New Orleans Republican., 1875-01-24
Glowing Accounts from the FlOwery
Land.

Glowing Accounts from the FlOWery
Land.
Travellers from Savannah bring camellias
and iaponicas grown in the open air, and
talk of the charms of the Sunny South.
From Aiken we have adyices of luxurianJ
roses in full bloom, and Strawberries half
ripened. From almost anywhere in that
direction the common remark is, "We've
had'n no winter; the season thus far has been
remarkably mild" No wonder that North
ern people, with money in their pockets,
and teeth chattering, grow discdntented,
and inquire about the rates of fare to
Charleston, Savannah, st. Augustine, Jack
sonville, etc.
From the indications thus far, the aggre-
gate number visiting Florida this season
will reach 100000 or something rather in ex-
cess of the total for last year. A few
started about the middle of November, and
there was some increase in December, but
there is always a disposition on the part of
tourists to delay departure until after the
holidays. In January the fashionable travel
fairly commences, very many arranging to
visit the most attractive points on the sea-
board and st. John river, bringing around
to New Orleans in season for the great fes-
tivsl of Mardi Gras tthe' last day before
Lent, which this year comes on February
8. Many curious incidents of the festival
may be witnessed, with good effect, in St.
Augustine among the old Spanish families,
but the modern accessories found in New
Orleans are stunning" The great rush of
travel takes place in March, stimulated by
the approach of cold, searching winds, so
prejudiciRl TO the health of many.
Accommodations by rail and stamers are
Rates are rs follow; All rail from New York
to Jacksonville, S37 so; by steamship, via
Charleston or Savannah, $27 75. q
Passengers by the latter route may ex-
ereise their choice as to the mode OF con-
veyanee, either boat or rail at the termina-
ton OF their sea voyage. Persons influenced
by motives Of economy often give a prefer
enee to the water route. The time from
New York to Jacksonville varies from
sixty.three to sixty.fve hours, viz: To
Savannah, foFty-eight hours; from thence
TO Jacksonville, fifteen TO seventeen hours.
Tri-weekly steamers leave New York on
alternate days-Tuesdays Thursdays aud
Saturdays-the latter usually being the
most popular.
The ST. John river blooms with orange
groves as never before. Each year the
groves are more extended. In 3 word,
orange culture, if properly managed, has
been demonstrated success, and the inter
est is now considered permanent one. As
to accommodations for travellers, cOnsidera-
bic improvements have taken place within
the past year, particularly at Enterprise
and Green Cove Springs. Special attention
has been given TO the culture of pleasure
grounds, though in some instances build.
ings have been extended. Travellers will
experience q happy deliveranee in the sub
stitutiOn Of iron rails for wooden ones, an d
steam power for locomotives on the railroad
from TOeOi to st. Augustine-distance if.
teen miles-which many tortured victim
remembers with sorrow. The completion OF
the Grand Hotel at Jacksonville, with bal
comics overlooking the placid bosom of the
st. John river, is one Of the noticeable
events.
After ALL the rival attractions of the
piney woods of Southwestern Georgia, on
the line Of the Atlantic and Gulf railroad
should not be overlooked. Such q spot az
ValdOsta, for example, brings health to
many a languishing invalid, when the moist
atmosphere of Florida, however bewitchine
In It's blooming groves and dreamy mirage
could afford no relief. For pleasure Florida
is inimifable; for health there are other re-
giOna, where the aroma Of balsam hlls the
sir, which the physicians would recommend
more highly.--Neso York Commercial Ad
Sertiaer