The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-27
FLORIDA AND TOBACCO.
AN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF
A GREAT SOUTHERN INDUSTRY.

Promise of the Future.
Quincy. FLA, July 26.-The tobacco sec
ton of Florida IS well worth visit 1t IS
in the county Of Gadsden, Middle Florida.
and Quincy is the county seat. The town
is about 300 feet above the level Of the sea
and the land is rolling All about Quincy
the farms are well fenced, the building
good the stock looks ''slick" and well cared
for, and everybody talks tobacco. Here
are located the great tobacco farms OF "The
Syndicate" as it is called Strait IN q Storm,
now the owl Cigar Company, encircling
the town of Quincy in the shape Of horse
shoe; and, at various places jotting in al
most to the center of the village itself are
some Of the tobacco plantations. The first
and largest is known as the Santa Clara"
consisting of about 3 900 acres, under the
direct supervision of Mr.. Curry, a southern
gentleman of vast experience, and with
nm, as an adviser, William B. Smith
one of the pioneers in tobacco
of the weed before the war, ana uCder
whose advice and guidance 1.-THE Syndi-
cate,n or Owl Cigar Company, purchased
the Is, 600 acres of tobacco land which they
hold. This plantation raises annually about
200 acres of very fine tobacco; also corn,
oats, sugar cane-ln fact. every thiDg for the
maintenance of the plantation.
GREAT SPRING.
The superintendent's house is on the brow
of a hill overlooking the town and plauta-
ton and adjacent to it are the water works
for irrigation, fed from an enormous spring
that gushes forth from the foot of hill of
iron. This spring has been famous for gen
erations for its health-giving qualities.
Running on to the westward in an unbroken
line and continuing the horse shoe form of
land above mentioned is the Alsace plan
tatlon, also the property Of the Owl Cigar
Company, and which joins the Santa Clara.
Here, on a beautiful site, is the old manor
house of Judge Dupont which has been
renovated and rebuilt antis the residence of
the general manager and also the abiding
place Of the members or officers of the
company and their friends when they
visit the neighborhood. This plantation
consists Of 300 acres and is beautifully laid
out, both for farming and for the residences
Of the employees in the cigar factory that
the Owl company has in the town of
Quincy. This plantation produces about
200 acres of tobacco annually. 1t runs into
the town and embraces one Of the most
beautiful sites imaginable. A large plateau
of about eleven acres overlooking the entire
country, in the center of which the Owl
Cigar Company have their immense factory,
a brick structure in the shape of Maltese
cross. The building is somewhat on the
Moorish plan, with an immense dome in
the center for ventilation and light, an
have never seen anything that answers
all the requirements of a factory so
thoroughly as this building. The capacity
is sufficient for 300 operations. l have
visited the factories of Havana and Key
West and have always regretted it, for the
reason that, if one smokes cigars made in
these places, it is best for him never to visit
the factories, nor the habitation of the en-
ployes. But IL am pleased to say at the
Owl cigar factory cleanliness, order, sys-
tenn and the comfort Of the employees are of
the first consideration, and nothing could
be wished for in this direction. Extending
out from the north wing of this huge fac
tory there is a large and commodious ar
Dor, rooted over and the sides latticed and
ornamented with climbing vines. Under
meath this arbor are placed tables aud
benches, and the MONDAY meal is taken by
the operatives in this cool and shaded
place.
ONE PEOPLE.
] was struck with the perfect harmony
that emed TO pervade this establishment,
and the strong evidence that we are one
people, and that the industries of our
country will hold US more firmly together
than ever, aud am fully convinced that il
the politicians will only permit it, there will
be no north and south. but an American
people who propose to excel the world III
whatever they undertake to do. While The
enterprise of the Owl Cigar Company il
strictly carried on with northern brains
and northern capital, their princi-
pal and responsible aids are southern
and without whose earnest aid and support
the enterprise wonld not be a success. And
in their zeal and devotion they have but
one thought, aud that is to demonstrate
that they are worthy TO be part and parcel
of this truly great enterprise. In order 20
get a thorough idea of this work one must
visit some of the outlying plantations Of
this company, such as the LA Corona" an
ideal place of 900 acres, under the super
intendency of MIR. Nordhous; and then
going east from the town there is large
plantation La Violetta" about 2. 700 acres,
under the superintendencv of 7. M. Smith
an efficient and faithful southern planter
who understands his business thoroughly
and is the most successful of all the Ow
compauy's superintendent, having gaineC
his experience and knowledge of tobacco
growing when bov under his father T r
| Smith, brother to William B. Smith. These
| gentlemen were natives Of Virgins
and brought their knowledge and
| experience from there to Florida
Then we go to the west and there IS situated
the 81 "A Camella" and the La Celada'
plantations. The superintendent is Mr.
| Bushnell, Pennsylva ia tobacco farmer
| and on these plantations is raised some Of
the finest tobacco produced In Florida.
have spoken 50 far Of the plantations OF
The Syndicate" or,Owl Cigar Company ) be
cause they are the principal ones. or pioneer.
| in the revival of the tobacco industry IT
| Florida.
| NOT NEW INDUSTRY.
MANY people believe that this is something
new. That is a mistake Gadsden county
the principal county of the tobacco section
was famous tobacco district before the
war, and some of the tobacco raised there
| commanded the highest prices, both II
| Europe and America, but owing to the
| little unpleasantness," and the drifting
away of the young men and the partia
| destruction of their industrial forces, the
| cultivation of tobacco was abandoned, and
only now is being thoroughly revived, auC
it is wonderful what progress this tobacco
industry has made. Five years ago it was
only dream Of the past, and something
spoken of at the fireside, and now there is
| scarcely a farmer within twenty miles OF
! Quincy that has not anywhere from two 10
| twenty acres of tobacco and all Of the finest
| species of Vuelta Abojo Havana seed.
Schroeder q Bon, the great tobacco mer-
| chants of New York. have a warehouse at
! Quincy and farms adjoining. Carl Vogt q
! Sons Of New York annually put up many
! hundreds of bales Of very fine tobacco and
dispose Of it without difficulty. NJ. Open
heimer, with the aid Of Mr.. Fenton, also
] fhen hog NM hNY1 hal1