Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-04-21
From Joseph Adams to His Father.
PRATT's HOMESTEAD,
{ % miles west Of sanford, Fla.

- nlies west OF Sahiufl, Ia.
April Q, 1875.
DEAR FATHER - Yours Of March 80 reached
me yesterday. was glad to get it as it was
the first had received since left home. We
had rather hard work to find where I" Charlie"
was located, bnt after we fornd ont we were
all right, we had our baggage taken out to lis
place as soon as we could The road was
simply cart track through the "Piney woods"
The scenery was not vsrv striking after we left
the 81. John. consisting only Of white sand
with grass growing here and there, and pine
trees towering over it all. Tie pine trees are
different fiom what | immngued they wou'd
be. They have lung, slender trunks, with Il
small cluster Of branches on tie top. The sur
face OF the country is rolling, some places ris-
ing into quite high mounds, at others sinking
into hollows, which are filed with water, even
now. Although there has been quite a severe
druught, these little kes are well stocked with
fish, and ducks are sw INNING on thsm at ali
times bat a boat is necessary to gel either, for
the banks are so soft that we can't get clos
enough to get our lines into deep wat r, aud +,
we do shoot the ducks, we cau't g,t them With
out buat
The PEOPLE out here say that there are aliga
tors in all Of the lakes, but we have not seen
any since wo left the st. John. Around the
lakes there is generally light growth of live
oaks, which are covered with gray moss. Back
from MS there is place called The Scab .
Here the land is worthless, covered with saur
Palmetto " and a low growth Of timber Of other
nd oh Ill, IL, q.
wolves, and other kinds Of game. Yesterday
the boys were over there and saw four deer.
We hAvn't seclred our hum stead vet, but
hnve about decided where we want TO locate.
There is a young man staying with us now
whn has been nut here number Of years and
has surveyed most at the country arnund here.
lie has Il map of the seounn'. with the home-
sIeads that are taken MIR rked, and he will Sc
cure for Us whatever hom .steads we decide up-
on Aitr we select our bnmstehds, he will
send the numbers and the money To Giisvllie,
where the hnd ntliie is situated, for us or We
can send our selves, We are guing 10 take
homcsteads adjoining each other. | am not
certain whether they will touch Charles, or
not but at any rate we will get as close ta each
nther as we can. 4 fter we nave had our home
steads six MONTHS the law allows us to pre-
empt at rs per acre ana no government land
is sold except tn humcsteuders. There are gond
reasonably, but they are being bought very IA
by specuhprs. The best of tho State Lands in
Orange county, have been bought, but in Polk
county, a county toucliing Orange onthe south
west, there are rod State lands which are
waiting purchasers anl they will MT have 10
wait very lung. for The attention nf immi grants
is being directed 10 that eQuniy. and II is filing
up very fast OF course these immigrants take
homesleads for the most part; but there is AL
WAYS u crowd Of spectators wheres or there IL
ANYTHING 10 get. The prices of State lands vary
according "a the amnunt takea. Forty acres
can be had foe $40 anl the ~ ,ra ane IA kes the
less he has to pay per acre. know a party
who bought 1909 acres in Polk county, flr 80.
cents per acre. Polk is as goud rs Orange
county, aud so ne claim, better. The soil is
richer and better adopted to general farming
purposes, though perhaps n"t 50 good FOR Or
augts.
IL a person has nts of money ia spend, Flur-
ida is a nice place to bring ones family for the
winter, and IT is fun enough for us fellows t
keep baohol0r's hall on our hnmesteads AS We.
are not tied to them, but can go where we
please.
Dutit Is another thing To live out here in tie
blek woods with family. Investments in
Florida lands are going to pay big ] think,
We are all wrll anil haYiug a good time.
Yours aasctiuuAtcly, j, ii, ADAMS.