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Savannah 'Weekly
*.%T|!ltl>A Y, imoEWHKK 8. ISTft.
THE LAND OF FLOWERS—No. 7.
1k Kpurr HI. River—Volunln
Carnal r iiihl Its Advanl*ea —Kntar-
prise nad Ibr Ilrorla lloase—A Pleas
aal Wlntrr llamr-Lakr Jrssp, Hall
I.ake and the Indian River Cwaatrjr.
[Special Cornwiiondence of lhe Morning Newi> ]
Ox Steameb David Clark,)
December Ist, 1875. >
“After many days'’ I am able to com
mence a report of my delightful trip on
the upper Bt. John's river, with its broad
and beautiful lakea, and my pleasant but
brief sojourn at the charming little town
of Enterprise. I say the charming town,
as tba “Biyck House," with its fair and
attractive ttrroundings, makes the little
town one of the moat attractive spots in
that portion of the State. The visitor
lands from the steamer directly in front
of this fine hotel, and can reach it with
out passing into any public part of the
town. Under this arrangement the
guests of the bouse have the entire water
front to themselves, and need fear no an
noyance from objectionable parties. And,
as the grounds are very handsomely laid
out, I can safely use the adjective
“charming” in this connection.
THE CI'PEB ST. JOHH’b RIVER.
One of the principal features of a tour
in Florida is a trip on the upper Bt.
John’s, and over this route thousands of
now aettlers pass to reach their homes in
Orange and the adjacent counties, and
the wide scope of country about Indian
river. I left Palatka on the steamer
Hattie, of Brock's line, on Friday night
of last week, for Enterprise and other
towns on Lake Monroe. In Captain W.
Jones, Purser C. H. Cady, and Mail
Agent W. E. Dale, of this steamer, I
found very pleasant and accommo
dating officers, such as have made
the steamers on tbi-* “old reliable line”
ao popular with the traveling public. We
left Palatka just before midnight, and
arrived at Enterprise the next night be
tween six and seven o’clock, having been
delayed some two hours in uuloauing a
large amount of heavy freight at Sand
ford and Mellonville. As we did not see
daylight until after the boat had passed
through “Big Lake George,” I shall be
unable in this letter to speak of the
river below that point. The first place
of interest reached after daybreak was
Volusia, located on the oast bank of the
river, sixty five miles from Palatka.
This is said to have been the sito of
an old Spanish city, the ruins of which
have passed entirely into oblivion. There
is nothing about the present settlement
of an unusually attractive character,
although there is a good back country
which is rapidly settling up, and already
I hear rumors ;of a proposed railroad
from Volusia to tho Halifax river. Orange
Bluff, one of the highest points on the
river, attracted much attention, although
but one house could be seen in the midst
of tho fruitful orange trees. Hawkins
ville, Orange Grove and other landings
were passed, but nothing of interest was
Been. As on tho lowor St. John’s, overy
bluff or point on the shore, that is
five feet above tho water, is occupied as
a landing or orungo grove. These places,
however, are not numerous, ns on either
shore we passed long stretches of marsh,
back of which, someone or two miles,
good lands can ho found, on which
thriving settlements have already been
made. Blue Spring landing is tho only
place of interest that wo stopped at be
lo;o passing iuto Lake Monroe, and this
laudiug-W without nny peculiar attrae
tion, except its female mail agent. This
young lady deserves groat credit for her
energy mid pluelt, as she daily rows her
boat across a stream above tho land
ing, and deliver! and receives the
mail from Blue Spring. Bho is a
rather pretty and modest maiden, and
always wius favorable comment fr>rl
the passengers on tho boats naan\naf.:#*
and down the river, to
to Is,
Islafid tanlo. Hno Sp'ringproperTlno
guide books say, is a great curiosity, and
is not fur from tho landing. It forms a
basin Home twenty feet deep, about tho
same number of yards wide, and nearly
a quarter of a mile long. The wntor,
which boils up from the bottom, some
eighty feet wide at that spot, forms quito
a little river, and Hows into the St. John's.
As there is also good hunting aud fishiug
in that vicinity, many tourists stop over
a trip and visit this wonderful spring
Sanford, Mellonville aud Enterprise,
on I,aka Monroe, were the only towns of
auy size soon by us on tho shore of the
river and its lakes. Tho huntings seldom
P bavo more than one or two buildings, as
the towns for which freight and passen
gers are left generally lie back in the in
terior of tho country. As 1 have fre
quently stated, there are no banks to the
St. John’s river, either above or below
l’alatka, or the lakes through which it
runs. Wherever the shore does riso into
a bank, which it seldom does for any
great distance, except in one or two lo -
oalities, residences, towns and landings
can almost always bo seen, showing that
river and lake fronts are in demand, aud
vto not escape the eye of the traveler oil
the river steamers. I should say that
there is very little land having a water
front that can bo used that has not been
improved or taken up for future im
provement. Beck of all the landings,
from Jacksonville to the highest points
reached by the smallest steamers, fruit
ful lands and good locations can be se
cured, and with desirable surroundings,
as Northern and Western colouies have
already penetrated to aud located in overy
portion of this section of Florida.
IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY.
As Orange couuty lies along tho west
shore of the upper St. John's and Volusia
county extends along the east shore, it is
not diffleult to understand why the peo
ple of the former county claim to have
just as desirable lauds for settlers as
those in the latter couuty, which nre so
highly prized. I have met several North
ern uud Western getlemen who have just
returned from a tour to Halifax river and
that section of the country, and they ex
press themselves perfectly delighted with
the climate, soil aud people there, and
some have made purchases and will re
turn to improve them for a permanent
residence. Port Oruuge, New Smyrna,
Dsyßigu, and New Britain are flourishing
' towns, in fell of which can be found on
orgeti aud public-spiriteil men from the
North and West, who are determined to
develop the agricultural and mechanical
resources of the oountry iu a successful
aud profitable manner.
Any person who desires to know more
fully the advantages of this county for
orauge aud geueral fruit culture cau get
the desired information l>y sending fifteen
oeuts for postage to Hon. Denuis Eagan,
OMnuiissioper of Lands aud Immigration,
Tallahassee, Florida, for a copy of the
Florida Settler, a valuable “Immigrant’s
Guide*' of nearly threo huudred pages.
This work contains lengthy reports and
important statistics of nearly every
county in the State, and in
the main will be found as reliable as
it is possible to make such
a book. Iu letters of this character it
would be impossible to give even an out
line of the chief advantages claimed for
the counties on the St. John’s to which
public attention is now being directod by
their rapid settlement and improvement.
Putnam, Orange, Volusia and the adja
cent counties are drawing to themselves
a very desirable class of immigrants, but
I have every reason to think that these
tides of immigration will also soon extend
to other oounties, now less known, whose
advantages are equally as good for agri
cultural labor.
THE TOWN OF ENTERPRISE.
Enterprise has not been true to its
name in the past, but, now that anew
element has been iDfused into its popula
tion, by which the “whole lump has
been leavened,” its progress in all de
partments will be such as to make it
worthy of the stirring name it bears. It
is, in one sense, the head of navigation
for the largest steamers that ply the wa
ters of the upper St. John's. The “ Vo-
Ingift " and “ Lollie Boy,” however, rnske
weekly trips to Lake Jesup and Salt Lake,
where passengers are landed for the
Indian river country. Enterprise is the
county seat of Volusia, and has a very
neat court house and jail. The Judge
of the district also haa a large two a'.ory
residence there, which gives additional
importance to the place. The number
of stores and residences is small, yet the i
buildings are generally well constructed I
and attractive in appearance. A large
boarding house and an excellent cheap
hotel accommodate visitor* who cannot
pay the rates of a first-class hotel such
as 001. Caldwell propones to make the
Brock House in all its departments and
appointments. ,
The well-known Starke orange grove
is in a thrifty condition and shows that
orange culture can be made profitable in
that viciuity. At Airs. Dr. Starke's I
picked some fine Concord grapes, the
second growth this year, as I had never
before Been a second crop of grapes. This
excellent lady treated our party with
marked courtesy, and displayed greater
generosity in tendering us fruit than any
person whom we have yet visited in the
“Land of Flowers.” The country about
Enterprise is to some extent uncultivated,
but this cannot be said of tbe people,
many of whom exhibit marked refine
ment in their homes and conversation
Good church and school privileges make
lands desirable there, and a most excel
lent class of Northern people are now
purchasing small farms near the
town. Colonel Caldwell has it in
his power to make New Enterprise
one of the most thriving and beautiful
towns on the upper St. John’s. Immi
grants to the Halifax river country, in
many cases, take Brock’s line of steamere
to Enterprise, and then stage it across
the country, the distance being about
twenty-five miles. Others take a similar
conveyance from Volusia. Persons de
sirous of information in regard to the
Lake Monroe portion of Volusia county
can address Col. Luther Caldwell, Enter
prise, Fla., and he will cheerfully put
them on the “right track.” In regard to
that portion of the county lying on the
Atlantic coast letters can be addressed to
J. P. Fowler, E-q , President Agricultu
ral Club, Halifax river, Volusia county,
Fla.
