The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-23

IT'S Pc ULIAR ATTRACTIONS NOT
pRECIATTD HITHERTO.

Atlanta ana lOrIusl AOdO-A w iuIoi
or6 Health Resort--Public Schools
An Oh Settler and Soldier-Hon.
NJ. Witherspoon-- Good County
Cncs~s- Gubernatorial Tinber-Egg
end Chicken Stistics-Scarcity of
Ienor-Ancilla-R Rich Surrounding
P;q Planters Good Business Point.
Innnmersble pictorial circulars and many
..o,umes have been printed illustrating and
advertising the advantages of Eastern and
Southern Florida, with their wealth of
fruits. vegetables, flowers and Incompatible
climate. ! have rothing to say against
these statements, save that majority Of
cham are painted Colour de rose, and calcu-
lsfed TO deceive the trusting and unwary.
1t is but proper to assert, however, that the
claims Of Middle Florida in these deliuea-
tons of the Peninsular State have been
almost entirely ignored. Until recently,
shut out for lack OF railway communication
with the East, which had her broad st.
Johns river as a highway to the interior,
This region has been almost a terra incoq-
n ito to the invalid and tourist. And vet
tie
PHENOMENAL GROWTH
of Townsville, which is in no sense supe-
rior in climate, soil or productions to the
northern tier of counties in Florida, has
rendered patent the fact that in the essen
tias of a salubrious atmosphere, good
s, ciety, abundance of game for the lovers
OF field sports, AID natural attrac ions, no
portion Of the South is more desirable
Indeed. the picturesque hills and verdant
-, ,.lx lfav-S of this &c
niriceot forests, placid lakes and teeming
soil afford pleasing contrast to the piny
woods and tame scenery of the lower part
OF the State. But it is no5 my purpose
to make invidious comparisons. Nature
has been prodigal in her gifts and both sec
tons OF Florida enjoy advantages pecu-
Iiarly their own. 1t is simply proposed to
correct mistakes and do justice TO each
while passing to and fro through this
world-renowned peninsula.
MADISON.
Starting from Lake City and moving
westward for fifty miles. left the train at
Madison, which is the seat of Justice for the
coulty of that name. one of the weaithiest
in the State.
The town is located on an elevated
plateau covered over with wide spreading
moss draped oaks. On the right as you
leave the depot, it is bounded by pellucid
lake of considerable depth whose shelving
banks are free from morass or swamp.
A around its borders an excellent road
has been constructed, furnishing pleasant
drive in the summer afternoons.
Madison does a heavy mercantile business.
and is the distributing point for large are
of country. In prool of this the railroad
agent states that more money is received
here for freights than at any station on the
line hnftEAarl To Ito basSaa and IoaLycooxriIla
The soil is fertile aud well adapted to the
growth OF tobacco, grain, vegetables,
melons and both long and short staple cot
ton. The production of the two grades is
nearly equally divided.
WANT OF RAILROAD FACILITIES
is the chief obstacle to the rapid growth
and development of the town This it is
believed will be removed ere long.
A charter has been granted to the South
orida and Georgia Air Line road. from
Quitman, Ga, to deep water at the mouth
OF Manatee river. This is to be an extern
sion of the Atlanta and Florida railroad,
and will pass directly through Madison
The success of the enterprise is only a ques-
ton of time In the meanwhile the citi-
zeus, impressed with the Importance of
their town as a
WINTER RESORT,
III UuOSO dAlllCbtu WlUH COfn-
plants, are beginning in earnest to adver-
tise its soft climate and sanitive atmosphere.
Fortunately there are numbers of living
witnesses who are willing and anxious to
testify to the salutary effect upon them
selves. Some, by coming here, have been
plucked from the very Jaws of the grave
With this purpose in view they have erected
neat and cOmmodious structure DIS a home
and asylum for their invalid friends from
the frigid Nor h. | allude, of course, to the
CENTRAL PARK HOTEL,
. new and elegant house with sixty-five
sleeping apartments, which is located in the
heart of the town and fronts directly upon
spacious park contiguous to the court
house, covered with noble oaks. The pro-
prietor, Mr.. G. W. Potter, offers as many
inducements to visitors as any similar
establishment in tn State. His terms are
very reasonable and the accommodations
excellent.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The venerable Superintendent of Public
Instruction, S. j. Perry, reports the revenue
Tor the support of the.common schools to be
$500 raised by special county tax. and
$1,000 from other sources. Eighty teachers
are employed and the number of pupils is
3,9lO. This is an increase of nearly | 200
over the previous year. Twelve of the in
structors were attending the Teachers State
Institute then holding its sessions at De-
tuniak Springs. Mr.. Perry came to this
county tifty-four years ago, when it was an
untrodden wilderness, and took an active
part in the Seminole war.
Another noted citizen is the veteran
County Judge, Hon. r. NJ Witherspoon,
who has held the Office for twelve years.
The old gentleman has certainly discharged
his whole duty to the country. At IS he
led to the marriage altar bride If Is years,
who has made him the happy father of six
sons and an equal number of daughters.
Two of the former succumbed TO the war,
but nine still survive. OF grandchildren he
can count thirty 1.-TWO, and one great grand
descendant. Pity when there is SO much
pension money lying loose he could not get
grab at Uncle Sans surplus treasure.
Maj. Hausman, one of the largest mer-
chanls. is the public spirited Mayor of the
town. He has held the office many times,
and is well known in Savannah.
Mr.. s. A. Parramore has served six years
as Sheriff of the county and the people
want him again. They know how to appre-
clate fat full officer, as is shown also in
the instance of their Tax Collector, B. d.
Wadsworth, who has been chosen for five
successive years. The Clerk of the Circuit
Court, too, James p. Perry, though but re-
Gently appointed, has virtually held the
position for many years during the sickness
Of his predecessor.
MADIsoN'S GUBERNAToRIAL TIMBER.
This is the home also of Judge Vann, one
OF the much berated trio of Railroad Com
miSSi0nafc 1'hof coro,,icc;os, ie ,,a1av fro