The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-03
Down IN FLORIDA.
Is.ler frOm COL. Jacob Mornbrooh.

ARLINGTON FLA, April 20 4o'V'
Editor fatslllgencsr:
I have been living for the past four
months at the above mentioned place,
four miles below jacksonville, at the
mouth Of Arlington river, at first.class
house kept by Eastern people, ut a cost OF
s. to $40 per week for good rations.
We have small steamer owned by the
landlord which runs up to Jacksonville
three times a day, carrying the guests Of
the house FREQ. My room Is only fifty.
yards from the river (St. Johns and the
outlook is one mile across, three up and
seven down. Everywhere the steamers,
sailing veSselsor yachts, pass up aud down.
| put In my time sailing and fishing,
and, by the BY, some OF your Bass fisher.
men. the Laughlins, OTIS, Major Wright,
Capt. llOiskell and Gen. Shriver, would
be in their glory pulling out the Bass
and PiCkerel that We catch here, weighing
from one 10 seven and q half pounds each.
have with the help OF colored man,
whom occasionally employ, taken out
two hundred Bass and Pickerel at our
dock, close 10 my room, saying nothing OF
our catches up the two Arlington rivers,
They have had severe winter here. Ice
hung on the trees for two days. However
the fruit was not injured and the orange
trees show a fine crop. We have had this
month a succession OF gales and high
winds, which have battered the trees to an
extent sufficient to destroy large amount
OF fruit in exposed places. Yet the climate
OF this country Is pleasant through the
winter and spring. The only thing that
1t can boast OF Is It's climate during the
cold months at the North. AS for soil and
resources, they-are Notwithstanding the
pamphlet put out by the State Board Of
tmmigtatiOn) rather scant, and those who
come here expecting TO make money easily
will be disappointed. This is no country
for poor people. The profits OF orange cul.
ture have been greatly exaggerated. They
tell you that three year old trees when
planted will produce 1000 oranges each in
ten years. 1t would DO nearer the truth
10 say 20 years.
The State Is only 1T for the negroes and
crackers to live in during the summer.
The white people who came here from the
North, itthey work out OF doors during the
summer, are worn out at the end OF the
season. In the fall, winter and spring the
climate Is delightful, and the climate and
the oranges are all OF Florida that covet.
The soil and general resources OF the coun.
try can be Judged Of by the sparcity Of
population and the small amount OF land
under cultivation. For instance, in Man.
att u,fNh nj 4 re
miles, there lisa population,ot less than 2,50C
and only 500 acres OF improved land
Monroe county, with an area OF 5000
square miles, has less than 500 citizens
including Indians, and scarcely any culti-
waited lands. Dade county has an area oil
1000 square miles, 200 citizens, and a few
acres oil cultivated lands. And ] could
enumerate number OF other counties
like unto these.
There are several drawbacks to orange
culture in this State. The trees suffer Sc
verely from the ravages OF insects and also
from FROST though the frosts are not gen.
orally severe. In the year 1885, however,
they had one that killed the trees clear
down to the roots. The oranges also suffer
much by transportation from the interior
to the point Of shipment.
Florida Crackers, us they are called, are
class ofmen only met with in the wilder
parts Of the State, who from various req.
sons avoid civilization and support life by
the rifle. Some occasionally visit the set.
Elements, while others are simply crimi'
nails hiding from justice, always drinking
whisky and chewing tobacco. You seldom
see one Of them without his rifle or pistoI
There is more sand and less soil in Flor
ida than in all the Northern States put to.
gether. One acre OF our fair West Virginia
land will produce more for a family to live
on than 20 Of this sandy soil. There have
been only about six weeks Of paying bust.
ness for the hotels and boarding houses
this winter. Last " SEX took trip with
my colored man Ben and a friend to the
sea coast, about 25 miles, in sail boat,
and camped out for five nightson the beach,
with tent made from our sails and the
same for our beds. We caught plenty oil
blue fish and salt water trout, and were
lulled to sleep by the never ending sound
Of the breakers.
expect to leave here for the North on
the 10th of May, after spending delight
full winter and spring, in good health, and
look forward with pleasure TO meeting my
old Wheeling friends once more. j. II.
I