THE BROCK HOUSE AND ITS GROUNDS.
This hotel, under its former proprie
tors, was always full of visitors daring
tbe winter season, and now that it has
passed into new hands it is feared that it
will be crowded to excess aud necessitate
a speedy enlargement. Colonel Luther
Caldwell, a piominent citizen of Elmira,
New York, of which city he was Mayor,
and where he ably edited an influential
daily journal, is now the proprietor, and
has already made extensive and valuable
improvements in the house and grounds.
The readers of the Mobnino News will
feel a deeper interest in this gentleman
when they know that the lamented
Wilfong, of your editorial staff, was
taken from a printer’s case by Colonel
Caldwell aud made city editor of his pa
per at Elmira, and by him was trained
for an honorable but brief career in
journalism. Colonel C. is a man of
means and culture, and as he now owns
the entire water front on which his hotel
is located, he proposes to make it one of
the most attractive places on the rivers
or lakes of Florida. At the right of the
house, across the street, is a fine bearing
orange grove, and directly in front of the
house are handsomely laid out grounds,
where a beautiful profusion of flowers
are to be seen. On the left of
the house is a large banana grove,
where clusters of ripe fruit can now be
seen. Pino apples and other delicious
fruit are also raised on this place, which
gives assurance that the guests will not
lack for this kind of dessert.
From my window in the third story of
the Brock House I had a most delightful
view of the entire sweep of Lake Mouroe
and the surrounding country, and was
charmed with the prospect. From the
landing in front of the hotel to what is
called “Old Enterprise,” there is a long
stretch of shell beach, which is quite a re-
Hort for visitors. I also noticed a shell
mound some twenty feet high and
fifty or sixty feot in diameter, the forma
tion of which still remains a mystery.
Back from the shore about half a mile is
a very large sulphur spring, nearly one
hundred feet deep aud about one hundred
and twenty five feet iu circumference.
The water is transparent, ami of agreenish
tiuge, but is not suitable to drink. There
are three other sulphur springs near at
hand, but nouo of them furnish drinking
water, although the flow of water ‘.is
quite free. They are used for bathing
purposes, and will always.be a great at
traction to tourists. WJbgnever the guests
of tue Brock llousg tire of viewing the
Jgjguties of they can always find
|pef physical man iu as good
HStbKus cau bo obtained at auy hotel in
H: State, after which they can pass a
jwv hours pleasantly and profitably in
tue “Library,” where the liberal and
cultivated host has about a thousand vol
umes of choice books, by the best au
thors.
SALT LAKE AND INDIAN RIVER.
I did not have time to extend my trip
to Lake Jesup, Salt Lake, Indian River,
and tho region beyond and about there,
of which I hear a good report, aud where
several highly esteemed friends of mine
have made their future homes. The
steaurtrs which run to these points are
always loaded with freight aud have nu
merous passengers for that section. This
shows that the country is being settled,
and its resources developed, by a good
share of the immigration that comes up
the St. John’s river. Visitors and immi
grants for tho Indian river country and
Eiu Gallie. where the State Agricultural
College is beiug established, take this
route, staging it from Salt Lake to Sand
Point, and thence down the Indian river.
Great things are predicted for that sec
tion in the future of Florida, but I am
sorely puzzled to tell which section, as
things are now working, will hear off the
palm as the “bauner county.”
Every man here iu Florida has his local
preferences, and to hear land owners and
speculators talk—not to mention what
editors say—you would think every county
was the best. In all my experience as a
journalist, coveriug a period of twenty
years, I have never been surrounded by
such a network of conflicting claims and
a atements. The Leon, Madison, Jef
ferson and Gadsden county men come at
you with facts and figures that make you
believe that their section of the State is
the paradise for which tho agriculturist
sighs. Then the Orange, Volusia, Put
nam, Sumter and Marion county men
rise up, aud, with more flaming facts and
figures, fragrant with orange, banana and
pineapple juice, disabuse your mind of
this opinion, aud make you think their
counties must be the original “Garden of
Eden.” My advice, therefore, to all per
sons seeking homes in the “Land of
Flowers,” is to see and judge for them
selves of the real or fancied merits of
the various counties and localities in the
State to which public attention is now
being called. This course can work in
justice to no section of the State, and
will prove advantageous to the immigrant
who oomes hero wholly ignorant of the
country. Sipne? Herbebt.
A Child's Sad Death —Coroner Croker
held an inquest ou Sunday in the case of
the little girl, Katie Jordan, who shot
herself last Saturday evening while play
ing with a pistol, at the residence of her
parents. No. 243 West Forty-second
street. New York. The jury rendered a
verdict of accidental shooting. The vic
tim of this accident was the daughter of
General Thomas Jordan, who served as
chief of staff to Geueral Beauregard dur
ing the rebellion, aud has since been
known in connection with the Cuban in -
surrectiou. The General had been to
Staten Island to look after a vacant house
he has there, and, while returning,
siopped at a confectioner's and bought
some sweetmeats and knicknaeks for
the little girl. After supper he told her
to go to his overcoat pocket and she
would get the things he had brought
her. She complied, and while ransack
ing the pocket found a very small pistol
which the General had been in the habit
of carrying. This she took and began
playing with, saying, while holding it to
her head, “Mamma, suppose I should
shoot myself.’ The words had scarcely
. escaped her lips wheu the pistol snapped
and the ball entered her forehead and
penetrated her brain. She died almost
instantly.
Death from the Bite of a Mad Cat.—
Mrs. Charles Wuest, a young German
woman, living in Cincinnati, died last
week from the effects of a bite from a
rabid cat. In June last the woman was
bitten by tbe cat, then supposed to bp
mad, but as no bad symptoms were in
time developed all fears were dispelled
and the mat er was forgotten. About six
weeks ago, however, Mrs. Wuest began
to feel queerly, and symptoms of hydro
phobia were shown. A number of phy
sicians were called, but their prescrip
tions had no avail, and about six days
before Mrs. Wuest's death the disease of
hydrophobia was plainly marked. The
mad ravings of the poor woman required
her being tied down to her bed.
There is continued trouble between
foreigners and Chinese. American mis
sionaries and ladies are assailed by mobs
in Nankin, and an English lady was at
tacked at Jaku.
THE OKEFE.YOKEE—WITHIN AND
WITHOUT.
Sketches of Incident and Adventu es
BT M. B. OBANT (PAUL TRANSIT), CIVIL EN
GINEER.
PART VII.
After we should have enjoyed a rest of
two or three days, it was determined to
run a line from cut present encampment
on the pocket around the southern part
of the Swamp, to connect with the line
we had run from the Cow House to Fort
Tomkins, but before our daily work
recommenced regularly, Adam pro
posed, by way of amusement —it was
the height of his felicity, and he
paid us the compliment of supposing
us capable of enjoying it also—that we
should take a bee-gum, as it is termed,
that is by storm, a tree of wild honey.
We readily conaented to do so, and en
rolling ourselves as bee-hunters under
his efficient captaincy, with torch-lights
we proceed to the tree aforesaid.
Orange and himself soon ent it down,
and it fell with a heavy crash, old Adam
screaming, “Look eut for de bees:”
This command we obeyed, by tying our
haudkerchiefs over our heads and faces,
and piling pine tops upon them. While,
according to instructions, we were mak
ing these defenses, Adam, apparently
miraculously to ns, was cutting away at
the hollow near the entrance of the hive,
as coolly and unmoved as if there was
not a bee in existence, and they, strange
to tell, being all around him, their in
veterate destroyer, without molesting
him. Yes —unscathed, he worked away
in their very midst, while they were ac
tually swarming around him; while those
of us keeping a respectful distance caught
many a sting that made us suffer for
days.
Having reached the honey Adam gave
the alarm, all of us rushing to tbe tree
and leaving it faster than we went, the
bees forcing upon us convincing proof of
their dislike to our proceedings. This
was the signal for us to storm the fortress.
We had done so at command—witness
our repulse.
“How is this, Captain Adam ?” we be
gan to murmur; “lead your men into
danger while you are safe ?”
But we were under ordt rs and had no
time to parley.
“Tek a torch! tek a torch!” hallooed
the bee captain; “don’t be ’fraid—cum,
git more honey; he fine, fust rate; best
gum I tek yet.”
Guided by his orders and experience,
we again approached the tree, with
torches in one hand, while with the other
we helped ourselves to honey, eating
now without molestation or with few
scruples of conscience regarding the
cruel robbery and devastation we were
committing upon a harmless and in
dustrious community. The honey was
fine, and we were much enjoying it
when we were startled by a most piteous
screeching yell from Boots. Poor Boots,
was it not possible for him to escape
once ? Did his evil fate follow him
everywhere ? We found him suffering
agony. Indiscreet as usual, aud ever
ready to he foremost in action, without
the prudence of first learning how to do
a thing, he had gone ahead, helped him
self, and attempted to eat the honey,
comb aud all. A bee enclosed in one of
the cells, had, with little ceremony, in
serted his sting into Boots’s tongue. And
so there he was, not “letting conceal
ment feed upon his cheek,” for by howls
and yells he blazoned Lrth the torture
he was enduring; tongue out and furi
ously rubbing both sides of his head with
his paws. As soon as we released him
from his torments, without “thank you,
gentlemen,” or so much as “by your
leave,” he pushed off for cunp, nor did
we see him again until
We returned to camp ladenwjth our
spoils, having enjoyed a good-dsugh
Why did not the bees assault their active
foe, Adam, while his comparatively
cent coadjutors were so mercilessly pels®"
cuted ? A solution to the problem wS
could only obtain by questioning our
captain; and when ye did so, he replied :
“Ha, ha, ha! tint dem fool bees! No,
sar! dey doesn’t trouble tar; rub a pint
on mji head; keeps tar for dat.”
