Читать книгу History of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity, 1513 to 1924 - T. Frederick Davis - Страница 10

For several years after the survey of Jacksonville in 1822, I. D. Hart must have experienced severe disappointment, for his dream of a boom town at the Cow Ford did not materialize rapidly. Brady and Hogans, who scouted the idea in the beginning, no doubt expressed themselves upon occasion, "I told you so". Brady shortly afterward sold. out and moved away, but L. Z. Hogans remained to perpetuate the expression.

Up to 1828-30, the development of the place was confined to the building of about one house a year within the town limits. A dismal picture was drawn of it by. a writer in the East Florida Herald of St. Augustine, December 20, 1825; he said:

When this town (Jacksonville) was laid out on the St. Johns river, great expectations were formed of its rapid increase, commodious houses were soon to be built, commerce and useful mechanic arts were to flourish, and the soil improved by cultivation and industry. But alas! none of these fond expectations have been realized. There are not more than eight or ten houses erected of any description, most of which are rudely formed of logs, and affording only a feeble protection against the cold, the wind, and the rain. There is not a sash window in the whole town; but few of the houses have even a chimney.

There appears to be very little trade of any kind carried on in the place. There is, indeed, one store of goods, but whether well or ill supplied, the writer of this article is unable to state, for although he was several days in the place, during the late term of the Superior court held there, and was desirous of purchasing many necessary articles of merchandise, usually kept in country stores, he never found this store open or any person ready to attend upon purchasers. He therefore presumed it was only a warehouse for the deposit and transportation of goods into the country and not for their sale at the place. It was, perhaps, a wholesale and not a retail store. As to mechanics, there does not appear to be a single working individual in the whole place.

The building appropriated for the use of the court would scarcely be considered fit for a barn. It is open to the wind and rain at almost every point of the compass. There is, indeed, the frame of a pretty large courthouse erected, which has the appearance of having been in that state for some time. Nothing has since been done to it.

Yet nothing can be more beautiful than the natural situation of the place. It commands an elevated, picturesque, and extensive view of the St. Johns river at its majestic bend from the south. It is admirably situated for commerce; the water is of sufficient depth for vessels of upwards of a hundred tons burden, to moor close to the shore.

The regular term of the Superior court, directed by the Legislative council to be held twice a year, lately drew together at this place a pretty numerous assemblage of strangers. Every house was crammed as closely as possible. The judge of the court, with several members of the bar at St. Augustine, having been detained by the badness of the famous King's road from that city to the Cow-ford, on their arrival at Jacksonville were unable to obtain any kind of lodging there – even on the floor. They were therefore compelled to take up their quarters at Mr. Hendricks's on the other side of the river, a respectable planter, who does not professedly keep a public house, though often influenced by hospitality and kindness to accommodate travelers. He is licensed to keep the ferry on that side of the river, and promptly afforded the Judge and the gentlemen who had business in court every facility in crossing the river.

This is one of a number of descriptive articles on Jacksonville published in the St. Augustine paper prior to 1828. All stress the beautiful situation of the village, but complain about the accommodations at court terms. "Junior Barrister'' in the Herald of March 26, 1826, remarked that it was customary for the grand jury to lodge in the open air and suggests "with the intention of keeping their heads cool, in order to deliberate with more caution and prudence."

First Sawmill

In 1828 or 1829, Charles F. Sibbald built the first steam sawmill in East Florida at Panama on Trout Creek. He also operated a brick kiln. Judge F. Bethune, in his diary 1829-33 (still preserved), frequently refers to the steam sawmill and brick kiln at Panama, in connection with building operations at his "New Ross" plantation on the river four miles above Jacksonville. During the summer of 1829, Judge Bethune built a small sugar mill. The lumber and brick were brought up from Panama in the brig "Venus"; he sent to St. Augustine for a carpenter, and the mill was ready for operation by January 1, 1830. He began grinding cane, but soon afterward his cane mill broke down and he had to send again to St. Augustine for the carpenter. In three weeks it was repaired and he began to grind again. This was probably just an ordinary cane mill, and the circumstances are recited to show the difficulties confronting the pioneers of this section.

