Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-20


JACKSONVILLE. FLA, March / I.-Here we
arc ir the land Of perpetual spriOe. The change
has seen 50 gradual from winter in coming
South thai il DOES not seem out OF season for
the flowers to be blooming, the trees in full
leaf fruit trees in blossom, and in TACT every
thing two or three months ahead Of the Alex
andria neighbo1hood. Little Of general utter.
est occurred on the route. Two days spent in
Atlanta, Ga, gave Us an idea OF how rapidly
it is growing into one OF the first cities Of the
South, as it is how Of the State Of Georgia,
having i population of about 10000, 5000
more than Savannah. Almost the entire city
was destroyed by Sherman at the close of the
war, but has been rebuilt 10 the most substau-
tial style. The hotels are equal, both in sIZs and
style, to some of the most elaborated New
York houses, and are splenddy kept, Tho
| Kimbcll House, just across the street from the
car shed, can accommodate 500 guests. j.
has a steam elevator and ali of the conveDleDces
Of a first class hotel. Public improvements
have not been able to keep up with the growth
Of the city, and very little paving OF streets OF
side walks has been done plank side walks,
but 10 a miserable condition, have to do duty
Tor the present. The mud must DC terrible
here 10 rainy weather. Plenty Of room has
been taken 10 building residences, aud many
houses have their front and side yards, kept in
the best style, and adding greatly 10 the beauty
OF the city. We enjoyed hearing Dr. Lettwich
preach on Sunday mornlng-a privilege we will
be cnVied by many OF your readers. Ills ser
mon, from the text Remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy vas listened to with
marked attention By a congregation OF from
500 10 600. He announced before giving his
text that he would preach at night, but after
his sermon withdrew the appointment, stating
that he had been sick for the past week and
found from his exhaustion that he would not
be able to preach at night. His is the leading
church iu the city. 1t has two mission chapeIs,
lat one of them they nave just organized 4
church, three hourishiog Sabbath schools, in
dustrial school, parish day school, &c., and
an abundance OF church work for anybody who
wants it. Atlanta merchants complain very
little of dull times Everything looked active.
When We left Atlanta on Monday it was haiug
and showing in turn, and not much like the
Suupy South of our idea We stopped fer
dinner at Eastman, where We were greatly
surprised to Eud beautiful village and first
! class hotel, equal 10 any at Atlantic City or
C%po May in appearance and in all its appoint
menls. a company Of New York gentlemen,
Mr.. Arson Dodge being one OF them, have
built this as winter resort. 1t is right 10 the
pines Of central Georgia. and they claim tor 1t
} all that is claimed for Florida, and more too
1t was most pleasant surprise to meet an
Alexaudrian in this cut OF the way place 10
Mrs. Dodge: At Macon we missed the con-
, nccion and had to stay on switch all night,
! and instead Of going o. through the next hight
we had the same tate at Jessupp. Our Lucass
sleeper, though not equal to a Pullman, still
was very comfortable, and We made the best OF
if. As We came through from Macon attached
to freight train. we had time 10 investigate
the makipg of turpentinc-w waiting at the
stations-a short account OF which might be TO-
teresting to some of your readers: Work com.
mences about the first Of October, il they arc
beginning operations for the first time, when
2 mcr start out cutting with an axe boxes about
six inches long by four deep, around and 10 the
, body Of every pine tree, eighteen inches from
. the ground, and barking above them six inches.
If favorable season tho sap begins 10 flow at
once. 10 four weeks these trees are all visited
, and the sap dipped out Of the boxes nto buck
cts and carried to the still. Alter tinishing the
dip the sap is put into 40 immense kettle and
, a retort top fixed over it, and the fires then
started. The distugs are caught IN very
large tank Of fresh water, 10 which II Won! d
seem the slow drippings from the rctort would
be lost From the tauk through o small pipe
into barrel stream bat would fill L table
] glass 10 about two mluutes, Is ruoning, appar-
emily of nothing but water, but if you hold 4
glass under it till it fills, aud let it settle you
can see that the upper third OF the glass ~ pure
, ;urpeutine. After the boiling has been con.
, tnucd certain time, they opcua large SrIgot
at the bottom Of The kettle over trough and
out comes the pure roSIn, which is dipped ID
to barrels before it cool:. The dipping Of sap
out of the boxes in the trees Is continued al To-
tervals OF month until aOOnt the first OF April.
They say nobody ever Loses money d!stiI!ing
turpentine. At Brunswick We took a steamer
through Cumberland Sound, some four hours
ride to Fernaodiua, considered one OF the most
promising places in Florida for business. 1t
has railroad from Cedar Key, on the gulf,
through the ceulre OF the State, inside water
communication up the S.. Johns, the Ta!la-
hassee Railroad, and the best harbor on the
coast. The reason assigned for jacksonville
getting ahead is that the whole OF Fernandlna
was sold by the government duriog the war, and
clear titles could not be gotten. but this ob
stac!e has now been removed. 4 solid block
out of the business part Of TnsndIna Was &c
stroyed by fire a few months ago. They are
now rapidly rebuilding 1t Of brick Instead Of
wood as before. We reached here at $3.50 and
stopped al the Grand National, where We had
chance at once to di4proge the statements
! that you could get no meat fit to cat 10 Florida,
or anything else but fruit, TOR better fare Is not
to be had than here, and 10 as great variety.
We will give you our Impressions OF Florida
at another time. IUI.
GOVERNOR VANCE on NEGRO COLONIAL
TloN.-Governor Vauce has written reply 10
letter from some colored men 10 North Caro-
lima, who asked him to assist them 10 obtaining
means for colonizing themselves. He says
II cannot give aid 10 any such scheme. |
think your fears are idle. So far as am con-
cerned, and the party with which | act. |
know that there is no intention to Cypress your
people or deprive them of a single legal right,