Really, if Adam had informed us of the
remedy. I am afraid we should have pre
ferred the onslaught from the bees, and
endured the stings rather than have ap
plied it. •
Another good laugh we had at Adam’s
expense, with Boots’s unwitting aid.
Adam had a preference for enveloping
his head and shoulders loosely iu his
blanket at night and lolling agiinsc a tree
or bench, instead of throwing it over him
and lying down. One night, seeing him
thus leaning, enveloped and asleep, Boots,
without permission, proposed to himself
to enjoy a warm snooze, and so pushed
his head and forepaws snugly in under
Adam’s blanket—meaning no harm,
not a bit! Poor old Adam, when
in his sleep he felt this
cold embrace, he bounced up and
started round blindly, and groping with
his hands, worse than he did out of the
well. Boots ensconced snugly and hold
ing on, while Adam danced and capered
about in awful terror, and yet nobody
had a spite at Boots. Even Adam took
it good naturedly, and when he and
Boots were liberated, he just rolled over
with laughter.
The day following we commenced run
ning tho line, following the sinuosities
of the Swamp. Ip two days we com
pleted it to the mouth of the pocket,
from whieh, as a camping place, we now
took our final leave. There we found
Mr. Hatch, who said he had been anx
ously awaiting the news of our doath—
never having doubted the result.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “you have done
what I never expected you to accomplish.
’Twas a great undertaking, one I never
could have gone on, though I been through
many a tough turn. But the worst
about that is, it must have been such a
long pull—so many days together. Why
it’s nigh on to three weeks, ain’t it?
Well, I rejoice you are out, aud all safe ;
it’s something to tell on, I tell ye ; an’ if
you oughtn’t to be well paid—well, then
who ought? I have plenty of honey to
welcome you back with, and nothing
else.”
Steadily at this work we continued run
ning the line, accomplishing about four
miles a day. Uneventful were the days
and at night we returned to camp and its
comfort, which had become magnificent
in our eyes, since our loss of them in our
Swamp tramp. But, oh! how great a
one was that “sound trom home,” in the
shape of letters—a jubilee that put us in
contact with civilization and the world,
from which we seemed to be so cut off.
Only at rare intervals occurred these ad
vents of joy, for post offices were few
and far between, ana it was only
when tbe OolonSl, on his horse,
could go off to Traders’ Hill or Centre
village, that we received the mail. Then
were we happy, and yet in our happiness
there was some alloy. Yes, we could not
help being envious of the brilliant ac
counts therein received of conventions,
races, fancy balls and all manner of other
gay doings that some of our young
friends, well dressed, were enjoying in
the cities of our homes with the
ladies of our loves. Crinoline, tarletane
and jewels, gems, flowers and
perfumes floated before us, and glittered
around, sent us in kindness by their
graphic pens; and our real —while we—
alas I red flannel shirts ! boots over pants!
Heigh-ho ! Patience, our turn must come
yet.
It was while we were engaged on this
southern part of our route that we had
several opportunities of observing the
wolves—that are one of the many kinds
of animals rife about the Swamp. It was
generally at early dawn that they prowled
about to make their depredations, and it
was truly wonderful and most amusing,
the sagacity and daring with which, by
much manceuvering, they accomplished
their purpose. They lived principally
on the young calves they adroitly seized
from their distressed mothers. Their
mode of attack was evidently regu
larly planned, two or three of them
acting in concert, by watching for some
detached cows, with their calves, feeding
apart from the general herd—one or more
of these wolves would approach the cow
in front, she would have her ire roused,
and be led off in rage after them, while
one or more wolves in concert would
sneak up behind and snatch off the calf—
and the poor cow, after her unsuccessful
battle with the deluders, would return
to seek in vain for her lost calf,
m e frequently saw these marauders
acting thus in concert. They were
usually the size of a large dog, with slim
mer make and with bushy mils, in color
varying from gray or black.
After continuing our lines to the head
waters of the St. Mary’s river, where it
issues from the Swamp, we followed its
course to its extreme source, in order to
obtain a correct knowledge of its exact
position and bearings, that our map of
the Swamp might in all respects be
accurate and reliable. We also visited
Ellicott’s Mound, a famed spot in the
annals of this section of country, named
after Mr. Ellicott, who ran the division
line between Georgia and Florida.
From description we had imagined a
mound of considerable size and elevation.
We found it six feet in diameter and two
feet high, with a stake driven into its
centre, but it answered the purpose for
which it was raised thoroughly—a promi
nent point from which the dividing line
between the two States could be com
menced.
In this neighborhood, we attended sev
eral caDe-grindings, or rather syrup and
sugar makings— events of importance to
these people. One or more of the
more wealthy in a “settlement,” as the
scattered dwellings of those within the
circuit of a few miles who have some in
terest in common, is called, possessing a
mill of the simplest construction, any
neighbor who plants a few acres of cane
hauls it to one of these mills for the
grinding, the owner of the cane becom
ing master of ceremonies, and providing
the whisky. Thereon a gathering and
merry-making ensues, “bald-face” mak
ing always one of the most conspicuous
guests, without whose presence few of
the others would assemble. A general
shuffling or hop—as they persist in desig
nating it—concludes the entertain
ment. As one of the very highest
class of these brilliant - assemblages
has been described, and the manners and
arrangements at all assimilate, I will but
state that at some of these, besides shuf
fling, we were enforced to anew duty—
“chawing cane”—and had new opportu
nities of observing the habits and mode
of life of these people.
To facilitate our operations, Colonel
Watchoverall employed the services of a
Mr. Mackhnn, to accompany him in a
second exploration of the Swamp from
EUicott’s Mound in a northeastwardly
direction, designing to come out at Fort
Tomkins, leaving the residue of the
party to continue the line round to con
nect at that point, a distance of fifteen
miles.
At this part of the Swamp the thicket
not being of so dense a character in its
growth, the Colonel was enabled to ac
complish the exploration with less diffi
culty and in a shorter time. He got
through in three days, and met us as haa
been determined at Fort Tomkins, where
we, on our part, had accomplished our
work, and arrived. During this explor
ing survey he met with several islands,
similar in size, character of soil, and
growth of trees to Billy’s Island. Their
names and positions can be seen on the
map of the Swamp.
On our reunion it was determined to
move back to the cow-house, that the
northern and northwestern part of the
Swamp might be surveyed and explored,
all the other portions of it having been
accomplished. Accordingly, in due course
of time this was done.
Before I relate further business pro
ceedings, for the benefit of all natural
ists, I deem it proper to describe the
manner in which Boots attacked owls and
coons, his modus operandi being so pecu
liar as not only to afford us amusement,
but cause us to doubt if any dog ever lived
who had such adventures with birds or
beasts. Some of the party having shot
at and wounded a large owl, brought him
near camp and placed him on the ground
for the mischievous intent of finding out
what manner of proceeding Boots would
adopt towards the stranger. We soon saw
that he was inclined to make fight, though
a little doubtful; a slight “hie-on” was
encouragement enough, however, and
with furious barking, most valorously he
w'-ie a charge upon the owl, but we soon
saw that the brilliant ej’es of the owl,
which, turn as he would and however
rapidly, followed him in every direction,
had a very cooling effect on his
courage, which induced a very peculiar
mode of warfare. He would rush up to
the owl furiously, encounter his gaze,
and then, instead of taking hold of him,
wu '“ L j tfiiu suddenly and make a back-
Nitr / sally>ttempting to crush him by
s‘Si|sbg on himX Bat he was well punish
ed this dasi&rdly mode of attack,
which the owl seeme’fb.&t once to compre
hend, aud resolved to rCs-rSt. to the and ath.
After several unsuccessful
most assaults, Boots at length -s'utk;
ceeded, and seated himself on the bird
Thereupon the owl seized him instanter
on each side of his tail with both
talons, sticking them well in. The pain
of this grip forced Boots into a sudden
uprising and rush, scraping along the
ground towards the woods. He jumped,
fie struggled and yelled. He rushed on
and looked behind, and there was his
enemy. The eyes glared at him. He
tried forwards and backwards, sideways
and lengthwise, jumps, scrapes and
twists to loose the hold of his adversary,
but to no purpose. The owl held on like
grim Death, with his eyes staring at
Boots, whose terror at this gaze increas
ing every time he turned to look arouDd.
