discharged, the ball entering his mouth rang
ing upward to the brain. The funeral took
place Saturday afternoon from st. Johns Epis-
copal church and was largely attended.
Since | wrote there has been some very cold
weather here, heavy frosts and ice one half
inch thick a number of times. | often see
ladies with sealskin cloaks on, but the people
here say that after the first of January they
usually have warmer weather.
There was hard fire here last week. 1t burned
out six stores and number of offices overhead
The loss was heavy, but nearly covered by in
surance. 1t is wonder they do not have more
fires, for there is lots of paper and rubbish in
the streets. What would the people of Belfast
think to see your ''boy" bring out from the
journal office, five or six bushels of waste
paper and dump them into the street and have
it blow through church street as far as Dr.
Brooks house. | have seen it done here often
Wishing you and your subscribers a happy
New Year. Yours, Nc.