The Life of Henry Bradley Plant / Founder and President of the Plant System of Railroads and Steamships and Also of the Southern Express Company

by G. Hutchinson Smyth

“The Savannah and Charleston Railroad (now the Charleston and Savannah), had been in the courts for many years, but, in 1880, Mr. Plant purchased and thoroughly rebuilt it; his purpose being to perfect the connections between Florida, Charleston, and the North.

“The immense labor connected with the management of these railways, and of the vast business connected with the expresses, led Mr. Plant and his associates to organize the Plant Investment Co., to control these railways, and also to manage and extend, in the interest of its stockholders, the Florida Southern and the South Florida Railway. The former road was extended by the Investment Company to Tampa, and to Bartow, and they are now building it to Pemberton Ferry, where it will be joined by the South Florida line thus making connection via Gainesville with South Florida, and via Tampa for Key West and the West India Islands.

“In connection with these railroads, we may well answer the question which is of special importance to us in this Florida number.

“What has Mr. Plant done for Florida? We answer in general, that he has rendered the culture of the orange and of the other perishable products of the State profitable, has greatly facilitated the occupation of the best lands of the State, opened the way for the settlement of the lands of Southern Florida, given free and ready access to the Gulf ports, and thence to Mobile, New Orleans, and Galveston, and established a regular, frequent, and prompt steamboat service on the St. John’s River.

“How has he done this? When he had purchased and rebuilt the Charleston and Savannah Railroad, access to the interior of Florida was difficult and almost impracticable except by wagon road. There was irregular and fitful navigation of the St. John’s River, but the steamboats ran when they had sufficient freight, and only then. There had been some railroads built (especially those of the Yulee system) but the country was undeveloped, and as the orange groves required from five to ten years of growth before they came into profitable bearing, meanwhile the railways were suffering for want of freight and were unprofitable. Mr. Plant was convinced that although a more rapid development was in progress, there would still be delay before the railroads he proposed to build would prove paying investments. He therefore determined to avail himself of the land grants already made, and to keep them in repair.

“The orange product would not bear jolting over wagon roads, or being stacked up on the wharves waiting for the uncertain coming of the steamers. His first move was to build a railway direct from Way Cross, Ga., to Jacksonville, thus bringing his Georgia roads into immediate communication with a port on the St. John’s River. He then established a steamboat line on that river which was regular, prompt, efficient, and carried freight at low rates. Meantime a road had been constructed from Jacksonville to Palatka, making connection with St. Augustine via Tocoi; this road is now being extended to cross the river a few miles above Palatka and thence by way of De Land and other places, re-crossing the St. John’s a short distance north of Lake Monroe; thence proceeding to Sanford where it will form a connection with the South Florida, thus opening up the fine highlands west of the St. John’s and those east of that river to a ready market, and giving choice of a river or rail transportation at several points. The Legislature having granted a charter for a railway connecting Palatka with Lake City by way of Gainesville and thence down the peninsula it was taken in hand by capitalists from Boston, and connection made by rail between Gainesville, Palatka, and Leesburg.

“With this company Mr. Plant made arrangements for the construction of the road from Gainesville west to a connection with the Southern extension of the Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad which has been constructed and is now in operation.

“A branch will soon be built to connect it with Lake City.

“By reference to our map, it will be seen that these roads traverse all the counties of the interior, down to the Everglades, and open them to settlement and to profitable orange culture and the production of sugar, cotton, and rice. These roads have brought actual settlers by scores of thousands to occupy these rich and fertile lands, the finest in the State, and other railway companies, stimulated by their example and encouragement, have constructed roads connecting with these. By the charters of bankrupt railroads which they have bought, the Plant Investment Company is entitled to a large amount of lands from the State, 10,000 acres to the mile, in most cases, as well as later grants on their newly constructed roads; but the State has not yet the lands to deed to them, except to a small amount, though eventually it may have.

“Mr. Plant is a man of fine and commanding appearance, dignified and quiet, yet genial in manners, and of the most genuine modesty and gentleness in his intercourse with others. No judge of character could fail to observe, however, that he is a man of remarkable executive ability and sound judgment, or that he has a greater amount of reserve power than most business men possess. His associates, and those with whom he is brought into business relations, all speak of him in terms of the highest admiration and esteem.”