The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-01-09
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
LAKE MAITLAND, Orange Co., Fla.


DEAR Sir: Your request that I SHOULD
write you letter for publication; subject
South Fiorida-I have carefully considered
| and for your own benefit more particularly
that you may give some approximate relia
BILE answers to the macy questions necessari
ly asked you, by those friends who are watch
ing your movements towards our section,
shall endeavor to comply as favor to your
SELF and for the benefit of those intending t,
join 10 your movements, and although an
exceedingly anxious to build Orange county
| to place and a name among counties, far b.
it from me to aduise or persuade any man
who is pleasantly located, with his friends
schools. churches and life associations around
him. with competency for himself and fam.
| lily, to ''puIl up stakes" and move anywhere
But if you have friends Of this description
who are Determined to move somewhere,
South Florida and the interior Of Orange
county as the place to move to- The question
to the readers mind comes, why Because
it is the heahhisst country on the American
Continent. We show less mortality, less fe-
vers-billious, remittent, Or bilious
eas chills and fsver, than any country be-
longing.to the common domain. Besides or
own experience, which we rely more fully
upon, we refer to the Official report Of Sur
geon General Lawton, Of the U. S. Army.
We would also refer the reader to Doctor
Caldwell, Of N. G., now resident for four
years of this county, and A d. Bruce, Of
Georgia, also resident. These two physi-
clans could not by their practice, feed their
families. They arc men of sciencc and en-
inence in their profession, and can be address
ed at Mellonsville. 1t is the general opinion
abroad and receive many letters upon this
portion Of the subject, that South Florida is
a land Of swamps, low marshes, decaying
vegetation, snakes, insects and alligators, &C.,
and that under burning semi-tropical sun,
sis bound to be sickly.' Now this is all a
big farce. The Peninsuar Of Florida is
high rolling aaud hill country generally, with
many streams, and host of lakes. The
margins Of the rivers are low as general
thing, but the rapid and Iuxuriant growth Of
vegetation consumes everything like malaria,
and continues to groo and consume, and the
health along the very banks OF these streams
which we admit to be subject to slight inter
luLGteut GulllS duQ ACtClo3 oAo tio blChllcot
portions Of our country, is better far than the
health along the banks of your own Shenas-
doah or your James. Whole camps Of timber
cutters lice in the swamps Of the St. Johns
river, live, hardy, rough, in the water, in the
rain and are healthy. The water from the
lakes and streams is pure but warm, yet when
taken up and hung cut for the night, is as
cool and refreshing in the morning as your
best mountain springs. There are many pure
and cool springs to be found, mineral springs,
many Of them largely sulphur. Our soil is
as varied aud as spotted as the skin of the
Leopard. Some of the richest and some OF
5he poorest lands in the world, the poor land
but there is enough OF fish In |
he lakes to fertilize every acre in Orange |
county. Our lands are ciassed, LIST, 2ud and
3rd rate pine lands, black aud gray hammock,
saw grass and muck yet believe from actu-
al precedent that the poorest of this Bird class
inc land can be made TO yield 10 ten years III
tropical fruit, more clear money than any piece
Of land in the Valley of Va. and the yege-
tables to be grown in the intervene can be
made to pay all the expenses OF bringing said
land into full crop of Oranges and Banan-
as, Lemons aud Lines
1t would be difficult matter to select 100 |
acres Of land without getting some of each
quality OF the lands mentioned, as prime
lands
The u. S. Government owns large and |
valuable amount Of the lands Of this PENN
sular, and has generously offered 100 acres to
each party q years DID, Or the head of a
To- and NJ i
last - months the good people from all parts
If the world, are taking hold OF it. aud IN
few years this Peniusular will be garden.
Orange county, the highest dryest, most
pleasant County of the Peninsula, is the sub
ect She is the head center, every river Of
The Peninsula rises in her borders. The ST.
Johns, on her southern boundary, and run
ming due north, the Ocawaha, IN her center
and running North east, the kessenwine, In
her center running almost due south and the
W ithacoochee, rising iu her center. and run
ming W. n aud W., thus showing from the
map itself that it is the mountain portion OF
The Peninsula. 1t is generally thought that
This Peninsula is low and fiat, not 30. There
IRE portions Of it $50 feet above the level OF
The St. Johns river. There are rich black
and gray hammock lands along all these riy-
srs, thousands of Bay and Magnolia heads
afford springs to al! these streams, and ev-
sry one susceptible Of thorough drainage, |
aud the hills to irrigation Orange county |
is out OF debt, her officials are housst men,
aud all she wants is capital and labor. Her |
internal improvements arc being thoroughly |
discussed, and acsivs and euerge ic men are
beginning to take hold. To any party wish.
lug lands in this county, taat will produce
successfully, corn, cotton, Jamie, sysll hemp. |
oats, peas, hay, oranges, lenons, hgs, banan-
as, in fact, all the Semi tropical fruits, can
and will secure them 100 acres OF land if
they will send me Homestead application
aud S100-wil survey, define and post their
lands, and place them upon them Oh their
arrival | will contract to plant them or
ange trees three years old at 81 20 each, and
guarantee them to lire, will clear and farm
their lands at from SO to $50 dollars per
acre, viii build them houses, opon roads aad
cultivate their groves.
[ have written too long letter, and Will
add ia ny next the general returns from cul
tiyated lands. Lake Maitland, the spot from
which | write and the spot OF the Penlnsu-
la, (you must allow for my personal interest,
though | have not foot Of land to SELL is
Is miles south Of Meionsvllle, miles from
lake Jessup landing aud one OF the head lakes
Of the antici pated canal, which must be built.
NJ Il. MARKS.