The morning news., 1888-03-08

Coastwlse. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l,030
Total. .................. So 1867
The above extracts from the records of
the custom house will afford some idea of
the commercial Importance of this port
Every one knows that there is no more re-
liable criterion of the growth of the place,
also, than the statistics of its mail service.
Judging by the standard, Pensacola is GER
tainly on the high road to prosperity. the
new Postmaster says the money order bust
ness for the past year footed up $250.000,
and the revenues of the Office for 1888 will
reach $4,000, against $4,000 only a short
period since.
IMMENSE LUMBER BUSINESS.
In 1887, for the year ending Oct. 81, the
total aggregate of lumber shipments from
the port of Pensacola was 131 ,217, 900 feet,
which it required no less than SOB vessels,
usually of heavy tonnage to remove These
ships carry the flags of every civilized coun-
try and their crews speak the language and
represent the nationality of their respective
peoples
FISHERIES
Messrs. Sanders & Wells, wholesale ship
pers, estimate the catch of fresh fish per
annum at 2, 500 tons, worth on an average
500 per ton, or $250,000 All of this large
sum is so much capital actually created and
expended at home Thirty stout schooners
In this industry. They coast the gulf for
fully 800 miles, and pack their tinny treas
ures on Ice as fast as they are brought on
board. Natural ice is used altogether, and
the firm above men toned themselves handle
10000 tons annually. | saw one of these
vessels discharging its cargo from the deep
wells below decks They were hoisted up
In large tubs with rope and pulley, weighed
on the wharf, packed in ice again, and sent
all over the Union, even as far away as
Colorado and Massachusetts. On this occa-
sion the catch principally embraced
red snappers, black and red groupers.
Some of the latter were enor-
mously large. These fishermen are
subjected to much hardship and exposure,
and talrly earn their money.
REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK.
Lots and real estate in and around Pensa-
cola are steadily advancing in value with
an increasing demand. This is the testi-
mony alike of McBrine, Durham & Co., ex-
tenSve dealers, and Thomas c. Watson.
Inc latter is widely known, and claims to
nave had larger and more numerous trans
actions in Pensacola real estate than any
one engaged in the business. He places the
advance in value at fully % per cent. over
last year, and says the city now contains all
OF 5000 inhabitants.
The people hail with satisfaction the pas
sage through the United States Senate of the
pll making an additional appropriation Of
4 100000 for the completion Of their govern
ment building. This is really needed, as the
upper part of the edifice is still in rough
and unfinished condition.
THE DEMAND FOR TIMBER LANDS.
The lumber men of the West are rapidly
absorbing the pine lands of Florida and
establishing saw mills all over the State
4hey purchase large bodies of land and
colonlze them with their own sturdy labor
erS Entire communities are sometimes
mus composed of immigrants from Ohio,
indiana and Minnesota. They usually come
70 stay, and form valuable element in the
growth and progress of the country.
=, One real estate agent in Pensacola, w. j.
van Kirk, has long made the sale of pine
Illnoer land a speciality. In the single
month just elapsed he sold 100000 acres
anu his transactions within about eight
years cover 900, 900 acres. Every foot passed
INTO the possession of Western mllmen at
comparatively nominal prices. 1t is about
.Lihe that the original owners of the soil
were developing their own forests and Sc
Guilng the emoluments for themselves, in
lieu OF selling the only heritage left to them
az such preposterously low figures. But
uouptless in most cases their necessities
caused the sacrifice.
RAILROAD PROSPECTS,.
II is confidently asserted that the Pensa-
cola and Memphis Railroad Company will
SS4ortiy begin operations here by way Of
nerldlan Miss, and thence connect with
Sne Warrior coal field roads and other main
INES converging in that direction. A trihe
u =. only about $l2, 1000 remaius to complete
.ne sum required of Pensacola. This
AMOUNT will be raised without the least
difficulty.
ANOTHER PROJECTED ROAD,
called the pensacola Short Linen is in
~ ended TO run to Mobile and connect with
o3e Birmingham and Mobile Railroad, and
alSo with the Mobile and Ohio. This line is
ouly about sixty miles long and the enter
ase tIse Is backed by wealthy Chicago capi-
t ttsIlsts who want a safe, deep water outlet
% III tne South American trade. The talk is
I ouaI they expect 10 begin ard complete this
connection in year. Wheter these state
{ iiients viii be verified remains 10 be seen.