The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-22
Interesting from Florida.

tions Of it in the Posr rs we might deem
of interest to its readers. The letter was
written by Mr.. G. NJ. McCuLLY, who
recently cmigrated, in company with q
number of others, from McMinn coun-
ty to the country from whence he writes.
We make such extracts as we can find
, room for. After announcing the safo
arrival of the party at Fernandina, and
saying something in regard to that To-
cality, the letter continues:
made several tours over different
parts of the Island found the land gen
orally unfit for cultivation, the suriace
being principally soil of poorest qu Ii
ty. and in some places covered TO tho
depth of ten or twelve inches with oys-
ter-shells. After staying at the city ten
days. Weir, Laflerty and myself started
for the main land, to take q look mt tho
country and seek q location, intending
to take the cars running from Fernan-
dina to Cedar Keys. But before we
reached the depot the train had left. and
we continued on foot to the second sta
tion y miles. The country along tho
railroad has the appearance of being
very poor. There is scarcely any houses
or fields for miles. ~
suppose YOU would like to knew
what think Of this portion OF Florida
where we are now. All of the lands
here are pine lands, and ell look poor to
a Tennesseean but when you see the
immense yield Ofsugar. syrup, potatoes,
and all garden vegetables, YOU would
somewhat change your opinion. On
good pine lands which have been cow
penned awhile. they make per acre from
IL to IA fOrty-gallOn barrels of first ratio
syrup, or from s to y barrels of good
sugar, or from 150 to $50 bushels of
sweet potatoes. or from 100 TO 150 lbs. of
long staple cotton, which is worth this
year from sixty cents to one dollar pcr
pound. Although garden vegetables
grow here to perfection, and the advan-
tagc of the cars running daily to For
Jacksonville and Savannah,
and the regular line Of steamers TO New
York and other large cities the people
having all these facilities do not seem
to appreciate them, but continue in the
same old routine and do as daddy did
not aspiring higher than some patches
of potatoes, cane and few acres of
cotton and corn; leaving their cattle
and hogs to take care of themselves
winter and summer. The result is. they
live hard, make but little; many hnvca
worthless stock of hogs. and are gcncr-
ally out of milk and butter. II is not
uncommon to see men who own from
one hundred and fifty TO a thousand
head of cattle who cannot give you a
glass of milk. Ask them why it is so.
ana they WIN tell you that the milk and
butter will not pay for the food and
trouble. The fact is, they have never
tried it. but are doing "as daddy did,
a regular old pioneer, 1ndian-huntcr,
Floridian is about as hardy an animal
as you generally meet up with. think
such an one can live, thrive and do well
in the water from One-fOurth to one-half
his time; will look on you with suspi-
cion, and if you wish to purchase any
thing of him will ask about two prices.
But you must not think that include
all in this class. Far from it. ] have
found and made the acquaintance of
some WHO are of different cast alto
gether. There are q few men living here
whom, if you should meet, you would
not suppose were scarcely worth anv
thing. but who are really worth from
seventv-tive to one hundred and fitty
thousand dollars in money and other
Indeed, most of such as have
been living here few years and who
have used proper economy and indus
try, have succeeded in making property.
The morals of the people here are not
such as | would like. There is ono
Church house here Cat Starke) open to
all denominations. We also have
Union Sabbath School, which is pretty
well attended.
There, are a great many lands here
which are not taken up. In the first
place, the General Government owns
lands in this State which it proposes to
give as homesteads to actual settlers.
and the State of Florida owns lands
which can bo had cheap. The Fcrnan-
dina and Cedar Keys Railroad Company
had each alternate section for six miles
on each side of the road donated to
them. which they give to emigrants who
settle on and cultivate these lands. They
give ii in lots of 40 acres and upwards.
owing to its nearncss to the road say
AZ acres next to the road. so next, and
SO increasing as yOu settle further back
mp to l60 acres. The richest looking
lands have seen here are considered
by most of the citizens,
though am of opinion that they will at
no distant day be the most valuable in
this part of the State. The lands here
alluded to are those situated near the
lakes, which you find scattered over
this country. These lakes are generally
from one half to two miles wide and
from three to ten miles long. The wa
ter in them is of considerable depth and
perfectly clear, with good supply of
fish of different kinds.
Oranges, peaches, figs, and in fact al
most all fruits do well here. The leaves
of the orange trees are now perfectly
green, with the rich frnit still hanging
on, though tits the middle of December.
This is given up to- bo the most healthy
portion of the State.
| would not use undue persuasion to
any one to come to Florida, lest they
should be disappointed, but can say for
myself that do not regret coming here
yet, and think, IL we have health we can
make a good living. j. NJ. McC.
The letter contains other items of in
Vi