The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-09

less an uncommon woman, would be rather
an encumbrance, until matters could become
somewhat fixed.
18th. Tell - to pack up and start right
to my house, and get here as quickly as
possible. ---, from Virginia, has en-
tered homestead, and put up comfortable
cabin. Immediately adjoining him are 100
acres of good land, vacant. He is very
anxious for some one to come and live with
him in his house; and the two can work to-
gether.
1 have now given as explicit answers to all
your questions as I can. Let me say to all
coming here that they must make up their
minds to encounter difficulties, and suffer
many privations. This is the case in all
new countries. An Industrious, managing
man can in few years place himself in com
Portable circumstances. Those who come
here must expect hard work, and hard fare,
until they can make start. l have found
that the men usually submit to this cheerfully,
but large part of the women become dissat'
is6ed and complain of the hardships. Those
who cannot make up their minds to bear the
hardships of a new settlement, had better
stay in the old country. After all, these
hardships are more in imagination than
reality. We have no negro population in
this part of the State, and ladies have to do
their own domestic work, but this is no harder
here than in other places.
l think our three prominent fruits, Or,
anges, Pine Apples, and Bananas, when fair
ly got to bearing, may be confidently relied
on for very large profit yearly.* 1t
will be little hard at first to get young
plants to set out. They can however be
purchased in lots of two, or three hundred,
and in few years can be had in abundance.
This will be difficulty which we must bear,
and overcome. 1 am planting Oranges
pretty largely, but they are better to be left
in the nursery for two years.
Our buildings are rather primitive in style,
but they have one advantage, a man might
throw stones at them all day, and could not
break out pane of glass!
My family have had fine health ever since
we came here nearly two years ago. Up to
this time, We have had but one white frost,
and that only in places. The tomato vines,
and others as tender, are as green as in the
midst of summer; yet the weather is cool
enough to be delightful. If you will select
the best specimens of the days of Indian
summer, you have about our average winter.
This is fine situation for any one fond
of Natural History. The variety of birds,
and fish is very great. | hope to have leis
ure after few years to make some collec-
tions for Washington College. Now am
compelled to labor as hard as my strength
will permit 1 am still entirely satisfied
with this country. 1 find great pleasure in
living on the coast. My house fronts di.
rectly on the Bay, beautiful sheet of wa
ter about three miles wide, and twenty long.
We have full view of its whole extent
1t is formed by long, narrow, sandy islands,
thrown up by the action Of the tide, and
abounds in fish, fowl, and turtles. [ think
now we have fair prospect for good Pres
byterian community. That, and ice are
about the only good things we have not got,
and | think We shall have them after while.
There are number of places with small
improvements for sale, ranging in price from
$500 to $4,000. Government land can be
got only by Homestead entries, by actual
residents, or those intending to become such.
You can purchase a mans Improvement,
and pay him to relinquish it, then enter it as
homestead. A man who has built house,
and lived in it thirty days, can get deed
from the government by paying SIPS per
acre, and in that way non residents can pur
chase, and get fee simple title. There is
now weekly steamer from Cedar Keys to
this place. Those coming here can come
directly from home to Charleston, or Savan-
nah, thence to Fernandina by steam, thence
by Railroad to Cedar Keys, and thence to
this point by steamer.
1 have given you now all the information
that think important l am very anxious
to get good settlers to occupy the country
before an inferior class comes in. Send all
you can. My kindest regards to Mrs. R.
and all my old friends, who yet remain.
Most sincerel y yours,
JOSEPH BROWN.
This has been estimated as high as 81, 900 per
oora Je mo toka S500 which is very moderate