New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-14
FLORIDA.
LETTERS FROM soLoN ROBINSON.


TIyATE-IS THE CLIMATE SALUBRI0Us, AND
CAN WHITE MEN LABOR THEREf
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, 1868.
The above are questions that occupy the
minds OF all who hankerthat is tho wordaer the real
epoyments of such Winter climate this IN which
am now basking. Except accustomed are, that Is
those lately from the North TO Winter clothing IN
January the present is little warm for comfort
The women arc more sensible than men. and they are
promenading the streets In almost precisely the same
costume we should see In New York in June. -,
Last night conversed with a friend who has been
lately searching the old Spanish archives at 81 Angus
tine and he finds the temperature OF the Wlhle,
months for 100 years averages little over o. f.. Anu
the Summer months $50, from which " VIII De Iehuny
able Constant mention is made OF the daily recurring
seabreese, which cooled Oft the AFTER part u ho uhS
and gave delightful atmosphere Tor nlghy ,es.' ~ ~,
that time no mention is made of cold sufficient 10 XIII the
orange trees bnt the statistics are gwen vi ie sp
hrs letters a COPY of which is preserved There are
thirteen vessels IN this harb1r lSt % , ,r
fruit included grain that Indian corn and rice but IN
what proportion We cannot d9'erhine. ~ hnncd IT,
"the English provinces in considerable quantities ana
there nothing now except the want OF tbe Norhen
ones full supply Of such fruits; ana IL Is almost
morally certain that in some future time ths VIII DC ne
case. 1885, - IN,
semLtropica fruits, and such carly vegetables as viii
bear transportation ore the easily produced, natural
sources OF wealth for the population OF Florida Not the
present for that is welded TO cotton tobacco ana
their kindred. but worst of al TO ignorance ana indo-
lencc such degree that the minority auro common
schools aud even fight against the education of the
negroes and content with sort of hog and hominy
existence. that docs not furnish sufficient surplus pro-
duce 20 support railroads and steamships. and cose-
Guently the cnterprisng cultivaors must Tor time
suffer Inconvenience of transportation. When that is
perfected NewYork will he astOnsed with such early
owners Of GARDENS on or near the St. Johns River will
accumulate such wealth as falls to the lot OF but low cu
tivatOrs Of the earth i'll any country
The capabity of the soil is not theory to be proved
That was established more than 200 years ago ana inc
soil is quite ms productive now as then Tor ue OF II ~
still virgin and thatlonges used aud most worn Is easy
fe onS S F SS sn that what we cali sand Is not merely
pulverzcd slciOus rock but Il largely calcarcous ethcr
reduced coral shells and IL frequently undoraid
with clay mari Then there are vast tracts OF eltner
clay SOIL tenacious. dark substance. resembling tho
y understood that there lack Of cheap. good land
III Florida. What is lacking Is proper cultivation; and
izers. An opinion prevails that because cattle
are not kept in Winter Quarters; that farmers
iy process known in the South rs cow.peG-
ningthat Is yarding cattle nights upon portions of the
proves better system would be profitable Swamp
muck is abundant III all sections, though not upon all
be- when railroads common. in all parts OF the
State aud some experiments viii he made the coming
to demonstrate the value of such nanurCs. am
that clover and other plants can bo grown TO good
advantage for manure cros The uso OF gan3 ana Dohe
manure has proved almost universally pfOhtabe MhcTCN
There s but Que thing that can sec that makes Florida
unsuitable for immigrants from the North, and that Is
tho accursed spirit that fosered Slavery aud sustained
the Rebellion.