Judge Bethune's crops were sugar cane, rice, guinea corn, arrow root, sweet and Irish potatoes, rye, and a varied assortment of vegetables. He had a peach orchard and an orange grove. He owned some slaves, but at harvest time he hired outside help or free negroes. When his slaves were sick he sent to Jacksonville for a Doctor Hall, no doubt the first doctor to settle here. It is interesting to note that the usual method of treatment was "bleeding": "Andrew sick; Dr. Hall came and bled him" is a characteristic note when any of the slaves were sick. And when one died he noted the fact as "Dick and George making Peggy's coffin; buried the old and faithful servant in the evening – a simple eulogy full of meaning.

The sawmill and brick kiln at Panama revolutionized the method of construction in this section and the log-cabin era in Jacksonville was brought practically to a close. The skeleton of the court house was boarded in with lumber from this mill and its pillars were built of the brick from the kiln. The sound of the axe and the crash of falling trees in and around Jacksonville became more frequent with respect to clearing up for a building; in the high-flown language of Mr. Secretary Walton, "the lofty pines and oaks yielded their shade to the saw and their quietude to the hammer". It was now not a rare occurrence for the "Venus" to be tied up at the foot of Liberty Street unloading sawed lumber for houses or brick for chimneys.

In 1830, I. D. Hart built what was then considered a very large two-story boarding house at the northwest corner of Bay and Market Streets (and this was continuously a boarding house or hotel site for more than 70 years). Hart's inn furnished accommodations for people who desired to spend the winter here. The sons and relatives of wealthy men in the North came during the winter months and the climate helped them; they went back home greatly benefited, carrying an enthusiasm that is easily communicated to others. So the healthfulness of the locality was established – the greatest asset in the upbuilding of a place and the greatest advertisement it could have. People continued to come. Some stayed and entered into business; some settled in the surrounding localities. In 1830, it is estimated that the population of Jacksonville was about one hundred. I. D. Hart now had his turn with L. Z. Hogans with respect to "I told you so".

The settlement on the St. Johns was approaching the stage when its citizens wished to incorporate and have a bona-fide town government. It was soon accomplished. Act No. 70 of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, Session of 1832, was Jacksonville's first charter. This charter is worthy of careful reading, for it gives an insight into the conditions of the time, either existing or expectant. The charter follows in full.

Jacksonville's First Charter, 1832 Sec. 1.

Be it enacted by the Governor and the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, That all the free white male inhabitants of the age of twenty-one years and over, comprehended within a line commencing at a point on the South bank of the river St. Johns, opposite Hogan's creek, on the north side, running north half a mile up said creek, thence west one mile and a half to McCoy's creek, thence south to a point on the south side of the river St. Johns, opposite to McCoy's creek, thence east to the point of beginning and their successors be, and are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the Town of Jacksonville, with all the rights, liberties, privileges, powers, and authorities incident to and appertaining to a corporation, body politic, or a natural person; and by the said name and style may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, hold, possess, and enjoy real estate and personal property; and dispose of and transfer the same, and so dispose of and manage the funds of said city, as shall be most beneficial to the interests thereof.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted that the government of said town, shall be vested in a person to be called a mayor, and four aldermen to compose a council for the management of the affairs of the town. The Mayor and aldermen shall be elected annually, on the first Monday of April, from among such of the qualified voters of said town hereby incorporated, as shall have resided within the limits thereof at least one month, and shall be housekeepers therein.