This would increase his speed. On, on
he rushed—turn and look and run faster,
for there were those eyes. He ran,
he rushed and tore on through
all obstacles, but still there was the owl.
On he flew, looking round, and darting
on. The owl acted well his 1 part; he
flinched not, yielded not, but stuck to it,
seeming actually to enjoy the sport of the
change he had made, from tormented to
tormentor. At length, poor Boots, fairly
exhausted, drew near and threw himself
at our feet, resigned but moaning, the
owl still holding on. This was the
first opportunity that we had had
of releasing him, and we gladly
did so, feeling conscious in our
hearts that this time it was
not altogether his own folly, for we had
led him into temptation. But Boots,
strange to tell, had learned more wisdom
from this episode than any of his other
scrapes. Incredible as it may seem, it is
nevertheless true, that we never after
wards said “owl” in his presence that he
did not stick his tail between his legs
and turn round to see. He had frequent
encounters with coons, squirrels, etc., in
which I grieve to say, but I must say it
to be veracious, Boots always came off
second best, and seemed to know it —al-
though also veracity obliges me to record,
except in memo y of owl and eyes, these
repeated defeats did not cure him of his
desire for laudatory exhibitions. He was
always rushing into difficulty, and the
more he failed, the more resolved he
seemed to be to shine in some way.
Boots, with a surname, Excelsior!
We struck camp and took up our line
of march from Fort Tomkins for the
Cow House. On our way we stopped at a
village near the St. Mary’s river, hoping
there to be able to replenish some of our
exhausted stores; especially anxious were
we to lay in a stock of good cigars. Accord
ingly, on our entrance into the village,
Mr. Rover, Beau Level and myself, with
Stepney accompanying us, entered the
most promising-looking store. Behind
the counter sat a smiling gentleman,
whom, on his rising to address us, by
speech aud looks we recognized as a
countryman of Rothschilds, bearing the
euphonious cognomen of Mr. Vouder
witenheimtt. Rover proposed a drink.
All agreeing, he asked for some brandy.
“No brandy. Very goot ready-made
closhing. Jewsh sharpsh, evereshest
ingsh elsh you vantsh, bedoubt brandy.”
“Have you any good boots?”
“No bootsh —very voine brogansh,
sheventy-five shentsh a pair. Got everesh
eshting elsh you can chooshe.”
“Well, let us see some shirts.”
“Had shome shirtsh lasht year; zole all!
Got shome very foine closth to make zem.
Shometimes I make zem myself.”
“Yes,” said Rover with considerable
asperity, “I see you have got everything
else except what we want.”
“Veil, all elshe now. Vat you have?”
“Got any hams? We are about out,
aren’t we Stepney?”
“Yes, sar.”
“Veil, I got no hamsh; very foine
middling!); sthry some, eh?”
“No; you havn’t got one thing we do
want, and expect us to buy what we don’t.
I never did see such an infernal store —”
“Don’t shay dat,” (very entreatingly.)
“Yy you not shent me vord? I would
have shent to New York and got evere
sheshtingsh for yfm you could wish. Vot
more you have, zhay ?”
“What more? Why, the devil a thing
we’ve got yet. Have you any cigars ? ’
in a thundering tone.
“Still more mildly than before, Roths
child’s countryman replied:
“Zats ze bery zing at last; ver foine;
sjusht impoot from Havana; ver foine!”
Saying which he handed us
Stepney included, which we took without
remark, but which elicited from Stepney,
after cocking his hat on one side:
“What a cigar to hand to a white
man!”
After smoking them awhile, and think
ing they were quite good, really needing
them, we concluded to take some. Rover,
therefore, who had hitherto been spokes
man, inquired the price.
“Fifty dollar a toush&nd; ver foine,
beaht.”
“Fifty devils !” furiously answerd Ro
ver. “Are you mad ?”
“Veil, as its you, I vill let you have
zem for forty."
“Forty ! what, you fool! We can get
fine cigars for that! How much did
these cost you?”
“Veil, twenty-five.”
“Twenty-five ? Stuff! Say ten and
we’ll take a box.”
“Couldn’t zink of it.”
“Very well, we’ll not take any.”
“Zay, jou can have zem for twenty.”
“No. :<ay fifteen, or I’ll take a box
anyhow.”
“Veil, then, fifteen.”
“That’s too much, I know; ten, and no
more. ”
“Veil, veil, az itz you, and itz ze lasht
five hundred, take zem for ten.”
Whereupon we made this sole grand
purchase, and continued our journey, ac
complishing ten miles that day.
After supper we produced the cigars,
offering the Colonel and the rest of the
company some, all accepting and enjoy
ing by preparing for a pleasant smoke and
chat.
“Halloo, what's this ?” exclaimed Beau,
spitting and sputtering. Behold! inside
of his cigar a bit of tarred rope; and so
we soon found had several others, and
we, not having bellows in our necks, were
forced to abandon our dearly bargained
for purchase. We acknowledged our
selves sold, the Colonel enjoying a
hearty laugh at our expense, as well
as at the recital of the haggling and
trafficking Mr. Vonderbitenheimutt. May
he thrive ! but if ever we do meet him
anywhere out of his own store we'll
shorten his name a little —perhaps.
The day succeeding this laughable dis
comfiture we arrived at the Cow House,
again set up our tents near our old ac
quaintance, Mr. Short, who greeted us
very graciously, and whose daughters
were so much more polite and affable to
wards us than on our former visit, that
we thought “the old man” must have
“made ’em dance around powerful," as he
had threatened, or else lectured them to
some pumose.
They inquired eagerly for “the man with
the trass thing,” who happened not
to be with ns then; and Mr. Short
said, “What sounds like a sand-hill
crane ?” which caused us to laugh very
heartily, and induced Mr. Short to be
lieve he had made a very witty remark,
and which he frequently repeated after
wards.
FLORIDA FRUIT TRANSPORTA
TION.
[low the Morning; News’ Correspondent
Vlewsthe Matter—Carelessness in Ship.
pin* Fruit—lmportance ot l’roperly
Packing Consignments—lncreased Ex
press Facilities—Faster Time Schedule
and Cheaper Freight Tariff.
[Special Correspondence of the Morning News.]
Febnandina, Fla., December 5.
I must beg to skip over one of my
regular epistles about “The Land of
Flowers,” and offer a few practical sug
gestions to the careless and inexperi
enced packers and shippers of fruit in
this State. It is true that lam neither a
fruit grower nor the son of a fruit
grower, yet I know more about the con
dition of fruit when it reaches the North
ern or Western markets than do hundreds
of fruit growers in Florida. For several
years my brother-in-law was one of the
largest wholesale fruit dealers in New
York city, and I had the opportunity of
frequently inspecting consignments from
the Southern States that were almost
worthless, owing to the careless manner
in which the fruit was packed, and the
want of proper caution in shipping it. I
also had the same opportunity to see the
promptness with which consignments of
carefully packed and properly shipped
fruit were disposed of at the highest
market prices.
Retail as well as small wholesale
dealers always hesitate to purchase or
handle damaged fruit, and seldom
touch it, except there is a large margin
for protection against loss. First class
fruit dealers, who sell to the best hotels
and the wealthiest families, prefer to
handle consignments that invariably
\fipme to them in good order, except in
Such fruit they can safely turn over to
their most exacting customers without re
packing or even opening the boxes. They
have full confidence in the shipper, and
they know that he will never send them
a box of fruit that is not carafully packed
and properly shipped. A thousand times
have I wondered at the foolishness of the
shippers of worthless consignments of
fruit—worthless only through gross neg
ligence in packing and inexcusable care
lessness in shipping. Yet some fruit
growers never can learn wisdom in this
respect, but will end their days cursing
railroads, steamboats, express lines and
commission fruit dealers, as the sole cause
of their misfortunes and want of success
in fruit raising for the Northern aud
Western markets.
During the past few weeks, as I have
traveled up and down the St. John’s
river, and critically noticed the packing
and shipping of oranges and other fruit,
my observations in my brother-in law’s
establishment in New York have come
back in my memory with great force, as
I have seen large consignments of fruit
leave for distant markets carelessly packed
and as carelessly shipped. In my mind’s
eye I have traced those consignments to
their destination, only to see at least one
half of the fruit thrown away as worth
less, and the other half sold for a sum
scarcely large enough to pay the freight
bills. What I shall say in this letter,
therefore, can give no cffence to fruit
growers in Florida who know how to
pack and ship their consignments in a
proper manner. They need no advice
on this subject, least of all from me. The
class to whom I do refer, however, will
be wise if they heed what I have to say
to them, and allow my suggestions to
lead them to consult such of their neigh
bors as have the ability to advise them
properly in the packing and shipping of
their fruit. This object reached, by
whatever means, and I am satisfied, as I
have no axe or hatchet of my own or of
my friends to grind on this stone. I sim
ply desire to see Florida fruit go into
Northern and Western markets in a con
dition that will enable it to successfully
compete with fruit from other countries,
as well as from other sections of this
country; and as the Morning News aims
to seek the best good of all its readers,
I speak for it, in this matter, to its
numerous fruit growing subscribers in
this States-
CARELESSNESS IN SHIPPING FRUIT.
