The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-26
JACKSONVILLE, r. F., Dec. Ia,

JACKSONVILLE, r. F., Dec. Ia, 1866.
The Montpelier Of Florida uratice Effects Of
its Atmosphere in Pulmonary Co6ipiainfs--Ns
Delightful Climate and Varied Natural Proauc-
tons The Lumber Trade, &c &c.
The town of jacksonville is situated on the north
side Of the river st. Johns, twenty miles from its
mouth, and comprises about two thousand inhabi-
tants. 1t is accessible by steamers three times a
week-oue from Charleston and two from Savannah
those from the latter place making what is termed
the "inland passage" THIS portion of the State is
settled by people mostly from Georgia and the
Carolnas Many also from the Northern States who
are troubled with pulmonary complaints, make it
their home during the winter season. The air is re-
malkably mild, ard invaldsunless the disease ia Of
too long standing-fnd great relief and oftentimes
are permanently cured. We have many among us
now from New York, Boston and other Northern
cities; many stop here, and others go further up the
river southwark, to Pilatka Magnolia or Enterprise.
We have very fine and well conducted hotei--the
Judson House--where prices range from two dollars
per day. to twelve per week, and thirty to fifty per
month. The house accommodates two hundred
guests but only about hundred are here at pre-
sent. The servants are "blacks, and owned by per-
sons living in and about town, who hire them to the
proprietor. They appear cheerful and contented,
and are in contemplation OF "go0d time coming
during the holidays, when they consider themselves
free, and employ their time in music, dancing and
ether fayorite sports
Board and lodging can he obtained for five dollars
per week among some of the inhabitants, but the
accommodations none of the hest. Last Monday
and Tuesday we had cold weather, frost being no
ticeable: but today, Saturday, the thermometer in
the hall, with both doors open, stands at Sc; fire
is Objectionable and flies are troublesome. Green
peas are expected in couple of weeks and toma.
toes are in blossom. Around the house are found
gowng the magnolia tree, which blossoms in May
emitting a delightful fragrance unless too near
when it becomes sickening; the ctron, olive, orange
fig, lemon, cabbage palmetto, pride Of India, Span
ish bayonet oleander, peach in bloom, and numer-
other kinds that have not yet become acquaint
ed with. To one accustomed to cold Northern
winter the weather here is lovely and they could
hardly realize that it is the month of December
Oranges do not yield abundantly for the past few
years; kind of insect is gradually destroying both
fruit and trees. | saw some very fine sweet ones
for which was paid three dollars q hundred. Game
is not abundant but deer bear, turkeys, &c are FIRE
selves with the rifle. Fish are plenty in the river
and oysters are brought up from near the mouth
Alligatols are sometimes seen, but they are very shy
of man, and move off in deep water at any approach
Considerable business is done in the lumber trade
but ut present it is not profitable as heretofore
yet there are about twelve or fifteen mills in opera
ton in this vicinity, sometimes running twenty-fou
saws at once in what is called gang The river Il
navigabie about three hundred miles, and runs in
northerly direction until within few miles Of it
| mouth, when 1t flows eastward and empties in the
Atlantic. Farmers on small scale are termed
crackers, but the wealthy ones, planters. The,
worth four or five times rs much as the short staple
lNEvtY