New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-01-10
z@ frorE the Charleston Courier
Florida and her Resources.

ACkEA1 ALL tSt 3AceCuICSs
Welaka, (F2a. } Dec. Is, 1853. The frequent
inqiries made relative to Florida, especially by
South Carolinians, induces me to address you a
letter containing some general information upon
the subject, and if you think it will prove inter-
esting or valuable to any who are directing Their
attention to our State, you are authorized to
copy it into your paper.
1t is an enigma to many who observe tn :
graphical position of Florida, that with an area
of 3o 100000 of acres, she had in 1850 but
$4,000 acres of improved Land, and q popula-
tion of only $4,000; about Al 600 of that num-
ber whites
review of her history will explain it. For
the last century Florida has not enjoyed repose
under any government of twenty years dura-
tion. In l763, the Spaniards gave up the Flor
idas to England. In 1894, the English re.
turned them to Spain, by which government
they were held until 1921, a treaty having been
made for their cession to the United States in
| 1919
| While these political changes were taking
place, internal difficulties occasionally occurred
with Indians, and invasions were made upon
the provinces several times. In 1872 and 1913.
East Florida was invaded by body of quondam
patriots, who were protected by the United
States flag, under the pretence that it was 8
| republican movement on the part of the inhab-
itants; but it was an arranged plan to obtain
possession of the peninsula--our government
apprehending its occupation by the English
during the war then pending.
| This invasion was most disastrous to East
Florida. Every plantation in the district was
devastated, either by the United States troops
and patriots, who were together, or by lawless
| banditt, who remained in the province after the
troops left. The province did not recover from
this, before the cession to the United States and
upon the change of flags in 1921, almost every
1 Gnc4y ylto, Iny, ,fnlf fn, yN,,I.o
| The chief reason why wealthy and enter
prising population did not at once follow our
| flag into Florida, was that titles to land were
uncertain. Grants and donations having been
made by England and Spain to their respective
subjects, upon many of which conditions had
been imposed, and no evidence could be readily
obtained to show whether or not they had been
complied with. In 1928, our Government ap-
| pointed Board of Commissioners to attend to
the investigation of claims for grants and dona-
tlons, and those were confirmed which were
perfected. After this Board ceased to act, other
claims of the same character were acted on by
the U. 8. Court The most important granti
were the Arredondo grant of 20 miles square
and that to the Duke of Allagon, of abou
l7,oO0,oO0 acres The former was confirmed
and the latter rejected Titles to land in Flor
ida can now be easily ascertained.
The war with the Seminoles from 1885 t,
1872, was a serious drawback upon the pros
perlty OF the Territory generally, but more es
pecially upon the Eastern District, it being thu
seat of war. Many sugar and cotton planta
tions were destroyed upon the Atlantic as wei
| as In the interior, which were in beautiful oper
| alton. When the war ceased in 1912, a verbal
understanding was had with the Indians that
they might remain undisturbed if they remained
peaceful in certain boundaries assigned them
Their conduct has been such as to give con-
hdence OF their intentio to be quiet, and ths
public mind generally is at rest respecting any
hostile action by them 1t is true that some
are found who apprehend the State is unsafe
while any remnant ever remains in it; but
am impressed fully with the belief that it is
from mistaken views of policy, or from selfish
motives, that any will advise hostilites against
them at time when the population and pros
perity of the Stateis SO rapidly increasing and
advancing. Indeed, was it not referred to, il
would not be known that there are any Indians
in the State, as they never mingle with the
whites; and with the exception of few ssout-
siders,s who struggle about to hunt, they re-
main continually within their boundary line
Another objection to capitalists investing
money in Florida, previous to her becoming q
State, was that bonds had been issued by the
Governor, (under authority of law,) to the
amount Of several millions of dollars, for Ger.
tain banks in the Territory. The banks failed
and it was supposed that the inhabitants would
be taxed to redeem this pledge of their Terrific.
ry. The question, however, was definitely set.
tied by provision in the Constitution of the
State, when she was admitted into the confede
racy in 1915, which states distinctly that ths
people Of the State shall not be taxed to pay
them.
Thus have all serious difieultis been adiusted
and confidence in the resources of Florida i,
shown by the tide Of emigration which is now
flowing within her limits
ha innino oil Jy,1au
da are Columbia, Alachua, Marion, Sumter
fernando and Levy. The three first named are
the most populous and thriving.
Marion county, within the past years, has
added several thousand to her population frou
South Carolina alone, and the result of the
planting interest generally has fully met the
expectations of those engaged in it
| The settlers in the vicinity of 0eala and Mi
canopy, being chiefly from the South State,'
that district is given the sobriquet of .New
Carolina" and the number of wealthy and re.
4 spectacle planters there form q nucleus highly
desirable for '' annexation
/ In this vicinity, the lands are fertile and in
large bodies; but equally good lands may be
found further south and west, at much lower
prices than sales are made at there
think moderate estimate of the wild lane
in East Florida fit for general cultivation il
2,500,OO0 acres-one- of this first quality
At present the improved land in the State doe
not exceed 100000 acres
The products of the State are sugar, long ant
short staple cotton, tobacco. turpentine, and
yellow pine, live oak, red cedar, and cypress
timber.
The shipment of yellow pine lumber from thu
st. Johns river the ensuing year will reach so,
100000 feet. The value of which will be at th
mills about 100000, The ensuing crop o
East Florida, which will pass out at the st
Johns, will amount to about $3.50, 900. Nor
than half of this will come from Marion, Sum
ter, and the lower part of Alachua counties
The succeeding crop will be much increased. as
lands are being opened to large extent, and
every steamer from Charleston is filled with
emigrants and hands for the planting districts
Within an area Of twenty miles square arounc
j Micanopy there are prairie and swamp lands
which could be reclaimed at an expense of from
$50, 200 to 100000, sufficient to raise 100, ,00
hogsheads Of sugar, and Notwithstanding tn
cultivation of long cotton is so favorable, be
leve that the principal crop of East Florida, be
fore many years, will be sugar.
OF the towns in East Florida, Jacksonville i
the most thriving. Population about $500
> The business of the place is chiefly from the in
fluence of fifteen steam saw mills, in its vicinit
Q their shipments amounting to about 10000,
600 feet. st. Augustine, about 2000 popula
ton, does but small business. 1t is the mos
hsalthful city in the United States, both sun,
.ssssss,assrsssass.ss.