I have been greatly surprised at the
careless, and in some cases reckless, man
ner in which oranges and other fruit,
designed for sale in Northern or West
ern markets, are shipped from different
points on the riyer. A more suicidal
policy than this could not be adopted by
persons who expect to make fruit raising
profitable to themselves and creditable
to Florida. In some instances this
careless packing is owing to ignorance
of any better method, or the lack
of sufficient energy or experience to
adopt a more secure plan. In
other cases the shippers think they can
“make something” out of the steamboat
and railroad companies by crowding as
many oranges as possible into a box,
crate or barrel, or by making the box or
crate as large as they dare. This is all
wrong, and in nearly every instance re
sults in loss to the fruit-grower or ship
per. I have seen oranges landed on the
wharf at Palatka in a heated, bruised and
decayed condition; and yet those very
oranges were only that short distance on
their journey to New York or Chicago.
So great has this evil become of late that
active means are now being used to secure
a speedy remedy.
The able editor of the Florida Agri
culturist calls attention to this injudic
ious system of packing and shipping
fruit, and refers to the excellent plan
proposed by Mr. D. H. Elliott, special
fruit agent of the Atlantic and Gulf
Railroad, who has just completed a tour
throughout the markets of the North and
West, J where he fully examined the
workings of thp commission fruit busi
ness. As the result of his conference
with the leading fruit dealers and pro
duce brokers in both sections, Mr.
Elliott is convinced that a box
holding only one hundred or
anges is the most desirable for
packing fruit for market. Such boxes
of fruit find ready sale among small deal
ers, hve quicker transportation, and are
less litfcle to be injured by rough hand
ling. The rates of freight now estab
lished make this kind of a box cheaper
than those of a larger size, as it comes
under the uniform rates for bushels, bar
rels and crates. As to the cost of these
boxes, the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad
j Company proposes to furnish and de
liver them on the St. John’s river at ten
cents each, which certainly is cheap
enough to afford a good margin for profit
to thefruit grower andshipper. There may
be special cases in which large boxes or
crates and barrels can be used without
loss, but the fruit grower who expects to
secure and hold a profitable and peru.a
--j nent connection with the markets of the
North and West, will be compelled to
adopt the small box system of trans
portation, and pack his oranges or other
fruit with greater care than has hereto
fore been exercised by many shippers on
the St. John's river.
IMPORTANCE or PROPERLY PACKING FRUIT.
And now a word as to packing the fruit
in any kind of a box, barrel or crate. I
have noticed that but few use any pack
ing, simply ‘’dumping” the oranges into
the box or barrel and nailing it up. This
may be a cheap and easy method at the
point from which the fruit is shipped,
but it makes a very expensive and labo
rious job for the party at the other end
of the route who has to put these oranges
into a marketable condition. Fruit grow
ers must learn that some things do not
take care of themselves. Oranges are
very tender even on the tree, and should
be picked and packed with the greatest
carefulness. Yet I have seen men pick
and pack them as they would cocoanuts,
aud with no idea of the absurdity of
their course.
Mr. Stebbins, the efficient superinten
dent of Col. Hart s splendid grove, packs
each orange with the utmost caution,
wrapping it in white paper. In the ab
sence of paper, however, he sometimes
uses moss, but never until it is thorough
ly dried and prepared for such an impor
tant use. Still, in every section of
Florida, oranges are carelessly packed in
undried and unprepared moss, which
seldom fails to sweat and decay the fruit
during its transportation to market. Mr.
E. Bean, of New York, before opening
his fruit broker's office at Palatka, thor
oughly investigated the subject of fruit
packing, and not only has he adopted the
small box system, but he earnestly urges
fruit growers to pack with more care.
It is universally acknowledged that the
Florida orange is the most marketable of
any at the North and West. The only
question that arises, and one that is just
now being widely discussed, concerns the
best and quickest plan for putting it into
the hands of fruit brokers in those sec
tions of the country. Mr. Bean pro
poses to purchase oranges at his estab
lishment in Palatka, and carefully pack
them, inspecting and classifying each
orange as it passes under his observation.
In this way he can secure for his con
signments a reputation that will always
give them a ready and profitable sale. It
is claimed that the best method of pack
ing, in such instances, is to use the white
paper upon which newspapers are printed.
This has more elasticity than the thin
tissue paper sometimes used, and affords
greater protection to the fruit while be
ing transported to market. One thou
sand such wrappers, with “Florida
Fruit” and the name of the grove printed
on them, will be furnished by the Atlan
tic and Gulf Railroad Company at sixty
cents. This will make the cost of a box and
one hundred printed wrappers only sixteen
cents, to be delivered at any point on the
St. John’s river without extra charge
Now, these gentlemen a.e not getting Up
any new n private speculation. They
dearly see that something must be done
to give the Florida orange a better chance
in the Northern and Western markets to
establish a permanent reputation and a
speedy and profitable sale. Reckless
transportation of carelessly packed fruit
will defeat such an object, and, on this
account, Messrs. Bean, Elliot and others
—men who have thoroughly investigated
the matter—propose the plan here sug
gested for packing and shipping. Of
course, if other plans and other means
can accomplish the same desired object,
they will be heartily and cheerfully sec
onded by all parties who labor for the
success of fruit culture in Florida. As
“ the longest pole takes the persimmon,”
so will the fruit grower who properly
packs and ships his oranges and lemons
secure to himself a never-failing demand
for his consignments. Col. Hart has
tried this plan, and to-day he is unable to
fill all his orders, although he does not
sell to dealers, his customers being in
dividuals who want good oranges, well
packed, for their owr tables, - ,
increased express facilities.
Your readers will remember that in my
first letter from Jacksonville I stated that
the great increase in the shipping of fruit
and vegetables from this State had com
pelled the public carriers to give better
aud more rapid facilities for reaching the
Northern and Western markets. I also
detailed the excellent plan adopted by
the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad Company
to prevent the unwise concentration of
consignments at any one point, by secur
ing a profitable and prudent distribution
of them to such points as offer a ready
and remunerative market. I have now
to announce another and, in some re
spects, supplemental arrangement, by
which the plan of the A. and G. R. R.
officials will be fully tested. Messrs. H.
Dempsey, of Augusta, Superintendent,
and J. Cronin, of Savannah, route agent
of this portion of the Southern Express
Company’s lines, were my fellow passen
gers on the steamer from Enterprise, and
from them I learned that the most com
plete fast line table has been arranged,
with a very low freight tariff attached,
for a daily express on the St. John’s
river, for the purpose of moving the fruit
crop, without loss, to the most desirable
markets. This arrangement was com
pleted on yesterday, and the first ship
ment made under it, Thursday, was by
Count Johannes B’Gormanne, from
Deem’s Lake (or some other place) to
Macon, Georgia. All that the managers
ask of the fruit growers, if any doubt ex
ists in their minds as to the reliability
and cheapness of this arrangement, is a
fair trial of the facilities and charges of
the Southern Express Company for mov
ing the present fruit crop of Florida in
the most expeditious and reliable manner.
Although Enterprise and Mellonville
are now the highest points on the upper
St. John’s, to whkh the messengers of
the Southern Express Company run, and
at which regular agencies are established,
local agents have facilities for forwarding
packages and freight from these points to
any section of JTlorida > n the
direction of either the Atlantic or
Gulf coast,or to the vicinity of Lake City
and Salt Lake. Fruit from any of these
sections, delivered to the agents at Enter
prise, Mellonville or Sanford, will be
“put through” under the new fast time
schedule and at the reduced rates. Capt.
George It. Jones, the local agent at Jack
sonville, tells me that he is determined to
spare no efforts, in his supervision of the
river lines, to have all consignments of
fruit carefully and promptly forwaided
Speaking, therefore, from my personal
knowledge of Messrs. Dempsey, Cronin
and Jones, as gentlemen of reliability
and energy, I feel confident in assuring
the fruit growers of Ilorida that under
the new fast schedule and cheap freight
tariff of the Southern Express Company
they will have unsurpassed advantages
for putting their oranges and other fruit,
as well as early vegetables, into the most
desirable markets in the quickest possible
time, and, if properly packed, in the best
possible condition. Persons interested
in this new arrangement can get full par
ticulars and special rates on application to
the messengers on the boats or trains, or
from the local agents at the landings
or depots. Parties living in the interior
can write to the nearest agent, who will
give the desired information by return
mail. Persons desiring information in
regard to the bushel boxes and printed
paper wrappers for packing oranges, to
be furnished by the Atlantic and Gulf
Railroad Company at prices named,
should address “D. H. Elliott, Special
Agent, Atlantic and Gulf Railroad,
Savannah, Georgia.” If they can be
procured in any other way at the same
prices, or even cheaper, it will answer the
same purpose, and save the railroad offi
cials considerable work, to which no
profit is attached.
Sidney Herbeet.
The Growth of Norfolk, Va.—The
Norfolk Landmark publishes a statement
showing that during the present year
there have been erected in that city one
hundred and thirteen houses, fifty-six of
which are brick and fifty-seven wooden.
