Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-17
THE STANDARD.
Local News.
BARTON.

:
thing the past week in the way of putting
down sidewalk, filling the wide and ugly
gaps between Hubbard's house and Cham
bcrlins shop so that we now have an al
most continuous line Of sidewalk from our
office to the depot.
ATALK ABOUT FLORIDA citizens
of Barton enjoyed pleasant evening last
week with Scion Robinson, who is widely
known from his connection with the New
York Tribune. BY request of a conSldera-
bic number Of persons a meeting was call
ed ut the school house, Monday evening,
to listen to a sort of conversational lecture
about Florida Many years ago, Mr. hob
insou became familiar win nearly the
whole Southern country by repeated Jour
news through it by private and public con-
vryancc. and for the three past winters he
has made Florida his residence. His state
mcnt5 had the accuracy and interest result
ing from his habits Of close observation
and his ample facilities to inform himself
upon the subjects Of which he spoke. His
remarks given mostly As answers to quest
ions proposed by various gentlemen of the
audience were very inclusive, and our re-
port written from memory can give but
very imperfect outline Of the points touch
ed.
He began by speaking of the SOIL which
Is mainly Of three kinds-the 50 called clay
OF the Tallahassee region-the hammock
land OF the interior, and the sand Of the St
Johns section. What is called the clay of
the first named region really contains but
small percentage Of clay, but is a kind Of
greasy compound of sand and clay, and
tolcrably productive. The second variety
of soil Is dark, moist and rich, good for to-
baccO, cotton, sugar, and feUey' and dgue
The sand Of the eastern coast is Il white
calcarcouS deposit, easily made to produce
abundantly. In this section grass is not
indigenous and does not thrive but the
southern pea, millet, &c, must take its
place for the stock.
The climate was described as the best in
the world. A record of the temperature
during the months of April and May, and
the first ten DAYS of June was read in part,
and from this record and more general
statements, the salubrity of the climate was
shown to exceed that Of any other portion
of the globe. Its superiority appears to re-
suit from the fact that its cold season is also
Its dry season. consequently It's wet season
modcratcs the extreme heat common to
that latitude Another favorable influence
is the breeze which alternateS daily with
great regularity, from the Atlantic and the
Gulfof Mexico. This is one advantage
Florida has As a narrow peninsula jutting
down with the ocean on the east and the
Gulf on the west The gulf stream also
affects the climate very favOrablv as it
rounds the southern point Of the State and
flows near to the whole eastern coast.
Mr. Robinson also gave quite definite in
formation concerning the productions of
the state which we cannot reproduce here
i'm its tuluess. Sugar, he said, was produc-
ed only in limited quantities, owing to lack
of the capital requisite to start and carry
forward sugar plantations. Cotton has
been quite leading staple, so also tobacco
The orange crop was uncertain, but with
suitable attention given to other things
might add materially to the profit of q
plantation. Sweet potatoes are easily rails
&c: ON almost all soils there, and produce
large crops with small outlay. Almost all
our Northern vegetables may be raised
with a little pains, but corn and the small
grains soon deteTiOrate.
OF the inhabitants he spoke somewhat al
length, noticing the mistortunes which haC
bctallen the State from the very first, VI
almost to the present time. These trouble,
have been chiefly political, eliminating
finally in the rebellion which left the ole
planters and wealthy men Of the State poor
Half the population are negroes, who un
der the present system of things bid fair t
become as intelligent and capable citizens
rs any. He gave a humorous description
of the native crackers or poor whites, illus
trating by anecdotes tn cir disregard for ed
ucation, their way Of living, and their ina
bility to transact business, &c. He SPOKE
also Of the cattle and horses describing
them as small and inferior in looks, bu
possessing many good qualities for the
country they occupy. Of the growth of
Jacksonville the opening there for bust
ness men, the profits Of building and rent
ing houses there, he spoke at some length
Concerning the sand flies, mosquitoes, feas
and other pests and evils Of the country h,
kept back nothing of the truth to draw
rose-cOlored picture.
At the close of the lecture the audicnc
unanimously expressed their thanks to MI
Robinson for the interesting facts he ha,
presented, and his kindness in atlordin
them the opportunity to learn the yer
things desired to know about the land t
which Ponce de Leon sailed in old times il
quest of "Thc fountain ofperpetual youth.
Mr.. Robinson has put into our hands
themometrical table kept by Miss Mar
johnson, showing the average temperatur
at jacksonville, for the months of Apri
May, and the first ten days in June--take
at a. m, II M, 2 p. III. and p. m, whic
was Go, II, IS and II in April, ~, 81, s
and IS in May. 90 was the highest poin
reached in April and 81 in May.
COOP TDPLARs.-The following al
the officers of Golden Barge Lodge for tn