Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-06
THURSDAY, APRIL s, 1895.
FLORIDA.


ed with respect to the inducements to emigration ir
that section of our country The information hither
to has been vague and unsatisfactory derived from the
reports Of travellers who have gone posthaste thro
the territory-or from those whom interest prejudice
have impelled to condemn or eulogize, without any
reference to facts In the states of Virginia and Ma
ryland particularly, there hasbee inordinate inter
est manifested and the writer OF the present article
has deemed that few observations derived from re-
sdence of several months in Florida, may shed some
new light upon the subject. His views have been
principally directed that section of the territory call
ed Middle Florida, comprising the country between
the Suwaney and the Apaachicola rivers, and which is
considered the most desirable part of the territory
The first question with regard to southern country,
is of its climate and health There is little doubt
that almost every part ofthe Foridas will be healthy
the general elevation Of the Countrywide nfrequency
Of marshes-the prevalence Of the sea breezes-toge
Their with actual experience leave but little to fear on
that point. it's known that many parts of South Caro-
na Georgia and Louisiana are unhealthy, but this a.
rises from which in every country produce the
same effects Being subject to nundation covered
with fens and marshes, the action of hot upon
decayng vegetable natter creates noxous vapors, de-
sructve to healthits certain that the health of any
situation or country, is dependent upon local
and not upon its proximity to the Equator the Poles
Those parts of South Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana
not exposed to the influence of the miasata of fens
and marshes, healthy any other section of the
globe. That part of Middle Florida, settling and
in which most of the land susceptible of cultivation
les . elevated about 100 feet above the level of the
sea, and is sufficiently undulating to drain off the
superAuous aters. Every or miles the country is
ndented with small lakes from three four hundred
Yards to FIVE or ten miles in circumference-the
water perfectly Icear and is stagnant as they
all have either visible subteraneous outlets there
are but few instances of marsh their margins
or on those of the stream they feed, and masmaa
deleterious to health have been asceraned to arise
from them; these lakes are in some instances, on the
greatest elevation. Several families from the middle
states have been two three years nthis sections of
Florida and have every appearance of enjoying excel.
lent health The last Summer and Autumn, in the lit
tie village of Tallahassee, then containing between
6 500 inhabitants, there not a single death-this
speaks much in favor of the climate.
of the land in Florida in So 900 of acres their
isperhaps not more than 100000 susceptible of adj
vantapeous cultivation In Middle Florida, the best land
hes in line from the towards the Suwaney,
60 or 20 miles in length and 10 to Is BREADTH contain
ing perhaps between and 500 900 ofgood land;
it lies in line parallel with the Guph of Mexico, dis
tant about Is to so miles; small part of this land had
been offered for sale by the government and brought
from 125 cents 81 per The inferior lands are
covered with pine and afford excellent pasture for
cattle and sheep. From some experimentsmade, the
climate and pasture ofFlorda seem highly congenial to
the raising of sheep. In years. sheep brought from
Georgia Of wool, were but little inferior to the
Merino. The pine woods, also, afford excellent mast
forhogs.
Lands are cleared for cultivation with great facility
the hammock richest lands are generally covered with
oak hickory, walnut magnolia ash and poplar large
size, and thick underground. The underground be-
ing cut OUT together with the small timber and the large
trees crcled or deadened the land is ready for the
nlourh or the hoe 1t is estimated that good hand,
from the first of November until the first of February
can omen and enclose ten acres The soil is generally
mixture of loam sand and clay; and in many places,
solid clay foundaton-From the ghtness of the soil,
the hoe is used by many in preference to the plough
Corn planted the rstyear it is said the best ground
will Weld from so to 40 per acre but the grand
staples are Blackseed Sea Island Cotton, Sugar Cane
and Rice is ascerained that the best lands will pro-
duce from to 500 pounds of clean cotton, and that
one hand can cultivate acres and prepare the pro-
duce for market annually-besides sufficient quantity
ofeorn for his support The Sea Island Cotton, in the
present depressed state Of the cotton market COM
mands about 40 cents per pound. The produce there
fore ofesch hand, at the smaller supposton of 200 lbs
to the acre. would be $500. AS much light labor is
ouste in picking and preparing the cotton for market
small hands from 10 to IS years Of age can be pro
6table engaged able hand viii cultivate 10 or 1:
.cres or more than twice the quantity he could alone
nick and secure 1t is remark worthy of considera
t;on that the Sea Island Cotton. which generally com
m.nds ,rebble the price of the Greenseed or Uphn.
Cotton, can only be raised in middle and East Florida
and small part of Georgia and South Carolina border
on the Ocean The consumption is now equal t
,bs quantity raised and there consequently can neve
De large surplus in the market-while the Ordnar
cotton can be cultivated in Egypt Greece, the East Ir
dies, the Brazs, and to an almost unlimited extent