Whilst this is a falling off compared with
last year, the Landmark claims it is a
gratifying exhibit, considering the strin
gency of the times, and will compare
very favorably with that of any city of its
size on the Atlantic coast.
Every day that Mr. Schenck remains
abroad as the representative of Ameri
cans, he disgraces the national name and
character. If he won't “step down and
out” voluntarily, Secretary Fish should
invest a few dollars m a cable dispatch
asking his immediate resignation. Gov
ernment money could not be put to bet
ter use. —Troy Times {Uep.)
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Summary of the Week’s Dispatches
THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE.
Washington, December 7.—Hie Presi
dent’s message opens thus : “In submitting
my seveuth annual message to Cougress in
the centennial year of our national existence
as a free and independent people, it af
fords me great pleasure to recur to the ad
vancement that has been made from the
time of the colonies, (one hundred years
ago. We were then a people numbering
only three millions; now we number more
than forty millions. Then our industries
were confined almost exclusively to the till
age of the soil; now manufactures absord
much of the labor of the country. Our
liberties remain unimpaired. The bonds
men have been freed from slavery and we
have become possessed with the respect, if
not the friendship, of all civilized natious.”
Graphic ud well-worked details follow.
The President earnestly recommends that a
constitutional amendment be submitted to
the Legislatures of the respective States
making it the duty of the States to establish
aud forever maintain free Dublic schools for
the education of all childreu iu the rudi
mentary branches, within their respective
limits, irrespective of sex, color, birthplace
or religion; forbidding the teaching in
said schools of religious, atheistic or
pagan tenets, and prohibiting the granting
of any school funds or school taxes, or any
part thereof, either by legislative, munic
ipal or other authorities, for the benefit, or
in aid directly or indirectly, of any religious
sect or denomination, or in aid. or for
the benefit of any other object of
any nature or kind whatever. He
also alludes to the importance of
correcting the evil of vast amounts of uu
taxed church property, aud estimates that
by 1890, if unchecked, this property will
reach a sum exceeding three thousand mil
lions of dollars. He would suggest the
taxation of all property equally, excepting
only the last resting place of the dead.
Our relations with most foreign powers
continue on a satisfactory and friendly foot
ing. The President is happy to announce
the passage of an act by the general courts
of Portugal abolishing slavery in the colo
nies.
The past year has furnished no evidence
of an approaching termination of the ruin
ous conflict which has been raging for seven
years in Cuba. The same disregard of the
laws of civilized warfare, and the just de
mands of humanity which have heretofore
called forth expressions of condemnation
from the nations of Christendom have con
tinued to blacken the sad scone. Desola
tion, ruin and pillage are pervading the
rich fields of one of the most fertile and
productive regions of the earth, and the in
cendiary’s torch, firing plantations and val
uable factories aud buildings, is the agent
marking the alternate advance and retreat
of the contending parties. Tho President
narrates the damage to the interi sts of all
commercial nations, especially to those of
the United Spates, and the insecurity of
property owned by citizens of the United
States in Cuba. He had hoped that Spain
would be enabled to establish peace in her
colony. Because of this hope and from an
extreme reluctance to interfere in the affairs
of another and a friendly nation, he has pa
tently and anxiously awaited the progress of
events. The armed bands of either side now
occupy the same grounds as in the past.
The President makes a long argument, and
concludes: “A recognition of the indepen
dence of Cuba being, in my opinion, im
practicable aud indefensible, the question
which next presents itself is that of the
recognition of belligerent rights in the
parties to the contest.” After further argu
ment, the President concludes: “The recog
nition of indepe denee or of belligerency
being thus, in my judgment, equally inad
missable, it remains to consider what course
shall be adopted should the conflict not soon
be brought to an end by acts of the
p; tics ufomselves, and should the evils
which result therefrom, affecting all nations
and particularly the United States, continue,
iu such event I am of tho opinion that other
nations will be compelled to assume the re
sponsibility which devolvos upon them and to
seriously consider the only remaining meas
ures possible—mediation aud|interventiou.”
After a further statement ho says: “At the
same time, while thus impressed, I do not at
this time recommend the adoption of any
measure of intervention.” He adds: “Persua
ded,however, that a proper regard lor the in
‘terestsof theUnitod States and of its citi
zens entitle it to relief from the strain to
which it has been subjected by the
difficulties of the questions and the
wrongs and losses which result
from the contest in Cuba, and
that the interests of humanity itself de
mands the cessation of tho strife, before tho
whole is and shall bo laid waste and larger
sacrifices be made, I shall feel it my duty,
should my hopes of a satisfactory adjust
ment and of an early restoration of peace
and the removal of future causes of com
plaint be unhappily disappointed, to m ike a
further communication to Cougress at some
period not far remote, and during pres
ent session what seems to be necessary. ”
Alluding to the necessity of suppressing
the smuggling carried on through tho tree
zone, and to the cattle raids on tho Rio
Grande, the President, says :
“An experiment of an armed vessel on the
Rio Grande for that purpose is upon trial,
and it is hoped, if not thwarted by the shal
lowness of the river and other natural ob
structions, it may materially contribute to
the protection of the herdsmen of Texas.”
Ocean telegraphs are discussed at great
length, but no allusion is made to tho pos
tal telegraph.
Discussing the subject of spocie resump
tion the President says : “Too much stress
cannot be laid upon t his question, and I hope
Congress may be induced, at the earliost day
practicable, to insure the consummation of
the act of the last Congress at its last ses
sion to bring about specie resumption on
and after the Ist day of January, 1879, at
farthest. It would be a great blessing if
this could be consummated even at. an ear
lier day. Nothing seems to me
more certain than that a full,
healthy and permanent reaction cannot take
place in favor of the industries and financial
welfare of the country until we return to a
measure of values recognized throughout
the civilized world. While wo use a cur
rency not equivalent to this standard, the
world’s recognized standard, specie, be
comes a commodity like the products
of the soil, the surplus seeking
a market wherever there is a
demand for it. Under our present system
we should want none, nor would we* have
any were it not that the customs dues are
paid in coin and because of our pledges to
pay the interest on the public debt in coin.
The yield of precious metals would flow out
for the purchase of foreign productions and
leave us hewers of wood and drawers of
water, because of the wiser legislation on the
subject of finance by the nations with
whom we have dealings. I am not
prepared to say that I can suggest the foest
legislation to secure the end most heartily
recommended. It will be a source of great
gratification to be able to approve any meas
ure of Congress looking effectually towards
securing resumption. Unlimited inflation
would probably bring about specie payments
more speedily than any legislation looking
to the redemption of legal tenders in coin,
but it would be at the expense of honor. The
legal tenders would have no value
beyond settling present liabilities, or, pro
perly speaking, repudiating them. They
would buy nothing after all debts were
settled. There are a few measures which
seem to me important in this connection
and which I commend to your earnest con
sideration. A repeal of so much of the legal
tender act as makes legal tender notes re
ceivable for debts contracted after a
certain date, to be fixed in the act itself—
say not later than the Ist of Jauuary, 1877.
a hearty reaction would set in at once and
with it a desire to make the currency equal
to what it purports to be. The President
elaborates the good effects which,in his judg
ment, would follow. He suggests second,
that the Secretary of the Treasury be au
thorized to redeem say not to exceed two
million dollars monthly of legal tender
Dotes, by issuing in their stead a long
bond bearing interest at three sixty
five hundreths per cent, of denominations
ranging from fifty to one thousand dollars
each. Third, that additional power be given
to the Secretary of the Treasury to accumu
late gold for final resumption, either by
increasing the revenue or decreasing ex
penses, or both. It is, he thinks, preferable
to do both. The restoration of the duty on
tea and coffee is suggested, also the re
duction of the duty on certain articles, such
as hardly pay for the cost of collection and
such as enter into manufactures.
The President suggests that some better
means be found for verifying claims against
the government than through the Court of
Claims, especially those growing out of the
late war, which he says are in nearly every
instance exorbitant.
Discussing the report of the Secretary of
War, the President invites special attention
to the propriety of making three hundred
thousand dollars of the subsistence appro
priation available before the beginning of
the next fiscal year; to the repeal of the law
abolishing mileage and a return to
the old system ; an appropria
tion for torpedo trials by the corps of
engineers; a permanent organization of the
Signal Corps.
The condition of our navy, at this time,
he sayg, is a source of satisfaction. Re
viewing the details of its defects, as com
pared with the navies of other nations, he
says “but neither our continental situation
nor our foreign policy requires
that we should have a large
number of these powerful cruising iron
clads, while our situation and the nature of
our ports combine to make those of other
nations little dangerous to ub under ordinary
circumstances. We have fifty war ships, in
cluding fifteen ironclad §, now in band on
the Atlantic coast.
The postal service is entirely satisfactory.
The President suggests that power be given
to the Postmaster General to exclude mer
chandise from the mails.
The method of treating the Indians,
adopted at the beginning of my first term,
has been steadily pursued with satisfactory
and encouraging results. It has been pro
ductive of evident improvement of the con
dition of that race, and will be continued,
with such modifications as experience may
indicate to be necessary.
