Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-12-23
Florida Correspondence.
JACKSONVILLE, Dec. sth. rs

From this time (ljl6 \. u. J to 1919.
Florida has been one constant scene of
warfare coded aud receded, sacked
aud piilag, Distinguishing undevel
Oped through a colonial existence of
nearly 2OO year--ravaged from gulf To
oceau by terrible Indian wars, and
/ finally plunged into "A war of secession
/ at the very moment II was hoping for
I rest aud stability. This lovely land
seems indeed TO have been the prey OF
a stern yet caprcIOus fLte. In view of
{ this long unsettled condition in the
peninsula, it j. not at all wonderful
tuat we have in the ; ate only quar-
ter Of million OF Inhabitants, while
its rich lands remain untitled.
The weight Of the slave system also
kept il down, while its remoteness
from social cenlets, enforced by the
plantation life, made its population
careless and thriftless. AS to advan-
tages for commerce, no State in the
Union can boast OF eleven hundred
miles o. practicable coast line, with
several beautiful bays, and such noble
rivers as the So Johns, st. Mary's, the
A pachicola and the Suwanee, real
commercial arteries passing through
the heart Of the State.
Our American I.aly" extends from
% to 81 north latitude, and contains
an area of 10000 square miles. Like
Tennessee, it is a very tall State, being
almost 400 miles in length and ouly an
average breadth of 80 miles.
THE CLIMATE.
The climate is undoubtedly one of
the great charms aud chief causes of
the affection with which almost every
fgi l., a. 4
days.
The atmosphere is most perfectly
tempered by the Gulf of Mexico on the
one hand, and the Gulf stream which
flows along the eastern coast for three
hundred miles on the other. Over the
level breadth for we have no noun
tains) between these two waters con-
stantly blow the odOrous and health
giving ocean winds.
The air seems always soft and balmy,
and unusually full Of electricity, caus-
ing visitors when they first arrive, TO
eujOy and manifest wonderful exhil-
Grafton Of spirits.
The equal temperature Is really the
great eXcelleDcy Of This climate. The
thermometer rarely ever falls below
the freezing point, or rises above go.
The mean temperature Of the Winter
months at st. Augustine, for one hum
dred years, according to the old Span
ish records, averaged little over go.
One gentleman, who is considered
good authority, said to us on this
subject, ~ have lived in Florida for
eighteen years. The greatest heat
have experienced during that time has
been 66' in the shade"
The climate OF the whole state,
from October to June, has been fifty
characterized as conc continuous
spring." / add my personal evidence.
On the Sth day of December, am PEN
ming this letter without fire in the
room, with the doors aud windows all
open-ready to sing
" Sweet prospects, sweet birds, swee. tow
ers.
and
DEFENDERS Us pleasant as May"
In fact the greatest heats in summer
are never equal To those experienced
in New York and Cincinnati. The
nights in midsummer are always
cool.
HEALTH.
The healthfulness of this country is
unsurpassed. The few cases of sick
ness occurring in the rural districts are
malarial and of very mild type, and
yield readily to medical treatment.
Even these, when the country shall be
opened up and cistern water more gen
| orally used, will disappear and physi.
clans will only be required in cases of
accident, and by persons who have
! brought disease in their systems from
other localities.
Scion Robinson, Esq, formerly the
I NJ al alf % 81
residing in this city, tells us THAT he
considers the climate and healthful-
ness of East Florida, undoubtedly the
best on the continent" The number
/ of persons we have met during our
short sojourn, who migrated to this
/ country years ago, " more than half
| dead with lung, throat aud other dis
eases" and who are now robust aud
/ vigorous, is sufficient 10 convince us of
| the benefits TO he derived from this
climate. But it Is not alone the inva-
| lid that comes seeking the perfumcd
thickets, the palmetto and orange
groves as soon as autumn's breath Is
felt in the north; but thousands of
pleasure seekers are found here search
ing for the wild pleasures Of the
virgin forests and CLASSY lakes
along the upper st. Johns. There
Is real fascination about this
Floridian country, and it is said, once
enjoyed can not be overcome. See
Naples and die" says the bOastful
Italian pToverb See Florida and /
live, to come for many another year, |
says the sun-browned "FlOridian |
Cracker" az he welcomes his North !
ern visitor. Many thousands OF per- |
sons have already arrived from the !
North and from Europe, and.have en- |
tered upon the winter blessings and |
pleasures Of this heaven-favored land. I
Now, Messrs. Editors, we take great
pleasure in extending to you an invi- F.
tatiOn to Visit us this. Winter, don't !
stay shivering in that little black Office
all winter, lighting with
" Gari,h gas at noon,
To drive away your chilly gloom
while we are tripping along the
sandy beaches, with warm brecZes
playing 20 deliciOusly about our faces, |
or gathering the golden oranges from /
their nests among the dark evergreen |
lpgyaz gf t4a p4rauf trfI Ct4Y1a IL Ia I