The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-13
WHAT JOHN A. BOYER THINKS OF
FLORIDA,
Letter from Him to DR.. Gregg.

Following is copy of letter from Mr..
John A. Boyer. of this place, who is now
in Florida with Mrs. Boyer. 1t is private
letter, written to DR.. Gregg, but the DIR.
thinks there is a vein of Uncle Boyer s
temper in it that will please the public,
and he has handed it to as to publish OF
we please. 1t will be noticed that there
is wide difference of opinion be-
tween the ideas OF Mr.. Boyer
and those of Mr. J. FL. Camp
bell, of Edgington, who recently vert TO
Florida to reside. Mr. Boyer looks through
pretty clear eyes, and from our personal
knowledge of tropical and semi-tropical
regions we reckon Mr. Boyer Is about
right. But here is his letter:
FoRr REID, ORANGE Co.,
| FLORIDA, January 4th 1875
TO DIR. p. Gregg, DEAR SRI take
the present opportunity to address few
lines to you. In the first place | have been
thinking of my old settler friends in and
about Rock Island and thought some Of
them would like to know what had become
of us. You will see by the heading Of this
that we are about as tar south as we can
well get-20O miles up the river ST. Johns
at the head of steamboat navigation from
Jacksonville, and l think we are some
three or four hundred miles too far for
health, comfort or anything else that is
) decent or bearable | never was in but
one place before that would compare some
what to this and that was Salt Lake City,
and that is king TO this, in some partiou-
lars, The only things enjoyable here are
the oranges and the green scenery. All,
or near all that grows here keeps green
= all the year, but the most of tie green
vegetation is worthless, even to the human,
and what is not green is smoked or yellow
but few exceptions to the latter.
S This is very singular country; there is
( no soil or loan. The dry surface is all
o white sand; nothing else from the top
down and it may be to China for ought
> know, Aud then one third or one-fourth of
the surface is water, lakes, ponds and
e ri ers, aud they are we'll supplied with
aligators turtles, fish. and some snakes
The fish are not good; the water IS SO
y warm that as soon as taken out Of it they
d are soft. [ will tell you how warm the
/ well wafer is that we have to drink: The
coolest that have been able to find Yves Y,
L anu tuS SUI WdtCi 10 iuLiy DiocN iiC0t.
| have seen no we'll deeper than ! feet,
IS and all the water is of a brown cast, and
e that may be the reason why all the inhabit-
d ants look so brown.
There is one thing the inhabit-
;, ants have plenty Of, and that
II is gas!-they all brag on theil
great orange prospects and ouaodat to sell
4 Raising the orange trees is all they talk of
:. and selling their groves to the Yankees
but the Yankees don't come this year anC
they are getting the blues badly.
ID Some good oranges are raised here, bu
st not very many. and they cost the produces
!. as much or he can get for them. They
:, sell here for 2 cents each. The reason
IL they cost SO much is because the land is 81
l. poor that it has to be fertilized, and tina
continually, for all that is put on leeche
"a through the sand.
.. Now, as to the winter here, | will tel
III You. In the fist place we have had but tw
40 cool spells this winter, in two months, on
s. about the middle OF November and on
6 about the middle of December, bringin
" very slight frost, neither lasting but fe'
&c nights, and the most OF the two month
al very hot during the day. but at night ger
H. orally cool. At least one month OF tn
n. two the nurcury has stood at from 60 t
So in the shade at noon-a little to
III much for us,
] said the inhabitants all wanted to Sc
he their little improvements This is all tn
its way they have to get their bacon and fou
But stop; had like to omitted anothe
way they have to get their grub and thu
is by boarding the northern fools tia
come here for their health or to wade {
4 inches in sand al every step they tai
fro, hnr,Sn IN, xrr
at have to keep 10 the road owing to the pa
lse metto brush and wire grass, which, If &c
go through it much you will come o,
on minus boots and pants.
, a The most OF the timber is q species
hard pine oflittle va!ue--lecays very sool
10 | have cut some canes walking sticks az
Sc. packed in my trunk they are the stem
Dol a palmett leaf; have oi Ell or yor, 9rov
ed it is long enough; it is not quite as lor
ia as the lamp post at the drug store, but
~ guess you can get over it L had to shorte
VIC it to my trunk.
~. | said every one was brown, and I b
no lieye | am getting SO. and if | stay he
=, much longer | shall become the color
-, Henry Woltman's little round Bourbc
- bottles
:. Now, sir, to be little more serious,
ut would not take all this peninsula as a gil
ald with Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe throw
DE in, and be compelled to live in or on it f
can year or two, think this ought to
i q made penal resort or calaboose for
'lrot sorts Of fanatics. such as spirituaists, a
Tue sensionists, and holy people; all such
lnt have but one idea, and those who will ne
er get another one.
Please say to my old friends that I e
i'd pect to be back in few months, aud,
/, they have festival next month. that | a
hit sorry | cannot be there to express my SC
md row for the death of another ex preslder
ant and one of the Oldest settlers of the cou
DIS. ty, good citizen and an honorable man
ade Lucius Wells-Day his memory live lol
will with the Old Settlers.
IRE. must close this letter, hoping to S
. is you and all the other old friends befo
long.
e a Mrs. Boyer has enjoyed good health u
our til yesterday; since then she has had som
1all thing like the old complaint, but nothi
me serious We exl ect to start back 10 f,
at days, but may stop awhile on the road,
Your friend, JOHN A. BOYER.
and
wv Printing Ripdinu ond RIapL-Poaly ,ro