The President speaks cheeringly and lib
erally regarding the Centennial. He says
of the Bureau of Agriculture: “It haa ac
complished much in disseminating useful
knowledge to the agriculturist and also in
introducing new and utefol productions
adapted to our climate and is worthy o! the
continued encouragement of the govern
ment.”
The President characterizes the condition
of affairs in Utah as scandalous, and says as
an institution polygamy should be banished
from the land.
The message thus concludes: “\s this
will be the last message I shall have the
honor of submitting to Congress before my
successor is chosen, I wiff repeat or re
capitulate the questions which I deem of
vital importance, which may be legis
lated upon and settled at this session:
“First. That the Stato schools be required
to afford the opportunity of a good common
school education to every child within their
limits.
“Second. That no sectarian tenets shall
ever be taught in auy school supported by
the State, uation, or tho proceeds of any
tax levied npon any community. Make edu
tation compulsory so far as to deprive all
persons who caunot read and write from
becoming voters after the year 1890,
disfranchising none, however, on grounds
of illiteracy who may be voters at
the time this amendment takes effect.
“Third. Declare church and State forever
separate aud distinct, but each tree within
their proper spheres, aud that all church
property shall bear its own proportion of
taxation.
“Fourth. Drive out licensed immorality,
such as polygamy aud the importation
of women for illegitimate purposes. I recur
again to tho Centennial year. It would
seem as though, now that we are about to
begin the second century of our national
existence, it would be a most fitting time for
these reforms.
“Fifth. Enact such laws as will secure a
speedy return to a sound currency, such as
wiUcommaud tho respect of the world.”
Believing that these views will commend
themselves to the great majority of the
right thinking aud patriotic citizens of the
United States, I submit the rest to Con
gress.
(Signed) u. S. Grant.
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.
Washington, December 7.—ln the Senate,
English, the new Senator from Connecticut,
was sworn in, and the Senate took a recess
until 1 o’clock.
The House took a recess until 1, when
they will draw for seats, after which the
message will be read.
Iu the House, after tho committee had re
turned and the choice of seats accorded to
the oldest continuous member—K. Hey, of
Pennsylvania— the drawing for seats oc
curred. Mr. McHaDpy, the Reading Cle k,
read the message. The reading of the
message occupied two hours and
five minutes. At *£rjt it was
listened to with considerable in
iuterest and attention, but after the Clerk
had got past the paragraphs relating to
education, church property, and tho Cuban
questions, the members began gradually to
leave their seats, retiring to tho cloak
rooms, loitering listlessly in the
aisles, engaged in conversation with
each other, so that during tho
reading of the latter half there wero not
probably forty members in their seats, and
no' half that number paying the slightest
attention to the message! In fact, were it
not for the monotonous tones of the Clerk’s
voice, it might have been supposed that the
House was indulging in a recess. The mes
sage was ordered printed.
Mr. Cox presented a petition of W. H.
Trescott and others, of South Carolina,
with reference to the right of representation
of the Third Congressional District of Soutli
Carolina, and moved that it be referred
to the Committee on Elections. He
said the question raised by the
memorial was not so much that of a' repre
sentative as it was that of representation.
The petition was so referred, aud tho House
adjourned till Friday.
In the Senate the message was read by
Mr. Gorham, Secretary of the Senate. Tho
Senate adjourned to noon to-morrow.
Washington, December 7.— lu the Senate
the bill introduced by Senator West to aid
the construction of the Texas Pacific Rail
road, is mainly a copy of the bill reported
by the Senate Committee on Railroads on
Eobruary the 19tli last, aud re-committed on
the same day. It authorizes tho Atlantic
aud Pacific Railroad Company to construct
a railroad from Vinita and southwest wardly
to a junction with the line of the Texas
Pacific Railroad from Foit Worth, tho junc
tion to he on or south of the 33d parallel
and between the 100th and 103d meridian.
The Texas Pacific Company is to construct
a road from this point through
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and
California to San Diego bay, and for
these purposes the two companies shall en
joy all the rights heretofore granted them,
except that the grant of land shall not bo
duplicated and shall not exceed twenty al
ternate sections per mile in the territories
and ten sections per mile in the States, and
one each of the side lines of the road, and
the rights of the Atlantic and Pacific Com
pany shall be confined to the connecting
link between Vinita and tie Junction. Tho
bill also provides for the con
struction of a connecting lino by
the New Orleans, Baton Rouge aud Vicks
burg Railroad Company betweon Shreveport
aud New Orleans, and authorizes tho Texas
Company to extend its lii*> east from
Shreveport to Vicksburg. It is further
provided that the United States Govern
ment shall guarantee tho payment
per cent, interest on the bonds of tho'lexas
Pacific Company to the extent of thirty-five
thousand dollars per mile. An elaborate
provision is made for securing the govern
ment against loss by means of a first mort
gage, and the retention of all proceeds of
the sale of lands and of tho cost of govern
ment transportation, together with porti ins
of earnings of roads to ostahlish a sinking
fund, etc,
Washington, December B.— ln the Senate
memorials were presented by Robertson
from the Chamber of Commerce of Charles
ton, S. 0., in behalf of the merchants and
business men of that city for bar and harbor
improvements.
By Patterson—A memorial by the South
Carolina Legislature asking the passage of
a law preventing internal revenue license
for retailing liquor.
By Johnson—For the removal of the po
litical disabilities of William Shauf, of Vir
ginia.
By Withers—Praying for compensation
for property used by the Federal army after
1865.
The following bills were introduced and
laid on the table for future reference :
By Morton—Regulating the counting of
the votes for President and Vico President.
By Claj ton—Repealing section 2,303 of
the revised statutes making restrictions in
the disposition of the public lands of Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and
Florida.
By Robertson—To secure the depositors
of the Freedman’s Bank from ultimate loss;
also to remove the legal and political disa
bilities from all citizens of the United
States.
By Spencer—Granting Cornell Jewett and
associates a charter for an ocean cable be
tween the Pacific coast and Asia.
By McMillen—To exten i the time for the
construction and completion of the North
ern Pacific Road. It allows the company
ten years time to complete the road.
By West—Amendatory of and supple
mental to the act of March 3,d, 1871, to in
corporate the Texas Pacific Road, and acts
supplementary thereto, apr roved May 2,
1872, and the Atlantio and Pacific Railroad
act of July 27th, 1806.
Morton submitted a joint resolution to
elect the President and Vice-President by a
direct vote of the people. Adjourned.
Washington, December B.— The adjourned
Republican Senatorial caucus here report
that a committee of five were appointed
yesterday, with Wadleigh as business chair
man of the committee, vice Ferry, dead.
There was a full Democratic Senatorial
caucus. Great dissatisfaction was expressed
that the majority had left them only two
places on the Finance Committee, instead
of three, as in all other committees com
posed oj nine. Bayard and Kernan were
placed on the Finance Committee. The va
cancies caused by the death of Mr. Johnson
will be filled by Eaton on Foreign Relations,
and Key on Post Offices. The minority have
four, instead of three, out of eleven com
posing the Committee on Railroads. Eaton
is placed on that committee, who, with Ran
som, Kelly and Carpenter, compose the mi
nority of the Railroad Committee.
Senator Sumner’s bill for the payment of
the French spoliation claims is &tiU pending
in the Senate.
Washington December 9.—ln the Senate,
Cooper presented a memorial of the Book
agents of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, asking compensation for losses at
Richmond and Louisville during the war.
West presented a letter from W. L.
McMillan, of that State, asking permission
to withdraw his credentials as Senator-elect
from the State of Louisiana, by the Mc-
Enery Legislature. West sent to the Clerk’s
desk and had read a letter recently pub
lished by McMillan, giving his reasons for
withdrawing his credentials. He submitted
an older that the request for withdrawal of
the papers be granted, but objection was
made by several Senators on the Democratic
side, and it was laid over.
Bogy introduced a bill authorizing the
payment of duties on imports in legal
tenders and national bank notes. It pro
vides that from and after July 4,1876, duties
on imports may be paid in legal tenders and
national bank notes, or coin, at the option
of the importer.
After the executive session, the Senate
adjourned to Monday.
. a Ikfgc number of nominations,
including ChandL-r, Secretary of the Inte
rior ; Pierrepont, Attorney General; Mer
rier, Minister to Belgium ; Gibbs, Minister
to Peru ; New, Treasurer, and fiurham, As
sistant Secretary of the Treasury ; Major
Robert McFeely, Commissary General, with
the rank of Brigadier General; Col. Wm.
McKee Dunn, Judge Advocate General,
with the rank of Brigadier General, and all
revenue officers and Postmasters who have
been appointed during recess. There were
no new appointments.
Confirmations Chandler, Pierrepont,
New, andJohn C. Smith, Commissioner of
Indian Affairs.
BABCOCK’S COURT.
