The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-01-22
Florida as III.


especial Correspondence Of the Press
JAcKsoNvILLE, Fla, Dec. 30, 1873
Florida has suffered considerably,from two
classes of writers-those who have made
the picture all rOse-colored, and those who
have so run into the other extreme as to
give it dull and sOmbre appearance beyond
truth. The first have led the tourist toex-
pect what he viii not find, and the disap-
pointment has been bitter, causing him to
shut his eyes to the really existing beauties
and advantages; the second succeed only in
their aim when their words arc accepted
and the reader fails TO investigate for him.
self. Of the two, the second best prepare
you for visit to this section.
/ shall endeavor in this letter to write
impartially of Florida-its hotels, its rail-
roads, and other matters of supposed inter
est, as have seen it and thom-depending
but occasionally upon the evidence OF others,
and only using that when fully satisfied Of
its reliability.
1t is important for all proposing South
ern tour TO select ono place, before starting,
as the headquarters to which their mail,
etc, may be sent Sufficient baggage is
necessary, but there are many points to
which it is not always convenient, or even
possible tn take trunk. A light travelling
bag should therefore be included with the
baggage, which can be taken with you to
various points, the trunk being left at the
headquarters. A trunk, in addition to be-
ing troublesome, is even cause of expense,
and frequently of delay.
It is folly for any one, and worse than
folly for the invalid, to seek
COMFORT IN FLORIDA
before the middle of January. Up to that
time you are certain to have cold, damp
rains, and even an occasional frost. The
people, as a rule, are totally unprepared for
chilly weather. They have wood fires in
the saloons, but the corridors are unpIo-
Vided with heating apparatus. The rooms
when warmed at all arc warmed by wood
fire-places, which if you light you roast,
and if you do not you are chilled to the
bone. Towards the first of February the
weather settles, and there is seldom need of
fires. The hotels and boarding houses have
filed up, the flowers are in bloom, and fresh
vegetables are getting plenty. The cold of
Florida is not the bold, manly cold OF the
North, which comes at you openly, bringing
with it new life and strength. LISA mean,
sneahing thing, which creeps over you and
into you, and lays you out before you are
fully aware of its presence. The right-hand
side of the st. John river, going up, is in
variably one or two degrees colder than the
left-hand side. The north wind brings the
cold, but in passing over the vast expanse
of water it is tempered. 1t is not often that
the oranges suffer seriously from the frost,
They need frequently protection, but it is
easy to give it them. A few branches of
palm or pine laid close around the young
trees suffice.
COTTON AND CEREALS.
The trees of Florida arc nearly all ever
green. The beautiful magnolia, the palm,
and pine in their high colors ever enliven
the scene. The banana is said to prosper,
but have not been in any section where the
trees appear at this season in good condi-
ton. Sugar cane can be raised on almost
any kind of land by o judicious use of the
abundant fertilizer supplied by nature
muck. The labor is about the same as for
corn growing, the stalk being planted by
laying it in a trench and covering il with
earth. An ordinary yield will give $3.50 to
the acre, net, and an extra crop win often
increase the profits to $3.50 per acre, net.
Cotton, beforesthe war, was tho great staple.
In Florida can be grown the long staple
cotton, as well as the ordinary variety.
This crop requires ''all the year round, THE
picking season often lapsing over into tho
planting time 1t is subject TO more vicissi-.
tudes and has more enemies thanany other
crop in the country, not even excepting
wheat at the North. On the whole, Il is
not thought profitable. Sweet potatoes are
a profitable crop. -Four hundred bushels is
an ordinary yield, and they readily bring
from fifty cents 70 enc dollar per bushel
They arc easily raised and are a sure crop.
Planted in winter they grow finely and.
Tipen perfectly from March to July, and OF
course will bring very high price in mar,
ket at such time. Cabbagcs, IA the
winter, grow finely. Tomatoes, turnips.
ons, etc, grow everywhere, and no place
can excel Florida in the luxuriancc 81 their
growth.
PEACHES AND OTHER FRUITs
Few countries can compete with Florida
in peach culture. The trees produce fruit
two years from the seed, Of quality equal to
any in New Jersey or Michigan. They
grow everywhere, but best on the clay sub
soil piny lands.
Grapes are perfect success. The choicest
varieties, such as black Hamburg, golden
Chasclas, ETC., grow luxuriantly out Of
doors, while the ordinary American varSe-
ties are muchinproved By the climate both
IN size Of fruit and perfection Of the
lunches Grapes viii ripen in season to 70
into Northern markets from three to SIX
weeks earlier than the California crop.
Strawberries, blaclEbcrries, whoftiel,er-
RES are very successfully pfoduced tbe two.
latter growing wild IN profusion.
HOTELS SOUTH AND NORTH
The hotels generally arc good u their
way, but they seldom give you the worth 81
the price they chargc-lour dollars . day.
We are accustomed 20 growl about the
charges OF frst-class Northern hotels-fire
dollars per daY-but il would be no mere
cific, Of Chicago the Windsor Of New. York,
and others Of similar rank 10 demand twenty
Eve dollars a day than 4 Is Tor the majority
Of the Southern houses 70 insist upon four.
Hotels Of the order have monticncd North
are remarkably cheap wien We Iememleg
what they give Tor tie moqcy They tel
~ nccs NORTH must COME doHn.
a 50 lneg wall bring down with them very
many 81 the Injuries We have langht or
selves to believe necessities Ia any 81 tie
great cities North, Il tie charges - yonT
special hotel 10 not suit Jon. you have
your remedy. There are Others az which
ron can I've nore clleaDiY and almost
wen, Only not surrounded with such 1aaani-
fccnce a q found 10 ttoee ~ the ersf rsniz.
IN Tie South. % &c & all comfortable, ro1
have ono choicei Jon nne 90 % Grst-flass
hotels.
I'ile Southern hotels afe foaIl inienl4 era
purposes tui large bfafdino hou with
tables 8 little letter and with much higher
cl4rees. tou hare 8 fen - the afiFnnia-
ges and al d The Disadvantages q hoie.