Connecticut western news., 1876-03-24
The Sunny South.
LETTER NO. 4.
FLORIDA NOT A GARDEN OF FLOWERS; II

CLIMATE AND ATTRACTIONS. Jacksonville is to Florida and the extreme 1 south of our country, what New York city l is to the East and Chicago to the West. Ev- l erybody and everything goes to Jackson vile as the central point from which to ra- diate. It IS indeed the commercial metrop- oils of Florida, it's present population being about 1S, 900. It is about 25 miles from the ocean and was named after Gen. Andrew Jackson.s.. =. The Ss. Johns is fine large river, and the villages located on it have their at:rac- tions, but the deeply stained waters. discol- ored by the decomposed vegetation on either side, together with the coloring mat ter extracted from the palmetto, whose roots form an intricate network to great depth in the ground, and which with the low swampy marshes that mark the topog- raphy of the river it's entire length, send forth an amount of miasmi not at all con- duciye to health. The natives are exceed ingly reluctant about admitting the fact that fever and ague prevails, but few days visit up the river will convince the tourist, whose system has become ennervated by the fatigue of continuous travel, and as 8 consequence i'll able to repel the attacks of the malarious influence, that ague and chills do there abound, and no amount of native eloquence will remove the impression or conyiction which is deeply shaken into the patient by the first chill that seizes him, sun less the logic of the inhabitant of the land of oranges and alligators is taken with fre quent and ample doses of quinine.
 Fernandina is located on Amelia island, about two miles inland from the Atlantic coast, and entirely away from the St. Johns river, and being on higher ground is far more healthful than any of the river towns. It is very pleasantly laid out and its climate is as mild as that at Jackson vile. It has population of about 5000, and is raaidly growing in favor with visitors to Florida. A shell road leads from the village to the ocean beach. about two miles distant, and avery hard, smooth and level drive of twenty miles on the beach is an attraction for this place found at no other point. This drive on the beach is certainly very grand, and when Fernandina is better known, all visitors to Florida will iot il down on their memoranda as oue of the most important places to visit.
 The climate of Florida is certainly milo during the winter months, drawing, as Vt do, our comparison of temperature witt that at the North: But the attractions ot . Florida, penned for the Northern eye, art almost invariably overdrawn. We are now told that if we will stay till the month o May all vegetation will be 80 beautiful. II the month of May Northerner finds mile weather and vegetation springing into ex istence at his home in the North, and ont of the last places he would think of visiting would De the South. We had expected tt find an atmosphere always balmy, and tenn perature like 6 Northern midsummer, a which time very seldom are experienced chilling winds, and weather that oYsrcoatI are needed that In the monthsof Februar, and March the whole country was ont grand garden of flowers, with myriads o charming birds warbling their song amongst them. This is picture that ii too highly colored, but it is one that ii painted upon the retiua of the minds eyt of Northerner, by the account of Flori- da's attractions, which are written to pla, upon his fancy as he wallows through th, deep snows and shivers with the intens, cold incident to the climate of his countr, in the winter months, and when he come to Florida, he is disappointed: He expect: too much. Florida possesses attraction which are quite sufficient to induce tn people of the North to visit within her bor ders, but to paint her charms in color more glowing than real, is an error in ever sense in which 1t is viewed. We hay found in Florida as frequent changes c temperature, and those quite as trying t an enfeebled constitution as those of th North; yet it is warm weather here near1 all the time. The thermometer reache from 70 to 30 at noon, but the nights al quite cool. The foliage of the trees
 green, but does not present that freshne seen on Northern trees. The leaves al not chilled by frosts and fall to the groun but remain on the tree till they ''die of O sge." when they drop off to make room f. new production. As we said above Florida possesses it's attractions to alu the Northerner from his winter home. ] leave the snow and ice and come here in an almost summer climate; to see the fol age on the trees to roam through oran
 groves and study life in the South, ett etc., is inducement enough but let all
 advised to bring their winter clothing al informed that they will frequently find t
 cheerful blaze of pine in the fire places welcome and genial place of resort. Flo
 CTS can be found where they are cultivate but the impression that they grow sDont
 neouslY everywhere is erroneous, and |
 birds are frequently heard eDlivening |
 atmosphere with their cheerful notes, |
 they are not as abundant as we had expe
 ed to find them.
 We allude to these facts because we hs
 seen and conversed with 80 many here W
 havenot found Florida quite up to their
 pectations, and although they find enough
 pay them amply for coming, they are d
 appointed in not finding it the paradise
 was represented to them to be. Of cou
 these remarks apply only to points visi
 by us, but which is the section of the sl
 frequented by almost all who go from
 North, viz, the St. Johns region. It,
 our purpose originally to visit the west
 or gulf coast, going as far south as Tam
 but the irregularity of the steamers or s
 ing vessels going south from Cedar Ke