The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-05-21
Jacksonville JOllings.
Special Correspondence of the FLoR1D1AN.


Jacksonville is now a clean town. 1t has been
scrubbed, rubbed and whiieWashed until the
last spot has been wiped out. and TO day she
stands pre-rminenily the whitest of the lol. We
saw her moruary list a few days ago, which
made an exceptional showing. While small,
(tbou thirty,) il did not contain a single case of
malaria, popularity believed SO plentiful in this
climate 1T This season Of the year
Anent this subject The City Sexton, Mr.. J. T.
Edwards, who. by the way. has relatives all
through Middle and Wesi Florida and is well
known there, showed me his system of keeping
the record of deaths. In the first place every
physician is required by law 10 furnish cerifi-
Gale setting forlh age sex, nativity, nationality,
disease and date Of death. This is fled in
scrap book and indexed. A like record is made
in another book, and each is PACED back and
forth, SO that two complete records are made,
which can instantly be turned 10 whenever
wanted, and give all the facs as above stated
Jacksonville will soon have another railway,
although not generally known yet that such is
the fact. II is first to run from here to Pala,ka,
and thence south at some future time. The
route has been located and right OF way OBJ
tanned. Arrangements, for the money have been
made, with the exception Of few minor details,
and all will soon be ready for active operations.
The big bridge across TIE ST. Johns here is
gradually looming. Most OF the piling has been
driven up 10 The draw on either side. This
is where The heavy work comes in, as the river
is very deep and The tide causes strong currents,
neces>iiaIing heavy founda ions
Mr.. Van Buren,. OF the Industrial Machine
Works, has patented and built an ingenious ma
chine for working sisal hemp out oi IN Hene-
uuin plant, which has proven to be a wonderful
success. The pulp is removed SO cleanly aud
thoroughly that The fibre resembles u strand OF
fax, although whittier and almost smooth enough
ynlo slxx
century plant ard grows wild all over South
Florida. The idea, however, is that it will pay
better 10 cultivate ii than to depend on wild
growth Samples have been sent To various
markets and have created very favorable com
ment wherever seen.
A visit was paid 10 the Palmetto Fibre Works
They extract the fibre from cabbage palmetto
for brushes. They are beginning TO make the
brushes here now, instead of sending the fibre
North for this purpose although some fibre will
still he shipped. very superior product is
turned out, which commands ready sale over
any other brushes made for like purposes.
About eighty hands are employed in the factory
regularly, and the business is growing rapidly
all the time.
All the industries here are full of work-al
they can handle. The principle ones arc the
Industrial Machine Works which does general
foundry and machine business the Merrill
Stevens Engineering Company and Mr.. Muir
phys shops doing the same The latter two do
considerable boat work. THIS ls very fayora-
bic location for Industries OF this class, on ac
count of transportation facilities, and II nothing
happens out OF the usual order of things Jack
sonville will certainly become a manufacturing
centre
The business being done by the CLYDE line of
steamers between here and New York both
waye, in passengers and freight, is simply aston
i.hiDg. There are two week, and every one
loaded to The water line. Berths have to be en-
gagged q week ahead to ensure certainty of get
ting passage at any particular time.
Jacksonville has fine system of water works
ana good fire department, the latter under the
command OF Peter Jones, one Of the best fire.
men IN the country. Engines are not used, there
being sufficient pressure on the hydranis to
throw wafer on the highest building.
The card of E. E. Willard s. Co., commission
merchants of This city, appears elsewhere in this
paper. Mr.. w. is well-knOwn throughout Mid
die Florida and thoroughly understands the
wants OF that section in his line. The firm has
a fine trade, and goods consigned to them will
receive the top Of the market. They handled
nearly all The ppais shipped to this market last
season and did extremely well with them.
The Travellers Hotel is remaining open all this
year. II is one Of the best hotels in the State;
new throughout, run on both the European and
Ame rican plans, al moderate rates, aud fills "A
great need here, especially during the summer
season. In addition to these advantages il is
centrally located
The FLoRIDIAN, g list continues to grow What
ever faults our Jacksonville friends may have,
they certainly do not want to remain in the dark
TO what is going on out in the Stale. The
following names have been added up TO date:
Merrill Stevens Engineering Company, G Col
Inns. E Bean, j Bell, John McMurray. WI
DeWn, Jno T Edwards, A V Dobbns, l. B
Darling Fertilizer Company. Jacksonville Marble
Company, j Ramsey Dey. Tropical Land Com
pany. Chas Mcbride, D NJ Degal,a The Bacon
and Adams Abstract Company, s Finn. VIII
liam Clarke. 8 j BouIknighi, r Chalen, Indus
trial Machine Works ] s Smith, Jr, James III
Stephens, The Paint Store, Squire w Fox. T
Murphy E N Sco6eld, Jacksonville Business
College q d Towers. l. Cameron, L E Willard.
Victor D L Nudge, N Bars, and this is just
The beginning.
Matters politically very quiet since the
passage OF House Bill No A. but there s likely TO
be more or less iun vet at least SO say the know.
Ing ones, along about the time the appointments
are made.