Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-05-07

@AJ NAANAO W OdA anu
respect, we have read with much pleasure
and satisfaction very excellent letter on
the resources of South Florida, from the
pen of Alexander Speer, OF Culloden,
Georgia, who has been on visit TO this
country, and recently given publicity TO
his notes. "Perhaps." says Mr.. Speer,
''there is no spot on the globe, SO near to
civilized people, about which there is SO
little known" 1t is a fact, that while the
tide of emigration has been rolling on un-
ceasingly towards the west, but few if any
settlements of any consequence have been
made in Florida. Much of This no doubt
is owing to the want of security for lives
and property, which for some years past
existed in the territory; but the Indians
are now entirely subdued, ard, with the
exception of small ineffective tribe in
the peninsula, have been removed west OF
the Mississippi. From the physical re-
sources of the county, and its genial eli
mate, we anticipate large accession of
population in succeeding years.
The territory known as South Florida,
is situated between the Oath and 30th de-
gree of north latitude, and embraces the
entire of what is known as the Cape,
stretching far out from the main land into
the gulf, and swept on its east side 5y the
Atlantic. 1t is diversified by lakes and
rivers. The St. Johns is the great nayi-
gable stream, and which pours its waters
into the Atlantic. On every side, South
Florida is studded with bays and harbors,
many of which will afford fine protection
TO commerce. The soil is very unequal
in its fertility. In some parts it is ex-
tremely rich and fertile; in others, again,
but Indifferent. The parts to which Mr..
Speer principally confines his observa-
tons, we shall more particularly refer 10,
and extend our remarks to certain impor-
tant relations. This country is situated
on lakes Jesup AM Monroe.
Fort Catln settlement is about % miles
southwest of Lake Monroe. Here there
is body Of land, of inexhaustibe fertili-
ty, ten by thirty miles in extent. 1t is
undulating, and composed of loan, fine
sand, and sea shells. At Lake Jesup
there is about 10000 acres OF similarly
valuable soil. Most of it is prairie, cloth
ed with grass and the sunhower. The
prairie encircles the lake, is about %
miles in length, and everywhere accessi-
bic to steamboats,; boats may without DIFF
iculty ascend the st. Johns to this place
Throughout the greater portion of this re-
gion the land is good, and facilities Of
transport to the ocean easy of access.
This section of Florida is eminently a.
dapted for the production of sugar cane.
1t is said to ripen from twenty TO twenty
FIVE joints, and frequently tassels out like
Indian corn. Mr.. Speer remarks that it
is cut in November and December, and
manufactured into sugar, and the united
testimony of the settlers is, that it will
make 1000 lbs. per acre. SIT is as easily
cultivated he adds, "as Indian corn, and
is the least subject to casualties of any
crops that grow" This sugar is very
superior article, and has sold for eight
cents in the Savannah market, averaging
to the planter $3.50 per acre. The char
acter OF the tobacco raised is equal TO the
pest Spanish, and is already beginning to
attract large numbers of planters from
Georgia. The experiments that have
been made have all resulted successfully.
The article realizes forty cents per pound
and is of a fine aud delicate aroma. Sea
Island cotton also grows to great perfec-
ton, but planters are not content, it seems
with an annual income of $3.50 or $500
per hand, and have generally superseded
its cultivation with the sugar cane. 1t is
/ thoTubf tho ooGoo troo ,,,o,1J ,.solJ I'LL
and we doubt not some efforts will shortly
be made to introduce its cultivation. L
will be recollected that the General Go
vernment, some years ago, made a grant
of land TO an enierprising citizen, in view
of the cultivation of the tea plant. In
fortunately, however, the individual wa;
seized and horribly butchered in his owr
house by the Indians, who were then car
rying on hostiities against the Govern
ment. We think the tea plant could be
cultivated with success.
There is in this country great beauty o
natural sccnsry. The orange tree is eve
ny where abouAding in groves, bearing it:
yellow fruit in rich abundance; and tht
valleys are filed with the magnifcen
| flowers of The magnolia. At the base o.
many of the hills, springs are seen gush
| ing in pellucid streams from their fonts
and running along through silent dells, t.
meet their parent stream. The river:
contain numbers of the choicest fish, anc
myriads of water fowls annually collec
about the lakes to hatch their young
Mr.. Speer at one time, on Lake George
saw what he supposed TO be half million
of ducks, covering the lake for miles, anC
he adds: ''when portions of them woult
lrise to fly, they made a sound like com