Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-24
NUMBER SO.


planning, lath and shingle machines; there are
also several factories for making SASH doors
and blinds. The manufacture of slate for roof
Ing IS regular and profitable business near
Vanwort.
The people here plant too much cotton-one-
haif the area well cultivated, and the product
naGnuactued would yield double the income.
The mania for using imported fertilizers is
lmpoverishlng the the country, The cotton
crop Is lot in itself the most exhaustive, but
the fact of it requiring clean culture all the
ume-never permitting a blade of grass or
stalk OF clover to grow, the ground being kept
as bare as possible of everything that could ben
ett the soil, and that from year to year with
very little rotation, and the ground being very
liable to wash. this grand Empire State has
been so impoverished by successive cropping
that it does not yield as heretofore, nor half
what 1t could be brought up to if properly rem
ovated With green maDures, and that which
conld be saved and made on the farms; but the
millions of dollars that Georgia pays out for i'm
ported fertilizers, leaves the soil not one cent
the better. Quite number of the farmers
here are turning their attention to clover aud
the grasses, and find their profits greater than
A CITIZEN OF NORTH GEORGIA.
A Letter from Florida.
LAKE MAITLAND, Orange Co, Fla.,
May goth, 1873.
Editor Spectator:
After leaving the "Old Do
minion," nothing that could cheer the spirits
of one OF her devotees occurred along the route.
We thought of her, our mother State, with sad
dened hearts, because her whole histories, her
sorrows and her pleasures, her affections, and
her successes as State, all hold sacred places
II our inmost souls, and in leaving her behind
US, with all the pleasant recollections of child
hood, we could but feel sad. But this move
has not been made without mature reflection,
and when We Grst visited the Peninsula of Flor
ida, We did so determining to investigate the
plan of future life and residence therein, de-
terning not to allow any false argument or
false impressions to be instilled into US, and we
now have made our choice, though painful to
leave our old native State. We arrived at
Jacksonville without accident, but were de-
tained three days by non connections Of trains
this, am told is unusual. At Jacksonville
we met the s.. Johns River, one of the largest
rivers OF the United States, coming to meet US
and welcoming US, as if it felt an interest In u.s.
with It's balmy atmosphere, its many sloops and
boats and stirring seamen. jacksonville is the
largest city in Florida, and | learn, sprung up
like mushroom, In the last three years. The
houses are all new, taste and money both have
been displayed on them, its population is about
Il, 600, and is rapidly increasing The capital
lists of all portions of the u s., are building
winter residences there as well as at all points
along the st. Johns river; and as q lumber
and shipping poiut is rapidly chasing itself
among the first cities Of the South, Leaving
Jacksonville on the Hattie second class boat
we made the trip pleasantly in Two days to
Mellonville, passing the Bluff City. Palatka,
and other places along the Observation-Disclosures,
Green Cove Springs, Welaka, Hawkinsvile
and Mellonvilie. being the most important ship
ping points. Yet there seems to be deter
mination to build city at many eligible points
on the St John S. The river is, however, gen.
orally low. and does not present many sites for
towns. 1t is $50 miles long, two miles in width.
The Indian name, Welika, meaus river of lakes
Some OF these Lakes are very large, Lake
George, for instance, is said to be % miles wide,
the river running through its centre. The
most prominent lakes from Jacksonville to Mel
lonvlile, are Lakes George, Dexter and Mon
roe, all beautiful bodies of water, aboundiug
IN hsh and alligators. we had some rare sport
shooting the monsters from the boats. Arriv-
ing at Mellonville we met our friend Mai. NJ.
K. Marks who had ridden from Maitland to
meet u.s. giving US hearty welcome We re-
malned at Melanvie one night with cur genial
landlord, Mr.. j. [. Hite, Vireinian, land
knows how to keep hotel) We soon sup
piled ourselves with a conveyance, and in
reasonable time, arrived at Maitland, our future
home. You know am not generally enthused,
but when L compare the country out here with
the low swampy margins of the St Johns riv-
er, and the fiat Palmetto lands around Mellon
vile, L can feel almost like [ was among my
own native hills. l fnd this place, since left
it three months ago, entirely changed so far as
settlement and Improvement are concerned
where the finest trees stood, there you see the
whirl of the circle saw aud steam mill stand in
their stead and several tenement houses and
residences are going up in the settlement. From
all | can see and learn, l have not made mis-
take in settling here, and the only drawback,
fear is the speculative ideas of the people, not
residents, but that class who have entered their
lands under the Homestead act, and not COM
plying with the law. If all Of the homestead
entrees in this neighborhood by VirgiDians
alone were settled, we would be thickly sur
rounded by our old citizens; and l think, l
may safely say, that unless the parties who
have entered these lands do not come upon
them and remain thereon, and improve them
as the law requires, their time and money will
be thrown away, and the settlement and in
provement OF the country will be retarded
Good lands are becoming scarce and are iEcreas-
Ing ln ugufeS anu the laDuS around Maltl2nu
are not an exception to the rule. Our friend,
Maj. Marks, Land agent, gives it as his opin-
ion that many OF the homesteads not yet set
tied will be contested, without speedy action on
the part Of original purchasers. He is, how
ever, doiog all in his power to keep back the
rush for them every mail, hoping, she says, to
hear from parties coming. This statement /
make, deeming it Of great Importance to some
Of our friends in and around your place. am
satisfied from the growing crops that come un-
der my eye, that this can be made delightful
home, aud that the tropical fruits, instead of
the ordinary farm products. will enrich cur hon
est and industrious laborer. We shall begin this
week to build shanties, preparatory to setting
US an orange grove in July. Maj NJ, has
opened his house under the name of Hard
scrabble" and turned Us over to the mercies Of
Aunt Sarah, the cook He tells US, that what
will not kill Wlll fatteu, and We risEed portion
of (9) foe troat caught with our own hands in
an hour and halt for supper. | have written
you quite long letter for my first. Will write
you again. when more thoroughly posted as to
the products, profits, &C., of this section.
Yours truly,
The origin of postal cards dates from the
Franco Pfussian war. The difficulty Of SOL
hers in securing mems and paper upon which