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the said Council shall have the power and authority to pass all laws and ordinances, that may be necessary and expedient for the good government of said town, and the preservation of the public morals; Provided, that they are not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States, and the power hereby granted, Provided no law or ordinance in this respect, shall be inconsistent with any law of this Territory – They shall especially have power to regulate, improve, alter, and extend the streets, lanes, avenues, and public squares, and to open new streets, and to cause encroachments, obstructions, decayed buildings, and old ruins to be removed; making the parties injured by any improvement, a just compensation, and charging upon those benefited a reasonable assessment, to be ascertained in such manner, as shall be agreed upon by the parties, or by a jury of twelve men, to be organized in such manner, as, by ordinance, the said council may provide; They shall have power to prevent and abate nuisances, to order and compel the owners or occupants of lots, upon which pools of water are, or are likely to accumulate, to fill them up, to regulate and compel persons by ordinances or otherwise, to erect and keep in repair partition fences; and may pass all laws and ordinances that may be necessary to preserve the public health – They shall have authority to guard against the introduction of infectious or malignant diseases, and for this purpose, may prohibit or regulate the ingress, or approach of vessels into the waters within the limits of said corporation, and whenever necessary, may cam pel them under fixed and certain penalties to perform quarantine, and observe such other rules and regulations, as to the said Council may seem proper by ordinance to establish. They may construct wharves, keys, and docks, and regulate wharfage, dockage, and mooring and anchoring vessels, erect bridges and ferries and establish the rates of ferriage and tolls; They may erect all necessary public buildings, and dispose of the same as the interests of the town may require; and make and sink wells, erect pumps, dry drains, and do and perform all such other act or acts, as shall seem necessary, and be best adapted to the improvement and general interests of the town, and pass all necessary laws to guard against fires, and to ensure the sweeping of chimneys; they may establish and regulate markets, and require all persons bringing fresh provisions into the town, to exhibit them for sale at proper market hours, establish and regulate the weight and assize of bread, the inspection of provisions and other produce, being the growth or manufacture of the Territory, that may be brought in said town for sale, or which may be sent from it; the gauging of liquors, the measuring or weighing of any articles of produce or merchandise, and the storing of gunpowder; and all naval and military stores, not the property of the United States. They shall have the power to tax auctioneers, and license and tax retailers of goods, and liquors, hawkers, peddlers, tavern and public boarding house keepers, hackney carriages, carts and drays; restrain lotteries, tippling houses, gaming houses, houses of ill fame, and theatrical or other public exhibitions, suppress riots and disorderly assemblies, and may provide for the punishment of all persons guilty of breaches of the peace, within the limits of said town, by fine and imprisonment; Provided the fine shall in no case exceed five dollars and the imprisonment five days.

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the said Town-council shall further have the power and authority to provide by tax, or otherwise, a fund for the support of the poor, the infirm, the diseased and insane; to establish public schools and provide for their maintenance, and to organize patrols, and provide for the punishment of negroes and persons of color.

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That the said Council shall have the power to assess, levy, and enforce the collection of all taxes, and other impositions, as may be necessary for the support of the government .1 of said Town, and the improvements thereof – Provided, that no higher rate of tax shall be levied upon real estate than one half of one per cent on the assessed value thereof, to be determined by assessors chosen in such manner as said council may provide, and the said taxes to be collected by distress and sale, after default shall be made in the payment thereof, in the most convenient and least expensive way, as to the said mayor and aldermen shall be deemed expedient – and the said council shall have power further to provide for the trial of all offenses that may arise under the ordinance of said town, and shall enforce the collection of all fines and penalties that may arise as aforesaid, in such manner as said council by ordinance may provide.

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the mayor to see that the ordinances of the town are faithfully executed, recommend for appointment all necessary town officers and report and cause their removal, whenever by negligence or misconduct the interests of the town may require it – he shall preside at all meetings of the board, and propose such measures as he shall think important to the public interest, but shall only be entitled to a casting vote, and shall have power to convene the board whenever it may be deemed necessary – he shall have, possess, exercise and enjoy all the powers, duties and privileges and receive the same compensation as a justice of the peace.

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That the mayor and two aldermen shall form a quorum for the transaction of all business; they may compel the attendance of their absent members, under such pains and penalties as by the rules may be prescribed; judge of the qualification of members, and of the sufficiency, correctness, or regularity of election returns; settle their own rules of proceeding, and upon the recommendation of the mayor, appoint and remove all officers, and fix their compensation, and establish such fees as may or ought to be allowed for such services, as may be required of them – their meetings shall be public, and they shall cause a journal of their proceedings to be kept and regularly authenticated by the signatures of the mayor and clerk, which shall be kept open for the inspection of all who may be interested in the proceedings of said council: The ayes and noes upon any question, shall be entered upon their journals upon a call of any two members – they shall make public all their ordinances and resolutions, before they shall have force and efficacy, by posting written copies thereof in two or more public places in said town.

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That all white male inhabitants of the age of twenty one years and over, who shall have resided within the said town, at last one month immediately preceding the day of election, shall be entitled to vote for mayor and aldermen, they being citizens of the United States – All votes shall be given by ballot.

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That the elections shall be conducted by three inspectors, to be appointed at least two weeks before the day of election, by the mayor; the said mayor shall also appoint the place of holding the said election, and give public notice thereof for the like period of time.

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That the said inspectors shall be judges of the qualifications of voters; and it shall be the duty of them, or any two of them, on the day appointed by law for holding the elections, to open the poll for the reception of votes, and to cause the names of voters to be recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose, which shall be deposited at the close of election amongst the archives of the corporation; the polls shall open at nine o'clock in the morning, and close at five o'clock in the afternoon, after which the inspectors shall proceed to count the votes, and declare the persons elected, as mayor and aldermen, and make out a written certificate thereof, at the foot of the poll list, and deliver a copy to the mayor elect, who, upon receipt thereof, shall signify his acceptance or refusal.