There is no Disgusting the fact that where that class
resident IN sufficient numbers 10 the blacks aud
comfortable for the latter refusing all social intercourse,
and giving many petty annoyaiccs that make LIE I'M
pleasant, aud labor often Improbable. A. rule, the
Rebel part Of the inhabitants do not intend to give the
Yankoos any opportunities for schdg Their children 10
public schools and as To allowing them TO odncale the
blacks they will dOsO Just 30 long AZ bluecoaS,
ana compel them ciG ana ne 9 Tnsgr cvo ia
average equal to Indiana Illinois, aud certainly no
than Central NcvYork was in its carly settlement for
those who went into It's forests from New England There
here. there. Inasmac localities, aud localities
where mUsketoes pcsfcrOus as they arc on the
MOnezuma marshes-nO worse, and certainly no worse
NewYOtk The only difference u.s. they last longer. aud
that the only why the heat j. more oppressive
PERSONS the hcrmoncicr at So degrees Is has teH Il;
pcatedy this month might be opiessiye; TO it is
Asfo DO Question wlctlCr White men can labor here
That g. labor in tie field farmers u sno an open ques
ton IL has been decided long M the talk that they
canne belongs 20 the code Oi lies upon which Slavery
existed. The code declares that cotton cannot be
dian only be successfully grown by sayesslavcs
that you can control y the lash tell you that cotton,
rice cane corn, potatoes, culinary vegetables,
lemons. lines peaches melons. aud many other things
gpo nj SnnSpedS Of Thousands Of acres Of the anoceapcd
lands of this immediate vicinity, which can be purchased
at an rates from 81 To SEQ m acre In some cases large
old plantations be bought for less than half the cost
OF the buildings. and other valuable improvements.
attended sheriff. sale OF tract of good land within
week pus situated within three miles OF this town. title
indsputablc that was struck of at $40 per acre Land
which offered me last spinS near town at So has
There a vast Qualify % Siatc and Unitcd states land
through all the lower part oi The state, subject Ia entry
beside great many old spanish giants, gepcray in
large tracts which can be bought ~ extremely low rates
There il no lack of land 10 cultivate II II, however,
sometimes difficult 10 obtain the most desirable locations,
except large tracts The idea Of such possibility
CultiVstng the lands Of this any other Southern state,
in small farms, has never been allowed by thOsc who
have controlled the dcstncs of all the region adapted 10
cOtOn-growing. Slavery aud small farming inc1u-
patibc. Hence, the land was monOpoIzed and held IN
large plantations which generally meaus 500 acres IN
cultivation and 5000 acres IN forest OF range" wide
enough to keep of neighhors and prevent schools.
and only allow villages or churches to be established
few aud far between. And this II the general condition
OF the South. Before II ever be "recOnstructed'
upon principles, the whole system must be
changed. and old plantations divided aud owned ana
occupied. the land generally in the Northern States,
by those who will cultivate with their own hands The
neg1oes would willingly gladly 40 ms 70 arSe extent
il they could get possession They VIII work. II given
the privilege There no reason 10 dispute this pro~-
sitOn.
great many Northern have undertaken cotton
planting since the and have failed Not because NO
groes would not Work FOR wages, hut because their en-
ployers did not understand the business and would not
learn OF Niger" Ar general rule, Northern men are
farmers, and not planters. As farnert IN Florida they
VIII succeed. As planters, they Will fail As farm
hands, the freedmen will be soryceabe and cOntrolabc
working after their fashion, faithfully. In gangs OF
hundred. nifty, or twenty. should not care TO risk tci
any than would risk the number ~ Irish
men. on farm One bad one might cause " a strike AT
the critical time, when weeks cessation Of labor
one to five hired bands no such difficulty could occur
because single laborers arr always easily obtained tel
you positively the negroes are just as willing to Work Tor
wages white men or women are.
There is therefore nothing 10 hinder Northern farmers
waiting with profit the vast area ~ cheap. Wild lands, ON
old hafImproyed. dapdated plantations. Remcnbei
that nearly all East Florida. though containing - our
ancient city," aud the fret cultivated land America
this day a. much wild land as II was when first ds
covered. may, perhaps. tell you why m my next letter
There are good sufficient reasons; none of which axe
owing iDsaubly, nornfertlty
Northern European immigrants nor because culiira
ton could not be made profitable
Yet would not have you suppose that intend 10
represent the country almost paradise aboundins
in riches easily garneied, with nut little labor on the
contrary IL has about many difficulties to be
and priyaOns 10 he endured, by settlers IN the
Wilderness any other wilderness county; and those
who expect succeed must prepared 10 meet these
difficulties manfuly, Then this state will he what those
who gave 1t the name il bears antclatcd-"A lana of