The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-03-12

a Grand old Eown With II Blessed
Memory
special Corrcs pondenee OF the FLoRlnIAN

hStofy-AuClenI So much 50 that to q certain
extent we have been unable 70 string i together
here in shape Of a letter therefore shall pm
cipally deal with the town 81 to-day.
From the Times (thc local raper) speclai
edition, We learn that Franklin county was EN-
braced in Forbes Purchase from The Indians,
afterward by decree OF the l. ). court con
firmed to the Apalachcola Land Company.
The county lies in both Middle and West Flor
ida has about $4,000 acres OF land. with 90
miles of sea coast, exclusive OF islands, etc
This is now owned by private individuals, ana
there is not county in the State OF Ike area 50
rich in timbers OF great variety. Cypress ana
pine are the present sources OF wealth
AT present there is very little farming In the
county, but not tor the reason that any consld-
cradle portions are not tlable. The larger por-
tons are the equal OF any in the State Corn,
sugar cane sweet and Irish potatoes and in fact
vegetables OF every description are grown Win
the greatest possible ease.
WHEN SETTLED.
ApalachicOla is the county seat and contains
now about 800 people. 1t was first settled IN
1882 BY few families. but not permanently
until few years later. In 1886 the Apaach!-
cola Land Company laid out the town and made
the first public sale OF lots by its trustees,
Messrs Louis McLane. Charles Augustus Davis
and Joseph VI. White. Mr.. NcLane was law
yer; Mr. Davis was a writer and author oil" Major
Jack Downng's political letters; Mr.. White
was delegate twelve years from the Territory
of Florida Immediately after the sale, build
ings were erected, many 81 substantial charac-
ter The first church erected by the Fps
Copaans The growth from that time on tor
number of years was steady and the port one OF
the most important on the Gulf The receipts
OF cotton alone ran up as high as lS0.00O bales
per annum. while mercantile transactions ship
building, etc, were proportlOnatey large. This
prosperity can almost be said 10 have lasted until
a wear after the war, when the various railroad
rPOAirp0
and shipments thereby diverted TO other and
larger markets Then came a long season OF
decay. Business men sought more inviting fields,
and ii looked as il the OLD town was doomed 10
the dead past. 10 be heard Of only in story. Not
SO, however
MuLs-LCMBER SHIPMENTS.
In 1872 the first saw mill was erected, and the
tide once more began 10 slowly turn in favor OF
the old town. Not only WAS she heard of in Sis
ter States but through the great lumber markets
OF the ola world till her name became familiar
Prosperity once more dawned on her and per-
manently Last year her lumber shipments
amounted 10 IS 900 900 feet, the product OF SIX
mills al and near town. The timber supply
is practically inexhaus'ihle, easy Of ac-
cess for miles and miles nv water. furnished
by the Chaltahoochee Flint, ApslschicolA.
Chipola and other streams emN;vipG into her
land iocAet; harbor besides numerous bay> bay
GUS inlels. etc These afford IN themselves
Q
every day-fsh. oysters and sponge. aud larsc
business is now done in AL these branches and
affords profitable employment Tor numerous
smali craft.
CANNING FACTORlES-SHIP BUILDING.
There are TWO oyster canneres here now.
which have proven paving investments, while all
is again stimulating the boat building interests,
an industry bound in the natural order OF things
10 grow. Nh : J Johnson, a na'ive al the
place, does considerable business now ana IS
making additions 20 his facilities all the time
he has built several vessels of 80 tons AM Is
prepared 10 build much larger. either sail or
steam Mr. p MckniEai. q former ship
builder, ba 10 has been living il the TAI West
FOL The past IS years, hss recently returned.
ana vii engage once more in the business.
He was subscriber o. the FI0IIDiAN Tor wears.
commencing III back IS 1877 Il Can $50 he
said iba' Als usnle j oace more on the good ol3
book aud here 10 Stay many yeas.
MECHANICAL 1SDrsTRIRs
There Is small machine shop, ship smiths
boiler makers. general bscksnliths, wagon shops,
etc. although rs We, in their infancy, still Civ
ing bright promise ior ihe future
a CASH TOWN
TIE nercaniiie business 81 the town foois up
in roun1 tc1 e. about s go 600, and shows each
vear u.u4sonlc increase Everything is on
cash h~ss TIE timber receive
from 81 e s, per 1000 'eel FOR thelr timber;
the ovsle- nh. sponge mill men and hundreds
Of o her> who fin emp"ymrn! in connection
with iA-s4 ys7ed industries, get their pay
promp,A ana a promptly spend il al home
tAe:e'A -5enc 1hc,s mite 20 the general con-
teulmcu' %, he whce.
PROMINENT BUslNEts MEN
AmonG ue prominent business firms can he
mculouea Ms. NJ Iud, miiiner. and fancy
GOOD O. = DnfAu'. general mcrttan li>c J.
\ Comb 4 Co m,t. "y>'rr c,naeiy, ana own
ers 0. ne a'"chicD.4 aud Mariana Telegraph