Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-01
CORRESPONDENCE
sOUTH FLORIDA LETTER


eastward, towards the st. John river, AM
soon reached Orlando. This is the count
seat of Orange County, and is small, bu
thriving and energetic town. Being s
close to the River. it has means of trans
Portation, consequently the County srount
il, is one vast orange grove From Orlan
do l returned to Tampa. II was on thi
return journey, filed State position
When l arrived at Barlow, 1 was anxious
to get TO Tampa, and the only vehicle go
ing there, was the sheriff's, conveying
horse thief to Jail. could not afford Il
lose this opportunity, so persuaded Mr.
Sheriff TO make me deputy. and help IS
cort the culprit. One is always apt to as
sociate such q being as horse thief. witt
the most villainous looking desperadoes
but this one was as mild and inoffensiv,
looking and acting man, as is generally
seen. In his stealing the horse, be had
made matters worse by making it the par
sons horse, and so had taken from the
people, the means used to convey thsil
gospel and preaching to them. The feel.
ing was very strong against him, but
good sense, and humane tendencies pre-
vailed, so lynching bee was prevented.
As there were only two Of US to convey
him through 45 miles of lonely woods, we
thought it best to impress him with oul
terrible natures, and we did so to such an
effect, that be was as baby in our hands.
Needless to say, we brought him safe unto
Tampa, and once more resumed nv ac-
eustomed place at the table, after an alb
sence Of 10 days.
To those who never experienced camp
ing out, especially in such woods, and
country as this, let me say, they have
missed pleasure. l-EA
There is charm in being an aboFigine
the camp firs gives one a peculiar zsst,
and rolling in blanket by its side, with
the stars to twinkle" you to sleep, makes
one utterly oblivious to feather beds. Then
the appetite the riding through and
amongst such an 'Orgauic" region, it Gre
ates, is marvellous.
With me it was an enjoyable, and deci-
dsdly beautiful trip, and one full of abb
sorbing interest
As Twisted three counties, will take
the seriatim, and give my observations
that the trip afforded. ar-
Firstis Hillsboro County, of which Tam
pa is the county seat.
The land comprising it. is mostly high
and dry, is well adapted to fruit grow
ing, farming, and raising of all kinds of
vegetables. 1t is mostly pure land. free
from any underbrush. excepting palmetto
lunches, and the worst cases require little
or no clearing. One can drive horse and
buggy anywhere through the woods.
This County is rapidly filing up, princi-
pally by Northern people, who are bring
ing capital and energy with them. and are
considerably welcomed by the FIoridians,
who help them in everything that is in
their power. .8A5 aE.4 EtA
1 have somewhat described Tampa, but
will aud, there are in that city, about
twenty wholesale and retail stores, three
druggists, three hotels, numerous pri-
vste boarding houses, and other little
stores, shops, warehouses, wharves, &c.
Ship building is carried on here, as is
also brick making, and every week fresh
additions are noticeable. There are also
several physicians in town.
The magnificent Bay, which is destined to
make Tampa the great southern watering
Place, when connected to the world BY
railroad, abounds in fish and oysters.
and such oysters; they are the finest fla
vored bivslve I ever ate.
There is a considerable shipping bust
ness from this Bay, and continual ex-
portation of fruits and vegetables goes on,
and Importation is as active.
\ sHiIlsboro County possesses a good share
Of sea coast, an adjunct the value of
which, is not to be estimated.
POLK COUNTY.
This county does not border on the
coast at all. 1t was taken from the east
side Of Hillsboro not many years ago
Barlow, the county seat. is situated near
Peace Greek, or River, as it is sometimes
called. 1t is growing town, containing
courthouse, two or three stores, and a tel
egraph Office. This office being on the
line Of the Cuban cable, which, as is
known, connects with all the principal
wires in the Union, gives advantages to
Bartow which ought to insure its speedy
improvement. Fort Meade, some ten
miles below Barlow, on the banks Of Peace
Greek, is quite lively place. Some five
or six stores are established here. and it
is place of considerable business. Most
of the trading is with the stock men and
stock raisers, who handle more money, as
a general thing, than any other class in
South Florida.
Fort Meade has full access to the
stock country, thereby giving it advanta-
ges possessed by few others.
6 Polk county joins Hillsboro, Sumpter,
Orange and Brevard counties, which con-
stitute the great orange growing section
of the State. This county abounds in
lakes, stocked with fine trout. Its sur
face is very undulating. In the vicinity
of Peace Creek, is large quantity OF
rich lands, both pine and hammock,
which are well timbsred; and some Of
the most pleasant settlements that can be
found in South Florida are here. The
pine lands generally are large bodies,
and are eleYated.
The population Of this county, is about
4, 900. and there are very few colorsd, as
in Hillsboro. It compares with the latter
favorably in farming, &c.; but, in my
opinion, 1t possesses region Of lake coun-
try unsurpassed anywhere. Among its
hills and lakes, invalids would revel in an
earthly glory, and people seeking retired
and beautiful winter residence, could find
no place that affords better. But it
lacks one great essential as yet. It is not
opened up; it is isolated and is not set
tied, and there are no means of regular
transportation to it.
ORANGE COUNTY.
As only visited small part of the
countv can orF9v snaak of the Dortion I