Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-03-27
Among the Orange Groves.
JAcKsoNy111E Fla March % 1879

JACKSONVILLE, FLA, March %, 1879.
EDITOR CHRoNICLE-As my first COM
munication, giving an account of our
travels from home to New Orleans, was
rather lengthy, will try and not en-
croach quite so much upon your space
and your good nature and the patience
of your readers, in this-but simply give
brief account of our wanderings, since
then, down here in the land of flowers.
We remained in New Orleans some ten
days, and really had to tear ourselves
away at last. We formed so many pleas
ant acquaintance, and met with such
kind and cordial treatment everywhere,
that we felt 10th to part with such pleas
ant surroundings. Time, however, would
not permit US remaining longer. We
carry with US very many pleasant recol-
lectiOns of the Crescent City. We ar
rived here on the 9th inst, coming by
rail through Mobile and Montgomery,
on what is called the Eufaula line, which
passes through Southern Alabama and
Georgia. The country along the route,
in most part, looks rather wild and
dreary, with its extensive pine forests
and numerous swampS. At some places
sists mainly of red clay and sand, which
to Northerner gives to it barren APP
pearance; but they say here that the soil
is quite productive; pretty hard to be
lieve, though; the old stalks of cotton
are too small. A large amount of rosin
| is collected from the pine forests. 1t is
done by barking the tree about half way
round, then the juice OOZes out and dries,
forming rosin, which is scraped off. The
next year the other half is treated in the
same way, which kills the tree. The land
is then easily cleared, for, by setting fire
to these trees, they will burn clear to
the top, and many OF them be entirely
consumed, without further trouble. We
passed by numerous elearings of this
kind. At night when the underbrush
and trees are ablaze, lighting up the for
est all round, it presents a strange, weird
appearance.
The city of Jacksonville, as many of
your readers already know, is situated
on the st. Johns river. 1t is 25 miles
from the Atlantic ocean, and is the OBJ
Elective point of most visitors to the
State; has population of 1000 inhabi-
tants; is the largest city on the Atlantic
coast south of Savannah, and the princi-
pal commercial emporium of the State,
Extending along the banks of the river
about four miles. 1t occupies ridge or
low bluff rising some thirty feet above
the river. This ridge is composed almost
entirely of white sand, which mars the
beauty of the place somewhat, giving to
the grounds rather barren aspect. In
fact, the whole State lies upon a bed of
coral, raised in the sea and covered with
stratum of sand, mingled in some cases,
with pulverized or decompOsed coral and
sea shells. Some one said in speaking
of Florida, that it was vast peninsula
new boon of the sea-" The first i'm
preston ON entering the city is not very
favorable, but on farther acqaintance
with it that impression wears off The
streets are regularly laid out, with fine
shade trees to add to their beauty. The
yards and parks are filled with the vari-
Gus tropical trees shrubs and flowers
There are numerous handsome buildings
both public and private, among the lat
ter, the residence of Gen. F. E. Spinner,
Iex-Treasurer of the U. s., who resides
here. 1t is large frame building,
Southern in style, with bay windows and
verandas and observatory, with beauti-
fully ornamented grounds, situated on a
bluff overlooking the river. The grounds
ON the river front extend to the waters
edge, and on the lower part is his vege-
table garden, in which | noticed among
other things, ripe strawberries, which
looked tempting. The hotel accOmmOda-
tiOns here are very good, and there are
innumerable private boarding houses at
many of which first-class accommoda-
tiOns can be had. We have the honor of
having for our hostess, Mrs. Hart, wild
Ow OF ex-Goyernor Hart, who was a
Union man during the war; was elected
Governor of the State in '73, but died
before his term of office expired. His
wife still occupies the fine mansion built
by himself the year before his death, on
elevated ground, surrounded by beauti-
full yard, filled with trees and flowers,
where she entertainS her guests in good
style. Jacksonville, like many other
places in Florida, might almost be said
to be one vast orange grove. Everybody
that has lot of ground has planted
upon it orange trees. True, there are
many other fruit trees, such as the fig
and banana, but the orange is most
abundant. There are orange trees to the
right of you, orange trees to the left of
you-and although they do not volley
and thunder, they are budding and
blooming many with the ripe oranges
still remaining, left there mainly for Or
nament. /
We have made'several very pleasant
excursions from this place-one to Fort
George and George Island, down at the
sea at the mouth of the river, going on a
cute little steamer called the Gazelle-I
had splendid carriage drive, around |
and across the Island, on good she'll
road, between rows of palmettos, and
through forests of pine and live oak |
trees, hanging with Spanish moss, and
along the beach, and then up to the HO-
tel, where we satisfied our sharpened ap-1
petite by partaking of a sumptuous din-k
ner, after which were driven 8 miles |
back to our boat. Getting aboard We
were soon steaming up the river, and ar
rived at home at 80 P. NJ, having had al
very enjoyable day. We also took a trip
up the st. Johns river a considerable
distance, to view the scenery along its
banks. This magnificent and capacious
body of water, characterized for its way
wardness by the Indians as "Il-la-ka,
that lit has its own way flows
through East Florida, almost due north
ward, for 400 miles, until Jacksonville
IS reached-it then runs directly east in
10 Atlantic ocean. 1t seems to be form
I'd by the numerous, small streams from.
,he unexplored, regions. of the Ever
ylades, though its real source is un-
Known. There are but few streams in
he world that present more tropical
appearance along their whole course.
We found orange groves bitter and
weet, dipping tlieir gold-dappled boughs
nto its tepid waters, On its brink rises
he stately magnolia, in all its pride, !,
teeping the atmosphere in its rich per- I
ume. The waters of this noble stream
re of dark blue, and slightly brackish :
n taste, as far up as Lake George. Its
width varies from one to three miles.