The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-11
FOR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
lLoRIDA: HER PRESENT AND FUTURE.
BY L. H. P. C.
No. 2.


line of Florida is $50 miles on parallel 310
north, 800 to $50 west longitude from Gren-
Mich, extending from 80 north to 250 south
latitude, distance of over 400 miles. She
has an area of Sc, 26S square miles-or, 81
931, $50 acres ample room for emigration
settlement. The Peninsula averages about
90 miles in width, and its coast line extends
over LOO miles on the Atlantic and Gulf
of Mexico. The st. Johns river, noble
stream, averages in width two miles or more
for about $50 miles from its mouth, while at
the upper end of Lake George more than
$50 miles from the mouth of the st. Johns,
tides are perceptible. At Pilatka, on the st.
Johns, rs miles from its mouth, sea- going
steamers "put into port" steamers of
smaller size run from thence to Lake Mum
roe and Jessup Landing, still further up the
country. Florida has about 1000 miles of
inland navigable water; 200 miles of this is
on the st. Johns. The Suwannee, Apalachi-
cola, and silvery Oklawaha are all navigable
streams. The Oklawaha is noted for it's
beautiful scenery, which is strikingly tropi-
cal in its characteristics its waters conduct
one to the justly celebrated "Silver Springs,
which all tourists should visit. Florida is
quite famous for her springs. Many are
destined to become resorts for the health
and pleasure seeker. The Wakulla river
rises in one that is of unknown depth, and
as pelucid as crystal; it flows from near q
rocky eminence, is filled with fine fish, and
strongly impregnated with lime Its local
ity, ten miles northwest of st. Marks. The
Big Spring of Chipola, the source of the
Chipola river, ten miles distant from its
source; the beautiful Clay Springsin Orange
county; the Green Cove Springs, which emit
5000 per minute, and many others familiar
to tourists. Every one is familiar with the
following brief resume of the stormy history
of Florida:
1t was discovered in 1897 by Sebastian
Cabot; was taken possession of by Spain in
1925. A settlement was probably made in
1852, at the mouth of the st. Johns, by the
French, under Ribault Martin. In 1864, on
the St. Johns, the contests between the
Catholics and Huguenots occurred. In
1869, De Gourges avenged the Huguenota.
In 1886, st. Augustine, the first perma-
nently settled town in North America, was
pillaged by party of English Adventures,
commanded bv Drake; pillaged again by
the Indians in 1911; again, by the Davis
Buccaneers in 1864 it was sacked. 1t sus-
tanned an unsuccessful attack by Governor
Moore, of South Carolina, in 1902; sus-
tanned bravely another attack, with like re-
suit, in 1925, by Col, Palmer, of Georgia.
In 174O, Gen. Oglethorpe was signally re-
pulsed. In 1853, numbering 600 souls, it
was ceded to Great Britain. In 1767, DR..
Turnbull introduced slavery in the persons
of ], 500 imported Minoricans and Corsicans.
They afterwards effected their escape; went
en- masse to st. Augustine, where they be-
came good citizens.
In 1871, the English lost Florida. In
1884, the territory was formally coded to
Spain again. In 1872, Fernandina capitu-
lated to United States troops. In 1913, was
re.delivered to Spain. Seminole wars lasted
from 1916 to 1858. In 1919, Florida was
purchased by the United States Government
and ceded by Spain. A territorial govern
ment was established in 1922.
In 1916, it was admitted as State. Sc.
ceded in 1861 1t was reconstructed" in
1868. From 1868 up to this present year,
1877, it has been under sore political disad-
vantages, and patiently attempted recupera-
ton. 1t has extended a sincere hand of
welcome to the world, and many have eagerly
and wisely sought her tropical shores and
genial cline. Such, in brief, is her history
of the past.