Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-11
A FLORAL TOWN IN FLORIDA.

Jacksonville, as stated in my recent
sketch Of the St Johns river, is situated
twenty-five miles from its mouth, directly
at the point when the river, after its flow
Of over two hundred miles from the SOUTH
turns suddenly to the eastward for the
ocean, and being on its north bank, is out
side of the right angle. It's location, there
fore, is most delightful From the wharves
on Bay or River street, the view is exceed
ngly beautiful, the river presenting its
broad surface for many miles southwark
Occasionally, jutting headland or pro-
montory, large enough for a splendid plan
tatlon, with sufficient improvements to
make a delightful and even magnificent
island-like home meets the eye Some Of
them are plainly distinguished seven miles
away. On the western side of the angle
an equally grand and splendid view is had
ments were on the north side, though Just
before the war number of beautiful houses
were put up on this western angle-giving
promise Of rapid growth for the town in
that direction. The streets of the lower
portion Of the town run east and west, par
allel with the rivers bank, and are inter
sected by streets at right angles from the
river. The original projectors had given
themselves room the streets being 100
feet wide separated so as to leave the
blocks 800 feet on each side Each street
had its shade trees of water oak, China or
Tree of Paradise, and magnolia all ever
greens except Tree of Paradise but as
there only few of these used as shade
trees, each street might be regarded as an
avenue completely embowered with ever
greens, and being provided throughout
with plank pavement, the entire town was
one superb promenade. The courtyard af-
forded great variety of flowers and flow
crlng trees and shrubs, little skill only
being required to have them in proper sue
cessiCn, so that each day Of the year would
furnish It's appropriate bouquet from ones
own garden. a glance at partial list
will give your lady readers an idea Of the
charm floral town presents. Here, then,
are roses in endless variety; lilies, such as
they cultivate at the north with great care
in greenhouses and Conservatives, flaunt-
ing their beauties and shedding their fra
GRANGE as if Jack Frost We're a myth cac-
tus in variety of trees, the orange, and
lemon, and date palm of shrubs, the ole
ander, pomegranate, cape myrtle, cape jes-
samine Of vines, the yellow jessamine,
honeysuckle, and verbena, which, because
1t knows no winter, grows without stint,
gamboling at will any and everywhere
Geraniums, too, as they do not freeze down,
attain sturdy proportions, astonishing us
Northerners, who are accustomed to pro-
tect them with so much care
Before the war the population of the
place was three thousand The amount of
goods bought annually from Northern mar.
kets was estimated at five hundred thou
sand dollars. There were in the immcdi-
ate vicinity of the town on the river bank
10 steam saw-mills, turning out over co.
100000 feet of lumber yearly OF church
es, the Methodists, Presbyterians, Episco-
palians, Baptists, and Catholics each have
one of hotels there were five, the Judson
House, Florida House, Taylor House, Buf
fington House, and the Merchants Hotel.
The Judson House was an imposing edfice,
standing III position to command view
both up and down the river. 1t had rooms
for the accommodation of 600 boarders -
And, by the way, it may be proper just
here to say, that commencing here at Jack
sonville, and counting Magenta Springs, 3
miles up on the west side, Green Cove
Spring, IA miles of, Mandarin, directly OPP
posite, Pilatka, IS miles distont Valusia,
l40 miles. Enterprise, l75 miles, and Smyr-
ma, including st. Augustine, there were, as
have been told, fifteen thousand invalids
from the North stopping every winter for
recreation and the benefit of their health
But war has spread its desolations over
this fair land, and this pleasant town,
whose beauties | have briefly described,
has felt its terrible shock On the evening
of March 10, 1862, ten of those saw mills
were fired, and, together with 10000, 900
feet of lumber and several wharves and
storehouses, were at one time in flames
| This was one year after the State seeded,