December 9—Generals Sher
man, Hancock and Terry, composing the
court of mouiry appointed at the request
of General Babcoek, to consider the ques
tions raised in the prosecution of the whisky
cases at St. Louis affecting his renntutimi
met to-day and decided that the court Iffiould
hold an open session. V Major Gardner re
corder, stated that, on bccount of lack of
witnesses, nothing could bK-lone to-dav and
the court adjourned to noomLo-morrow a
LOBS OF THE DEUTSCHLAND.
London, December 7—Lloyd’a agent at
Rochester reports this morning that a boat
came ashore in that vicinity from the
steamer Deutschland, of the North
German Lloyds, from Bremen De
cember 4, lor New York The
boat contained one man and dead hodi.
of two others. The man reports that the
Deutschland is aground somewhere in the
North Sea. Lloyds> agent at Sheerness,
nearer the mouth of the Thames, conflrmi
the news of the disaster to the Deutschland
bpt gives no further details. The two men
perished from long exposure, having been
n the boat thii ty-eight hours. g
London, December 7.-Lloyd’s agent at
Sheerness telegraphs that ihe' person who
arrived in a boat, was a quartermaster of
the Deutschland. His name is Anguat One
of those who died from exposure was ukmed
Fosentein, aud the other’s name is nn
known. August reports that the steamer
struck a sand bank in the North sea One
boat left the ship before that occupied bv
August and his companions. The fate of
that boat is unknown, and the fato of the
Deutschlaud itself also unknown. August
believes she is totally lost, with all the pas
sengers and crew. They numbered one
hundred and fifty.
New York, December 7—Pebrichs & Cos
agents of tho North. German Lloyds line have
received no dispatches relating to the disas
ter to the Deutschland. They could not tell
the names of the Captain, officers or crew
as they are all new, the vessel having been
laid up iu Bremen since February. The
agents say it is probable only a few of the
passengers were on board, the tide of immi
gration this i ear being slack. They have
telegraphed to the other side for passenger
list.
New York, December 7 The British
Admiralty has sent a tug to the assistance
of the Deutschland. The agents have
grave fears and do not conceal them. They
suppose that the vessel went ashore in a
fog. The agents have just received the
following :
"The Deutschland is ashore on Long
Sands. Fifty of the passengers aud crew
are reported drowned. Part of the passeu
fors and crew laudod at Harwich on Tues
ay afternoon.” Further particulars are
wanting.
THE DEUTSCHLAND.
London, December 9. The Captain’s
statement: Left Bornhaven on Sunday
morning, when strong northeast winds pre
vailed. They threw the lead every half
hour. The last lead thrown out showed
seventeen fathoms. They felt a moderate
shock at 5:30 on Monday, 'the engine was
backed immediately, but iu a few moments
the screw aud the machinery stop
p'd, and the ship commeug and to strike heavy.
They signalled several vessels which passed
including a steamer. The Captain ordered
all boats ready and all wero swung out, but
it was impossible to lower them, the sea
being too high. One which was lowered
against orders was swamped with six per
sons. Another with tho boatswain was
lowered, but at the same time a tremendous
sea swept many overboard. The ship filled
slowly. The passengers behaved cooly, and
all were provided with life preservers.' The
deaths were caused by the high sea
and the cold, many tailing benumbed
from tho rigging. The passengers wero
ordered to tho rigging and decks. The
ship was iu two feet of water, with an ebb
tide. The passengers descended to a tug
boat, which arrived at Half past ten in the
morning. One committed suicido by open
ing the veins of his arm. Many were res
cued frost-bitten past recovery. Forty pas
sengers aud fifty of thb crow are unaccounted
for.
JOURNALISTIC CHANGE.
Richmond, Ya., December 9.—The Rich
mond Whig has been purchased by Messrs.
Wyatt M. Elliott & Cos., and to-day made its
appearance under the new management.
General Elliott was for twenty yoars previl
ous to aud during tho late war one of the
proprietors of the Whig audits chief busi
ness manager. Nathaniel B. Meade for
merly editor of the Whig, and tho present
chairman of tho State Conservative Commit
tee, will resume the editorial control of the
paper, with A. P. Beunett, formerly of tho
Enquirer, and C. Maurice Smith, long con
nected with the Whig, as assistants. Tbe
now paper promises to use every propor effort
to advance tho great interests of the State,
and make the paper worthy of its past repu
tation by firm adherence to principles aud a
well settled policy.
JOURNALISTIC.
Baltimore, December 7.—A controlling
interest in the Baltimore Gazelle has been
sold to Win. H. Welsh, Esq., of this city,
who assumes the exclusive management and
control of the paper. Mr. Welsh is a jour
nalist of experience, having been proprietor ,
ot the Philadelphia Age. He intends making j
important changes in the conduct and an- 1
pearance of the Gazelle. '
AN ATLANTA FAILURE.
Atlanta, December 9.—Tho failure of *
West, Edward-. & Cos. is still tho exciting
topic. N. J. West and B. W. Briscoe, two of 1
tho firm, wero committed to jail this after- J
noon for contempt of court m refusing toj
deliver their hooks, papers and evidence oil
indebtedness to the receiver appointed yeg-9
terday by Judge Hopkins. Edwards escaped!
from t.i& failure to servo the order upon 1
him. 1
BURNED.
New York, December 9.—Buildings 11
2,3 and 4, Mission Place, are burned. Losa
$320,000. The heavy losers are N. A. Tay
lor, papers; Darrow A Sons, book-binders-
Donaldson Bros., lithographers, $170,000.’
The Mercantile Agenoy House and the In
dustry aud Mission House narrowly escaped.
Some Radical Puns to Drown his
Kerr’s.
[From the Washington Republican.]
A budget of Kerr-sory remarks : Sat
urday was hard on Wood-Cox. Although
pointers seemed to be at a loss and set
ters at a discount, still the game was
bagged by a Kerr. The trained pack
under the master, Sam Ran—bah on tha
“and,” for as the beginning of Democracy
and devilment it is always getting the
country into trouble—all over the ground,
but failed to get a scent. The Bourbon
Democracy has gone completely back on
its record by ignoring its Cox crew. It
is said that Cox sung a plaintive air for
the benefit of the caucus ; “Wood I were
with thee, darling,” and Wood, mistaking
the melody, joined in with “Kerry me
back once more.” The caucus is over,
and the end having oc-Kerred, Mr. Ran
dall quietly remarks, “Kerr’s the lucky
man. Ar it is the first time the genial
Samuel was ever known to be Kerr-t, we
Wood still recommend him for Kerr-to
see. Mr. Wood says ; “ The More-i-see
of the result of the contest, the more I
am convinced that he who Wood con-
Kerr a fair pirize should spea-Kerr-ly for
it.” That Kerr should have con-Kerred
is not at all surprising, for it would have
oc-Kerred under any circumstanae, as he
Ran-dall his mite to win a raoe that any
ordinary Cox-comb would have lost. The
M. 0. Kerr of Saturday is the S.-P.-Korr
of to-day, with the control of several
fine offices attached, which in reality be
long to the family of Orpheus C. Kerrs.
We Wood-n’-thin-Kerr-’bout canine after
pun-ishing our mother tongue in thin
manner.
The New Speaker,
The men who stand first in the political
and commercial ranks of our country
furnish the best evidence that America is
still a republic, much as it has
away from the severe simplicity of ot l^ |
years. Most of GwiA are of humble ori
gin, and have fiolln to a commanding
position in spite of the adverse circum
stances which surrounded them. Birth
and early advantages have had little to do
with their success, but an indomitable
perseverence and unwearying energy bad.
Through trials and obstacles they strug
gled forward until the one talent became
five and the five ten.
Michaol O. Kerr, of Indiana, who has
just been elected Speaker of the House
of Congress, is a brilliant example of
this class. Born in Pennsylvania in 1827,
he had but few opportunities of
ing the education which he was ambi
tious to have, but, by hard study f and
application, he succeeded in laying ie
foundation for it. - Afterwards, by team
ing and attending school alternately,
he gained a knowledge of booKJ, which
served him in good stead in
after life. Ambitious to become
a disciple of Blackstone, he came to this
city to study .law, and after completing
his course settled in New Albany. In
1856 he was elected to the State Assembly,
and in 1862 to the position of reporter
of the State Supreme Court. Two years
later he was elected to Congress, and has
served in that body ever sinoe.
Mr. Kerr is an able speaker, and a fine
parliamentarian, and will undoubtedly
perform the duties of his new position
in a manner that will reflect honor upon
himself and the party which is proud to
number him among its members. — LoiiiSr.
ville Ledger.
A Brooklyn minister whose name has
occasionally been mentioned in connec
tion with that of Theodore Tilton, has a
peculiar fashion of inculcating the doc
trine of “peace on earth, good will to
man.” It seems that there is a Mia,
Moulton who has been writing a series mF
letters which has disturbed the sereraH
of the aforesaid minister, and made soma
trouble among his flock, and instead,H
was his wont, going to the lady,
and making friends, he theoretically
up on his muscle, and announces
lis time to “strike back.” If this oH|
disciple of muscular Christianity is kbmr
lutely spoiling for a fight he ought to
have it, aDd, in default of any better
man, we nominate Susan B. Anthony.—.
Louisville Ledger.