The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-07
FLORIDA

d., 40 uiuALsbls Il.
FLORIDA. = f24'
A TRIP on THE UPPER ST. JOHNS RIvER-THE
ELEGANT MANSIoNS-A REMARKABLY LEMON
TREE - oCLAwAHA RIVER ALLrGAToRS'.
uAUNT-sT. AUGUsTINE-ANcIENT LAND
MARKs-THE OLD SPANISH roRT-THE INDIAN
PEIsoNERs--THE STATE FAIR, ETC., ETC.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.1
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, February "a, 1876.
I have Just returned from delightful
and interesting trip up the st. Johns river,
beyond Pilatka, taking in e7: route the Ocla-
waha river, the ancient town OF St. Angus.
tine, and various small settlements. The
ST. Johns, above Pilatka, at some places Is
quite narrow and decidedly more romantic.
On both sides OF the stream one can discern
elegant mansions and cottages, which are oc-
cupied during winter by wealthy owners,
the moneyed princes and princesses OF New
York. Massachusetts,, and the great West,
Here also are the principal orange and
lemon-groves. am informed that the cul-
tivation of the orange receives more atten-
ton at present in this State than any other
product; and those whose business it is to
know say that during the past few years
there have been over million and 4 half OF
orange-trees set out, in the various orange
localities. While on the subject Of oranges
l must relate statement given to me as 9
fact concerning remarkable lemon-tree.
About mile from Mellonyille, on the up
per st. Johns, is grove OF some eight
acres, owned by gentleman from New
York State, whose name escapes me,
who expects 10 realize from his lemon in
veStment this season something like $4,000.
This is not so remarkable as the fact that
in the grove is lemon-tree of los feet in
circumference ut the top. Upwards OF
10000 lemons were taken of that single
tree few days ago, and it is estimated
by competent judges that there were still
10000 lemons remaining on the same tree.
1t is creditably stated that the average lemon
tree will bear from $500 to 5000 lemons.
The golden frult-bearing trees are con-
sidered quite as profitable; and, in fact, the
Florida orange, all fruit-dealers admit, is
the finest that comes to market.
These beautiful groves, together with the
various species Of trees-the Pride Of India,
the pine, the magnolia, all seemingly blend
ed into one grand tableauX-tfansport the
tourist into some imaginary spot. The long
moss which falls so gracefully to the waters
edge, and the balmy breezes, with the
sWeet-seented odor OF the magnolia and
yellow jessamine, give most charming and
poetlc Illusion W i'i' io'eis Vi 'ne oeao'iioi'
., ... atia THE: ocLAWAHA river .' i 4,
is stream which empties into the @St.
Johns. 1t is generally known as the alli-
gators haunt. I should call itmerely a mar
row passage through q cypress swamp.
Only small steamers run through this stream
to distance OF about two hundred miles.
The scenery is wild in the extreme, yet
grand. =, The Silver Spring is the most nota-
BILE stoppinng-place on the Oclawaha.. The
water OF the spring is as clear as crystal. a
piece OF silver dropped TO the bottom, some
thlrty 10 ioFEy leet' can oe plaini' ptL1 seen.
t.s.@i ST. AUGUSTINE. ".s
This noted! ancient city is reached from
Jacksonville by landing at Tocoi, on the St.
Johns. Though only fifteen miles from
this landing, it takes two-hours' ride to
comDlete the trip over apparently q good
track, The fare is positively awful. Just
think--tWo dollars to ride fourteen miles.
ST: Augustine is the oldest city in the United
States, about thirty-fiYe miles and almost in
q direct line south of Jacksonville. Its
population is variously estimated at from
1000 to 5000. It has. newspaper (the'
florida Press, hotel laccommo cations when
are unsurpassed in the State, and telegraphic
and express facilities. -. .2:s'...-' -, -.
The principal places OF interest about the
city are the old Catholic burying- ground,
old st. Mary's convent, the Cathedral, the
Confederate monument. old st.. Francis
convent monument in honor of the Spanish
Liberal Constitution, the meat-market, the
new, convent, the Bishops residence, the
Huguenot burying- ground Q the plaza, the
old fort, the sea-Wall, the barracks. The. city
gafe. etc.5 etc. To describe these. quaint
and antic buildings would occupy coRsid-
erable snace and time. ,9i, E.:,,
T f'.,e "a ~, ,Irr,p ~ !, ,ro.,r Iii = aa-ti
x Id, hA U.'D IN .'. !" Il, -: ), 1
resemelTs .aose cass,es Ms a.+n onn, r ine ~
ases a ., 1n a. Ts on S sm;ormed ed IN the
,u,S nonr wa 9soo and c,mnietod some time in
ggse 1y r. ~ s;tna+eJ ~, on elevated ,osif;on
nyer tho - entrance ] ID slthenSnanish coat-of.
0,e, .,,s. ,,,St, uu o,aha ond cross on5 cnSnsnd.
al ths, hath m,.h !; thn t;rr,,r r - iano Tbara
Gu eue toI,r hastioned a5srIes with santrv-hoSes
and lookout towers at each corner. on the
north side of the fortis the Catbolicchapel.l
The fort was constructed to accommodate
one Thousand men and one hundred guns:
There are a number OF dismal rooms and
dungeons. ,,,.,...--.....,55, o.,r !
THE INDIAN PRiSoNERS.
There are Indian prisoners confined in this.
old fortifcation. They were brought from
Fort Sill and the cheyenne agency IN dS7b,L
Iners are seyeIa, eleis ps nni;ta ~
s,ran e %er sers. who. durnse I she,wipter @ season.