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That if the said mayor elect shall signify his acceptance of said office, the former mayor shall as soon as practicable, at any time within five days, assemble the board, and in their presence, administer to him the following oath: "I, A. B. do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will to the utmost of my power support, advance and defend the interests, peace and good order of the town of Jacksonville, and faithfully discharge the duties of mayor of said Town, during my continuance in office; and I do further swear, that I will support the Constitution of the United States"; and the Mayor elect, upon being thus qualified, shall then administer the like oath to the aldermen elect, and thereupon the duties of the former board shall cease.

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That if the Mayor elect, or any of the Aldermen, shall decline to accept the office to which he or they may have been elected, or if accepting any or either of them, shall not qualify, by taking the prescribed oaths, within five days, that then the Mayor in office, or any person exercising the duties thereof, shall by proclamation, direct an election to be held for supplying such seats in the board as may be vacant, giving at least one week's notice thereof, designating at the same time, the persons appointed to superintend and conduct said election.

Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, That if the office of Mayor, or any Alderman, shall at any time become vacant, by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the Mayor, or the person exercising the duties of mayor, agreeably to this act, in like manner as is provided in the preceding section, to order a new election to fill such vacancy or vacancies.

Sec. 14. Be it further enacted, That Isaiah D. Hart, John L. Doggett, and Henry H. Burritt, be and they, or any two of them, are hereby appointed inspectors to superintend the election for Mayor and Councilmen, on the first Monday in April, 1832: Provided, that nothing hereby enacted shall be construed to exclude the legislature of this Territory from the right to repeal, alter, or modify this act as it may deem proper.

Passed Feb. 9, 1832.

Approved Feb. 11, 1832.

The town limits were greatly enlarged by the charter. Jacksonville now embraced the territory between Hogans and McCoys Creeks south of about Church Street. The election was held in accordance with the provisions of the charter and William J. Mills was elected mayor; he was therefore the first mayor of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville was the ninth town incorporated in Florida. Those previously chartered were: St. Augustine, Pensacola, Fernandina, Key West, Quincy, Magnolia, Apalachicola, and Ochesee.

1832-1835

During the period between the incorporation of Jacksonville (1832) and the outbreak of the Seminole war (1835) the village increased in population, almost doubling in size. In 1834 plans were laid for a railroad from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, later to be extended to the gulf coast. The company organized as the Florida Peninsular & Jacksonville Railroad Company, and among the directors were J. B. Lancaster, I. D. Hart, W. J. Mills, F. Bethune, and Stephen Eddy all of Jacksonville. The capital was limited to $l,000,000, sum almost unheard of in that day, yet these men were in earnest about the matter.

In 1835, the Bank of Jacksonville was incorporated with a capital of $75,000, though it did not open until 1837.

In January, 1835, Lorenzo Currier, of Boston, published the first issue of the Jacksonville Courier, an ably edited weekly newspaper.

There is a record that S. L. Burritt & Co. embarked about this time in a wholesale trade with Cuba and thereby laid the foundation for Jacksonville's claim to the wholesale distributing center of Florida. They shipped lumber, barreled fish and other goods to Cuba and brought back sugar, coffee, rum, molasses, salt, cigars, fruit, etc. This firm brought in on one occasion a vessel load of sugar, the first cargo of sugar ever brought here, and greatly overstocked the market in all this part of the country.

Jacksonville in 1835 was probably a place of 250 people, far too small in itself to warrant the establishment of a bank and a newspaper, or even to think about building a million dollar railroad; but settled all around, both up and down the river, were men wealthy for that day, who transacted their commercial and legal business here, and it was their support as well as the progressive spirit of the citizens of Jacksonville that inspired these important measures. They were drawn into the whirl of enthusiasm and speculation that was sweeping the country about that time and which ended in the panic of 1837-40.

Great Freeze of 1835

February 8, 1835, was the coldest day ever known, before or since, in this section. At 8 o'clock that morning the thermometer stood at 8 degrees above zero, Fahrenheit, and the actual minimum was undoubtedly lower. Along the river bank the water was frozen several rods from the shore and afforded the inhabitants a spectacle as new as it was distressing. Fruit trees of every description were destroyed, roots and all, and even some of the forest trees were killed by the cold. This freeze is the basis for all subsequent comparisons.