The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-12-31
OUR FLORIDA LETTER.
From our own Ce,yespondent,l

In Oul last We stated we had made
purchase of some real estate and intend
ed to make this our future home. W.
did so as far as words could do. Tbt
old adage there's many a slip 'twix
the cup and the lip looks like proving
true IN this case. During the war large
quantities OF real estate were sold by the
United States for taxes levied for wal
purposes. The purchasers are in pos
session under those titles, but both they
and the original owners claim the proper
ty, aud neither will make repairs or i'm
provements As result the city is in a
tumble-down condition. The tax sales
are now in process of litigation and few
decisions by the United States Courts
will settle the matter. Then. and not
till then, will property be purchased,
repaired and otherwise improved, for not
until then can good and sufficient titles
be obtained. We yet have hopes, aye
feel confident of securing the property we
have for some time looked upon as our
future home and place of business. We
had our plans all arranged in our mind,
and yet hope to bring them to a long
cherished consumation to the entire salts
| faction of our family and associates. The
''clerk of the weather has been on a
regular "bender" for the last week or ten
days. We have had alternate showers
and sunshine, cold and heat-the cold
not enough for frost until last Saturday
morning dec. l2th) mercury went down
to 80 degrees above zero, or two below
freezing. The old settlers say it has not
been so cold since 1885, when the orange
groves were nearly all destroyed. AS
yet we are unable to form any opinion
as to the extent of damage to fruit and
vegetables though we think very trifing
to he.latter The Paw paw which is 10 or
Ii years maturing is entirely destroyed,
as well as the Banana, and Guava nearly
so-though the latter will be in bearing
again within two or three years. Oranges,
Lemons and Lines we think have escap-
ed. though the young shoots that were
most exposed look as though they had
been on drunk and come home with
their extremities badly scorched. The
soil being mostly loose sand, Sweet Pota-
toes that were not dug are somewhat
damaged and tomatoes entirely ruined.
In the valley of the St. Johns River,
from jacksonville IS miles south we are
informed ice formed I ofan inch in thick
ness, damaging fruit trees and growing
vegetables much more severely than at
this place or on the coast. Since that
time we have had rain and sunshine but
no cold weather We are now writing
with our coat off aud window open-mer-
curry 6S at 5 o clock p. m. The buildings
in the city are mostly built of coquina
stone-which in itself is geological Gu
riosity. 1t is formed Of sea shells of all
sizes, from 1.-The common clam down to the
most minute, scarcely perceptible to the
naked eye 1t is found in almost exhaust
less quantities on Anastatia Isle, about
one mile east ofthe city. When taken from
the quarry it is quite soft and easily formed
into almost any shape the fancy may die
tate, either for building or other purposes.
and hardnes by exposure. The churches
consisting of Catholic. Episcopal and Pres
bytcrian are built OF Coquina The Cath
olic is of curious desicn-a great old
Moorish belfrey and chime of bells. which
if properly rung would produce melode-
Gus sounds but now rattle tc bang with
a-stick. The church is situated North OF
the Plaza or square, fronting the South.
The Episcopal is located on the opposite
side of the Plaza fronting the North. 1t
is a pretty Gothic. structure and has
large congregation. The Presbyterian
church is situated in another part of the
city, but is very comnodious, neat look
ing edi6ce, and has highly intellectual.
and quite large congregation. Fort Ma
rion, which forms one of the chief objects
of interest in the city. was commenced in
1920, and constructed of coquina by the
forced labor Of Indians, who for C0 yea..
were compelled to work as slaves to the
Spanish or Minorcans from the Isle o
Minorcal. The residents are somewha,
mixed, though 1.-The Minorcans and Af-
ricans predominant. Before the war St
Augustine was the largest city in the State.
The AIlnorcans then held the Africans as
slaves and forced them to labor, then
everything went on smoothly. The
Spanish lack energy and rarely do more
than stagnate upon the country. Being
poor colonizers they let tomorrow take
care of itself, doubtless acting upon the
scTiptural adage that Sufficient for the
day is the evil thereof. - Having the
Orange groves destroyed by frost in 1885
they considered that sufficient reason
for not planting any more.
The poorest class live very poorly.
Early one morning we had occasion to
cali on one of that class on business. We
found the man of the house IN the kitchen
or cook room, (nearly every family, both
high and low, have kitchen detached
from the residence) he had just kindled
fire in the fire. place (they do not have
stoves as is customary at the south, e
the poor class;) he had sort of CRATE
with legs about four inches long to place
over the fire. On the CRATE he placed his
cnffeenot and q kettle of water then he