Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-09

Ae1 ~ A8 CONGRATULATIONS ~
Green Cove sprlnss-The 81. Johns
River.
Correspondence Of the Union and American
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, April LA special
train left Savannah last night about eight
O'Clock, conveying large number OF
delegates to the General Ticket Agents.
Convention and their ladies and invited
guests on an excursion TO tnis piacs ana
thence by steamboat up the -. johns
river. rendered them by the officers OF the
Atlantic and Gulf and Jacksonville, Pen
sscola and Mobile Railroads. The train
survived here about nine o'clock this morn
inc when the excursionists found break
fast proyided for them at the various
hotels by order of the officersof the roads
giving the excursion. From some mis-
apprehension, it is presumed, the pro-
prietors of the ST. James charged the
guess apportioned to that hotel, which,
10 say the least, shows carelessness on the
part of the proprietors, as am informed
the guests sent there were expected to be
treated as those sent to the other hotels.
On arriving in jacksonville, we found
the people dressed in light, airy costume,
suitable for advanced spring, and all ma
ture seemed to indicate this as time for
picnic and excursions The trees had
put on their green garniture and the flow
ers were out in their brightest colors,
while the birds were singing their mer-
riest, sweetest songs. To show your Ten
nessee readers how far spring has ad-
vanced in this latitude, may state that l
saw in the market here to day strawber'
ries, peas, beets, radishes, and full grown
cabbsges, and various other vegetables of
matured growth. / also saw in the gar
dens herecorn atle sstthirty inches high and
peaches as large as partridge's egg. 10
the vicinity of this place saw fields of
corn six to eight inches high. This indi-
Gates a season at least six weeks in ad
vance of that of Middle Tennessee for
vegetables.
jacksonville has improved wonderfully
within year. A great many large and
substantial business houses and elegant
residences, mostly of brick, have been
erected during that period. do not know
of town between Nashville and the
South Atlantic coast that has improved
so rapidly as this place has. To a stranger,
the wonder is how the city is sustained in
this marked increase in the number of its
business houses and residences. Of
course there must be q corresponding in
crease in the population. 1t is claimed
thst Jacksonville now contains 10, 600 in
hsbitsnis, but suspect three-fOurths that
number will cover all the permanent re-
sidents. A very considerable percentage
of the population of Jacksonville is COM
posed of Northern men, some of whom
have invested largely in real estate, much
of which they have improved in a hand
some manner, while others have engaged
in mercantile pursuits, and are repre-
sented TO be doing well. A gen
tleman who has resided here for many
years tells me that real estate
in Jacksonville is about at a ''stand
still" There is very little demand and
prices are not 80 good as last year. But
there is a strong conviction on the part
of property holders that there will be a
rally; that Jacksonville is susceptible of
still greater outcome; that there is bust
ness TO justify this, and that a vigorous
and substantial growth will shortly be
developed. Jacksonville is the centre of
large extent of country that must look
to this point for supplies not only of
merchandise, but of provisions and
breadstuffs. Besides, Jacksonville is a
remarkably healthy place, both winter
and summer. 1t has never been visited
by the yellow fever but once-in 1857
nor is it visited by mslarious or epidemic
diseases of any kind. There is every
reason to believe that Jacksonville will
become the fashionable winter resort for
the pleasure seekers of this country, the
same as Saratoga and Long Branch are
in the hot summer months.
Jacksonville is already great resort
for invalids and pleasure seekers during
the winter months, and this gives to the
place the air of large and fashionable
city. / inquired of gentleman, who
had chased the phantom health down to
the warm and sunny region of Florida,
what was the priacipal article of COM
merce at Jacksonville, and he answered
with sarcastic grin ''sick people" This
class furnish large revenue to the hotels
and boarding houses of this place, but an
old resident of the city informs me that
lumber is the principal commodity of
commerce. This furnishes employment
TO a very large number of people and to
quite 8 number of vessels. The statistics
of this trade would undoubtedly show the
investment of large amount of capital
in the business. The fruit trade is an
other important source of revenue. Be-
fore the war the people of Florida paid
but little attention to the growth of the
orange as a commodity of trade. Now
there is large amount of capital invested
in this branch of business, and it has
proven generally profitable. There arc
large groves all along the banks of the
st. Johns river, as well as along the
other important rivers in the State. The
severe weather of last winter seriously
damaged the trees snd cut the crop short.
There are portions of the State still fur
ther South where the trees are not sub
iected to the vicissitudes of the weather.
There is no doubt but that the oranges of
Florida are destined TO play very i'm
portant part in the fruit trade of this
country. Other tropical fruits can be
grown in this State in prOfusion aud
proftably, and this will be done in few
years.
The mild climate of Florida has tempt
ed many Northern men to invest cOnsid
cradle amount of capital in lands, with a
view of growing vegetables for the North
ern markets, but their ventures have been
attended with disastrous failu es in almost
every instance. Their lack of experience
is perhaps the principal cause of failure
While in Savannah / was informed that
this branch of trade was very large, and
had proven profitable to those engaged in
the growth as well as in the sale and ship
ping. In that region most of the men
engaged in growing vegetables for the
Northern markets, are natives of the
South, though some Northern men are
succeeding well in the business. Perhaps
one drawback under which Jacksonville
labors. is the want of shipping facilities.
When this desideratum is supplied, Flori-
ds will be able TO furnish the Northern
markets with vegetables six TO eight
weeks earlier than they can be supplied
by their home gardeners.
While speaking of fruit, l might have
added that Florida produces peaches OF
the finest and most delicious quality.
These ripen so much earlier than in the
Middle and Northern States, that the eX-
tensive growing of the peach in this State
might be made very profitable.