New-York tribune., 1871-11-09
FLORIDA.
STATE OF HEALTH-wEATHER-Loss OF CROPS
FROM FLooDs-CONDITIoN OF-THE STATE
AGRICULTURE, POLITICS, AND PROSPECTS.


FROM FLooDs-CoNDITIoN OFrTHE STATE
AGRICULTURE, POLITICS. AND PROSPECTS.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Oct. PA arrived here
about week ago. and have tried to gather information
about things which a good many TRIBUNE readers are
just now anxious about Some Of them have Winter
homes here some Of them have been here as invads,
and some as visitors, to enjoy delightful climate.
good many are anxious to come again and at once but
fearful that the place is unhealthy assure oil such
that this town s now, and has been all Summer decld-
edly healthy, far any deadly epidemic is concerned
or contagious disease. particularly yellow fever, which
never prevailed here but once, and then from local
cause after having been imported. In Summer usually
mild type of chill fever" affects Of the inhab-
itants particularly those who the most careless or
happen to live In malarOus localities. This year this
disease has not been prevalent s 1t at all probable
that 1t will be at this late season. although the weather
much than 1t in September yet the air s
very pure and O constant succession OF trade winds
keeps 1t fresh that feel no discomfort with the
thermometer at about soo at midday Tho nights are de-
hCous, and musketOes less troublesome than found
them at New.York and vicinity. The weather in this
and adjoining States has been In strong contrast with the
Northwest where everything prepared by drouth
for the great confederation Here, on the contrary,
the land been seriously afflicted by almost incessant
rains and tOrnadoes during August and September NO
person living is willing to admit that the floods Of this
year equaled Crops in this State and parts OF
Georgia and Alabama have been destroyed to such an
extent that can nothing prevent famine among
many people who wholly dependent upon annual
crops and have nothing In store The negroes are no
tOriously mprovident and the piney woods people, or
Georgia Crackers" even more so. Some OF these
will not be able to gather oneenth Of their usual crop
Of sweet potatOesAnd have cotton fields that will
not yield 10 pounds per Even cattle and hogs and
poultry have in many instances been fairly drowned out
and driven from their and now are too poor for
Vast partiCullrlY r, been
destroyed.
Along the Upper ST. Johns and tributaries there
vast tracts Of open prairie lands which afford excellent
Summer pasturage for immense herds Of CATTLE These
have been OvcrhOwed by the great ood SO deep that
steamboats, could make straight from bend to
bend and the cattle have been compelled to seek safety
and food pine woods and saw-palmetto thckets
1t is also remarkable that although the rainy season Is
over the water does not subside. The river Is still
pouring its flood to such extent almost to
the tide. Indeed 1t has been fresh down to tho
bar, though usually quite salt here. and the tide sets
back 100 miles from the mouth at an ordinary stage Of
water No doubt many of the oyster beds will be injured
for the season. II not entirely killed Upon other parts
Of the coast where usually too SALT the flood has bene
hted the oysters. There has been immense loss TO
Of orange orchards along the coast and those
interior have not escaped. In all Of the
largest oranges twisted of their stems cectualy
though the wind had fingers to seize them with. In
some the leaves half stripped or The crop
shore more than half Bananas which were just he
ginning TO be grown to some extent a hundred miles
south Of this stood but poor chance in such gale as
est suffering to the masses win come from the
rain If calamites from fire had not been over
sufferers by in Florida. AS s can only ask that
those who desire to spend few months and Their money
bound contribute in that indirect way TO the wants or
sufferers in tins state Go not abroad stay not III thG
enjoy this delightful Winter climate, and thus contribute
| TO people in sore need Of aid.
The frost of last December and the cyclone and floods
Of August, have set back the agricultural prospects OF
who had lately commenced operations here, with fair
prospects that they ready
deed the agricultural prospects Of Florida gloomy
cursed BY "a ring as Corrupt as the Tammany Ring,
and to the % sorrow and % shame Of al kepuS5 t5c
very essence of Rcpubcanism. It's organ attacks
everybody who win not submit to it, control lts
Unable fraud aud corruption, has nearly All the Offices OF
the state in his gift and hence controls legislation aud
carries the judiciary his pocket. His power OF re-
moyal and appointment OF officers is almost unlimited
consequence Of three wears of such government as
Florida has been and afflicted with the state bank
rupt and the people taxed to point that luclteS splt
Of revolt and disposition 10 free themselves OF thcr
rulers by the aid uf vigilance committee The nat ural
consequence will be the loss Of FOTd t. the Republican
party, for many of It's honest menOs are Tree TO say
that they had rather the State under rebel rulers
than under the wicked gang now III pOsscsslon
This town, which suffered severely from fires last
Winter has been wonderfully renovated uurls Ihr sum
Most Of tue buildings erected, are SUBSTANTIAL
handsome brick stores and extensive warehouses;
There have been fever dwellings erected this year
than last yet money has been spent in building
The Accommodations and attractions for visitors this
year. in thstOwn and other places oil the ST. JGhns and
the coast Will be better than heretofore, ana nave
no doubt from what learn from various sOurces that
the influx Of visitors viii he larger than ever People
who intend 10 come will also he glad to learn that charges
will not be so cXtTaVagant as III tunes past. 20 many
dwellings have erected within two three years
that rents lower and houses are more easily oOlahed
this Fall than last Then it difficult for family
TO get comfortable in this town at any price, that
several families who from the North u spend the
Winter back to Georgia, or South Carolina, and
others into the interior Of this Stute. think they Will
meet such difficulties this year, they arrive early
Several have already and established themselves
comfortably, e,R.
e 4
CRIMINAL INCIDENTS OF THE ELECTION.