The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-05-27

stop ct neither, being extended rs that
grand northwest and southeast route
down into Florida which has from
time to time been advocated in these COL
umns. We are told that large railroad
corporation southeast Of us in the State,
and large railroad corporations northwest
of us in other States, are looking to this
route as being the best for getting in and
out OF Florida The former is the Flori-
da Southern, which, we hear, is anxious
to push through from the Peninsula to q
connection at Tallahassee with line run
ming northwestward, as being it's best
way of getting business from outside of
the State. The latter are the Georgia Mid
land and Gulf, and even so great and
far away corporation as the Illinois
Central, which looks this way for the
shortest route into Florida from the pop
ulous Northwest. The Illinois Central
is corporation Of vast wealth and wide
spread influence in controlling railroad
travel, and its endorsement of the under
taking in Georgia and Florida would not
only assure the construction of the road,
but secure it a constant rush of business,
for it could direct aud ticket stream OF
travel over it.
That this route down into Florida must
certainly and ere long be opened is con-
coded by all who we have heard express
an opinion, and for two reasons. One is
that it will traverse parts of Florida
which need a railroad more than any
others-and it is demand that creates sup
ply. The other is that it is the nearest
road down into Peninsular Florida
from the Northwestern States and the
Middle South. Such facts amount to ne
cessities for the construction of the line,
and must be it's cause.
The middle portion Of this great route
is that in which we of Leon county have
immediate interest-the point OF initial
effort, the link between the Georgia and
Florida systems Let us get up into
Georgia from Tallahassee, and the road
from the northward will reach down to
the upper end and the road from the
southwark to this lower end of our link.
The road from Tallahassee to cambridge
being built the extensions at either end
will quickly come to junction with it.
And we know that it is in the power OF
this community to secure the road. We
know that its men of means can afford to
subscribe the moderate amount which
will be required to give the undertaking
a business shape that will call to
its aid all the assistance needed
to carry it out. But perhaps Tai
lahasseeans don't want the railroad
don't want to be annoyed by the hustle
of "boom" We are 80 comfortable
here in our pleasant country and resttul
little city that perhaps we don't want to
be disturbed-prefer the dolce far niente
of the status quo to the risk of any
change. But we must change or be
" lvH =. in r''. 1900 &c r--o---- y
the rest of the State that we will become
nsigni6cant-unable to command our po-
litical rights, unable to retain the CAPT
toll, unable to maintain our self respect.
We must change, or lack of employment
will continue to force the sons of Talla-
hasseee to go abroad when their man.
hood is needed to build up and populate
their native city-we must change or be
lacking in duty to God and mankind by
failing to develop the excellent country
given into our charge, burying, as it were,
the treasure con6ded to us instead of in
creasing it by wise management. To
bring about change of affairs aud make
the city wealthy and prosperous we must
have the railroad, and citizens Of means
say that they want it. If so, their proper
course is organization, subscription of
money and concert of action. 1t may be
that all the money they expend in begin
ming the work of construction will be re-
paid them by outside capitalists who may
take the enterprise in hand, but if not
they will still have stock in it, and will
be largely pro6ted by the appreciation of
property which will ensue. Men of means
who say they want the railroad and don't
aid it, are as men who complain Of hun
ger when food is within reach.