Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-01-25
Flofida--Ip EdiI RrsduetisIs etc,


the observer OF feO. "a, 1904, over
the signature Of Lincoln, = and da
ted Micanopy, Fla.
In reviewing that communication
at this remote period, ] do not allegel
that the writer was actuated by i'm
pure motives OF was guilty Of wilful
misrepresentation, but will prove
(himself being witness) that be has
recorded fiction among his facts.
We will commence by noticing his
Introductory edottings" relative to
the surface Of this country. He
says. las far behind you as you can
see, it is level; as far before you as
you can extend your vision it is ley-'
ell" mature abhors dead levels, but
you viii note that he was not trav-
eller upon our Southern sea-board.
It is quite true that Florida, in COM
mon With Georgia and other Atlantic
States, presents a level surface vary
ing from twenty to forty miles from
the coast. but it is by no means a
dead level" as ] shall presently
show. The water falling upon this
regioninyaliably finds its way, through
some branch, creek or river, into the
ocean or some lake. Whenever these
''levels portions have been graded for
railroads or canals, the grade has
been found to vary several feet
So that "Nature" (water will seek
it's level aud Art (the civil engi-
peer's tripod) both contradict Linz
coins assertion.
These pine sbarrens are Of little
value to the inhabitants. A few Of
them are productive and inhabited,
while the majority are sterile. They
serve as hunting grounds for wild
game or pastures for cattle. And
| in maay instances they are devoted
to the turpentine interest. Instead,
therefore, of regarding this feature as
disadvantage, it is really an advan-
tage. A portion Of these lands is
wet for a short time succeeding heavy
falls of rain, and not SO wet but that
a footman, with little caution, could
traverse them in nearly every direc-
ton, dry shod. Indeed, ! know fam
lilies residing in these low lands who
enjoy as good health as those Of more
elevated localities, and who render
their lands productive by means Of
COW pens. But / have yet to see the
farmer in this vicinity who "plunges
through apond or feels througha mist
(fog?}" "to see what his hands are
doing" / presume, the farmers in
East Florida understand their bust
ness as well as those in higher lat
litude; their success In farming goes
far to prove this. Why, Sir, they
would wind road around, sooner
than ''pIupge through pond to reach
their fields" Now for the "mist
through which the poor farmer is
made s.to feel his way Fogs occa-
sionally rise over the land, are OF
short continuance, and no denser
here than elsewhere, and do not in
terrupt business. When l say "oc-
casionally," mean from six to twelve
times year. They are not as ire
qrent here as upon the Sea Islands.
Again, Lincoln complains Of the
heat, sultry air, ETC., AZ a character
Iistic Of this country. Surely, he
/ was testing, for his letter bears
date 18th January, and We know
from experience, that during the
winter, the atmosphere is neither
hot nor sultry. It cannot be said to
be hot or sultry, in summer, for the
thermometer seldom rises as...high
here MS is the case in the upper parts
Of Georgia and South Carolina. while
lat the same time, the country is al
most constantly famed by breezes
from the Ocean or Gulf.
it's to be regretted that Lincoln
made such reckless assertions as the
following without the shadow OF
foundation: know Of no course
/ / can either walk or ride mile, in q
straight line, without wading, If not
as deep, at least as vide as any place
/ | know Of on Elk river" Elk river
lis more than one hundred yards wide
/ in the widest places, and only florida
/ BILE IN places. Now / imagine that
the man who boated his corn out OF
the field, carried Lincoln in the same
boat and placed him upon the little
floating island in Orange Lake, or he
| would have regarded his character
fcr voracitv before he p0nned the