The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-19
pENlN>rLAR SKETCHES.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SWEET
SINGING MOO z NC BIRDS.


sun1ry Improvements-A 7hr fty
Town-Lszy 17ermers-To becco Gull
ture Boom ing-Ctgar Factories The
Tobacco P.ant-"honor to Whom
Honor is Due"-The Line from Macon
to Palatka-Florida Agricultural Col
e-Experin rental Farm, Prof.. j N.
whitney Mastodon skeletons-Dr.
J. 2. Appel the Poorest Nan in
America.
Fort White is a pleasant village and is
situated sixteen miles from Gainesville,
Fla. on the Savannah, Florida and West
eru railroad, close to the junction of the
Lake CITY branch. He. e l received hearty
greeting from Mr. Miller, whose boarding
house is within easy reach of the depot ana
!, the favorite resort OF the drummer. 1t
WAS charming day that | viewed the
Mace. and the sweet notes of many mocking
birds fell upon the ear on every side, pro-
claiming the advent of baltny spring. Con-
spicuous among the improvements of the
past year were the long rows of oak trees
which had been set out on both sides of every
street. This was the work of the present
philosophical Mayor,
DIR. G. NJ. VINCENT,
who has erected and stocked a new drug
store and is also prominent physician
This example Of the Fort White Town
Council should be followed throughout
Florida, not only for the grateful shade af-
fortled but the salutlrY hygieaic influence of
the trees. upon the health of the community.
Ii is to be hoped that Arbor Day will be
more faithfully needed hereafter both in
+ orida and Georgia.
since my last visit the large saw and
planning mill Of H. H. Summers was
destroyed by fire. but he has employed the
noted master mechanic, J. z. Bradley, to
rebuild again on an enlarged scale directly
upon the railroad. Mr.. J. W. Chiies also
runs an extensive lumber mill short dis
lance from the village.
While hero | was pleased to meet a
Liberty county friend, Mr.. H. NJ. Baggs,
who is the railroad agent and telegraph
operator
Fort White contains about $50 inhabi-
tants and is the seat of a considerable trade.
After few hours pause only, your cor
respondent took the evening train TO Lake
City and arriving after dark, was soon COM
fortably provided for at the
CENTRAL HOTEL.
This establishment has recently changed
hands, and is now leased by Mr.. Ab
Howard, a Georgian, and former resident
oil Macon. For fifteen years he had piled
the vocation of a commercial traveller,
until at length worn ont by his long con-
tiHUed peregrinations, he settled down in
this LAKE studded little city, and assumed
the role of Bouiice in the Central Hotel. OF
course his Old chums and comrades on the
rail have rallied to him. and his popular
hostelry is doing the hons share
of the business of the town. Nor is this
uudeserved as his hotel is well kept. and a
more genial and attentive host l have never
seen. The progress of Lake City has been
quite satisfactory, though the place is very
dull at present. from the fact that the cot
ton season is over, and pending the growth
and maturity of
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES,
trade is comparatively stagnant The col
ored tenants and shall | say it, some of the
white farmers also, are sadly anting in
energy and thrift. Ex-Mayor Young, one
OF the most enterprising merchants of the
city, says: Until the oil mills opened up
market for cotton seed, the negroes were
too indolent to haul it out and apply
that best Of all fertilizers to their crops and
even now, in places remote from the mill
il is not uncommon for farmers, after their
cotton has been ginned, to neglect to re-
move the seed to their plantations" But
this is the dark side of the picture. Per
contra, / learn from reliable sources that
more attention than ever is paid ID
TRUCK FARMING,
and diversifying the products of the soil.
Tobacco culture especially, is rapidly grow
ing in public favor, and that profitable
crop will soon become one of the leading
staples Of Columbia county. The past sea-
son about 100 acres were planted, yielding
on an average $50 per acre. The present
ha xx-ill I,o taA ; &c
mated that the crop the State will reach
5000 acres. The farmers have learned how
to cultivate, handle and cure the fascinat-
ing weed, and are enthused on the subject.
No less than
THREE CIGAR FACTORIES.
are in successful operation at Lake City.
using exclusively the home raised raw ma
terial, which is pronounced by competent
judges to compare favorably with the best
tocacco imported from Cuba.
To no one is the credit more largely due
for the Inauguration of this important in
dustry than the intelligent editor of the
Tobacco Plant, a newspaper of great merit,
which should grace the home Of every Flor
idlan.
RAILROADS.
Great hopes are predicated upon the COM
pletion of the road from Macon to this
point, via Naldosta, and extending on to
PaiaJka. By the last survey e line will
pass within three miles of LaEe City, but it
Is affirmed that gradual detection, which
will not add more than one miie to the
length Of the road, will bring it through
tie town. There is to be conference be-
tween the managers of the ENTERPRISE and
the citizens OF lake City next week, which
will probably settle the route. 1t does not
seem Likely that place of such Importance
will be left out in the cold. The town will
then enjoy the advantages Of three rail
roads,
A STARTLING FACT.
Mr.. L. Harrison, the polite Travelling
Adjusting Agent of the Florida Railway
and Navigation Company, impaired the
surprising information that that system
pays SIS, 900 OF taxes to the State OF Florida,
while but few weeks ago in Atlanta the
Treasurer of George, Col Hardeman had
told him that the Jmbined sum received for
taxes from all the railroads of his State
amounted to but $12, 800. II the immense
grants of land TO the Florida roads are as
sessed and taxed this woudaccouut in great
measure for the difference between the rail
road tax1tion of the two States. Otherwise
the Florida tax would appear to be
excessive.
RECEIPTS OF PRODUCE.
Lake City markets more sea island cotton
Than any interior town in the South. The