Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-27

5'I0riftH.


ICorrcspoudcnce oil the Alexandra Gazette.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, March 2j.-Ths has
been an unfortunate winter for this State as
it has been for Vrgioia The numbcr Of vis;-
tors SO far is less by about ooe half thar las.
year, and those who have come have spent
much less money than usual. Some thick the
filling of is due to the Centennial others to
the hard times and the political troubles. SiGce
the inauguration the number Of visitors has
increased considerably, more coming ia than at
any time this winter. As with you, We have
had cold wnter at this place ice formed
an almost unheard Of occurreuce-and an orange
Tree short distance out OF tho city, over !
huodred years old, was killed by the frost, as
we're macy others in this part Of the State The
yield Of oranges, ALSO, was very much shortened
in this scction. Jacksonville is certainly O
beautiful! city. The streets arc broad and lined
with live oaks, many Of them oil original growth
and Of immense siza, and not 10 place at the
curb wood mot curb stoue,) but scattered about
! 10 the streets, and one we noticed particularly
obstrucled the whole sidewalk, there being just
| room enough between it aud the fence fer a
person Q! moderate proportions 10 get through
sideways, or else 70 out 10 The street to get
past. The dwellings are mostly frame aud cot
tagc style, with yards surrounding them full
OF hjwcra in bloom, and often with orange
trees covered with irui!; but you Mss grass
sand, sand everywhere, the yards, side Raks
(whefc not plankcd) and streets are full Of it,
anl walking in it at night you can almost
imagine it is snow shaking under your feet. il
is 81 white. You have to be very careful 10
crossing the streets 90, to be run over, as you
cannot hear the horse or carriage coming ID tho
sand a1 all; and 10 the evening quite large
number Of fast trottcrs arc ont, troting as ii
they were on a race course. Cape May 10
summer " I'll give to those who have been there
q better idea Of this city 10 winter, except Bay
street, Ithc business aVenue) than any dcscrip-
lion Of it. There are hotels 10 every direction,
| (uoat Of them open only 10 winter, from strict
ly first Glass at "a 80 per day, to first class so-
called at : 80 4 large proportion of the citi-
Gems take boara2ra at from ST to SD week.
At the latter figure the very best Of board can
bc secured, hut not the most fashionable, which
costs from $lj to :S2). Ten years ago this city
hed q population ot 100. majority OF whom
were negroes, supported by the freedman
Bureau. l!srcsident population is nov IA 900,
with al! the signs oil Is prospecting city. on a
good commercial basis, although all kinds OF
business secm oycrdone, net by first class stores
Of which there are comparatively few, but
by smsll oncs il abundance. Mechanics stand
60 chauc:; Euadreds arc here without employ.
mcDt. particularly carpenters, who can be Gu
gagged at from 81 10 - %, the latter being 9
hiph figure Tor irst class Workmen; brlckIayer:
can get, !7hen there is anything doing, $3.50 a
thousand and furnish their own helper. Lunl
Der Is cheap; the run Of the mill for dwelling
house, dressed, can be had for $l2 round. Tho
best shipping heart lumber will cost SIG. aoC
you can contract for brick work, everything
furnished, at $l2 thousand. Merchants IL
cense tax IS 500; corporation tax last year -
per CT, which they say will be reduced TO |!
per ct. this year. the u. S. Court ordering the
additional per c. assessment last gear to Day
some oveG due interest on bonds sued for. Our
city fathers know something about such suits
Steamboats, leave here every day, and some
days from two to four OF them for polns o.
interest on the St. Johns. Il number Of then
going up a. lar % McIIonvlIIc, 200 miles, the
head Of navigation for large boats; smaller
boats connect ;hc1c for Salt Lake, about l5L
miles further Everybody that comes to EIor
ia is expected to make this trip, certainly a:
far as Maonvic, or to Palatka, aud then W
the Oeklawba TO Silver Springs. about PIC
mics. | intend taking the St. Johns trip
aud wIl give you 20 account Ct it again.