Page 125 - John Anderson

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The growth of industry and a wave of immigrants marked this period
after the Civil War in American history as “The Gilded Age.” The
production of iron and steel rose dramatically and western resources
like lumber, gold, and silver increased the demand for improved
transportation. Railroad development boomed across the United
States as trains moved goods from the resource-rich West to the
East. Steel and oil were in great demand. All this industrial growth
produced a lot of wealth for a number of businessmen like John D.
Rockefeller (in oil) and Andrew Carnegie (in steel), were known as
robber barons (people who got rich through ruthless business deals).
The Gilded Age gets its name from the many great fortunes created
during this period (1878 – 1889) and the way of life this wealth
supported. The Gilded Age hadn’t yet reached the small towns along
the East coast of Florida but, would soon become very apparent late
in the period when Henry Flagler decided to retire to St. Augustine.
John Anderson was also acutely aware of industrial expansion
throughout the country. John was especially well-informed about
railroad and fine hotel development in New Hampshire and was ready
to satisfy the needs of this prosperous period here in Florida, as well
as in New Hampshire.

Paddle wheelers
(steamboats) played a
major part in the economic
development of
Jacksonville. Prior to the
opening of railroads along
the banks of the St. Johns
a fleet of approximately
150 steamers carried
freight and passengers on
the river and its tributaries.
These vessels made daily trips up and down the St. Johns River and
during the peak period carried nearly 100,000 tons of freight each

week. Typical steamer cargo rates in 1868 were:

Cotton, per bail -- 25¢ Corn, per bushel -- 1¢

Flour, per barrel -- 12¢ Flour, per sack -- 5¢
Hay, per bail -- 12¢ Salt, per sack -- 12¢
Coffee, per sack -- 12¢ Whiskey, per barrel -- 12¢

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