Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-11-18

n u GEN Ii II "A
For the SPECTATOR.
Florida.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Nov. III, rs.
1t may surprise some of your readers,
but it is nevertheless true, that the State
OF Florida is filling up more rapidly
than almost any State in the Union, II
we except few of the Western States.
The tide of immigration has never been
so full as within the past few years.
After the war, quite number of inva-
lids from the Northern States spent the
winter in Jacksonville for their health.
The interior was seldom visited, and
but little known. The delightful winter
climate, with reports of its influence up
on those affected with lung and throat
diseases, had the effect of increasing the
number of annual visitors, many Of
whom became permanent settlers. AS
result, this city, which few years
ago consisted of but small collection
of rude dwellings, has grown to be a
city of 10000 inhabitants, with blocks
of business houses which would do
credit to New York, and large number
of beautiful residences, many of which
are splendid in all their proportions.
Jacksonville is now a considerable ship.
ping port, as from this point thousands
of boxes of oranges, lemons, grapes,
fruits, shaddocks, pine-apples, and 9TH
er products of the State are shipped to
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and
other points north.
| Jacksonville is situated on the west
bank of the st. Johns River, twenty
miles from its mouth. This river,
which has its rise in the lakes of South
ern Florida, runs north to this point,
when it takes an easterly direction to
the Atlantic. From this place, for one
hundred miles up the river, the banks
are almost literally lined with villages
and residences filled with citizens from
the Northern States.
ably delightful and healthy in the win
than in the Northern States, is not any
warmer. This is attested by the fact
that at st. Augustine, fifty miles south
of this, the temperature, as shown by
official observation, has not varied over
twenty-three degrees in twenty years.
have observed that at this point morn
ing fogs are quite frequent. 1t may be
that the rainy season, which has just
ended, and which was unusually pro-
tracted and severe, is the cause of the
damp and foggy mornings.
| The soil of Florida is varied. North
ern Florida and all the peninsula south
of this place Is sandy, while in middle
Florida there is good deal of clay land.
The pine lands, which embrace the
higher portions, are generally the poor
est, although they produce very good
cotton, corn, and oats. The hammocks
are the most fertile, and yield abundant
crops of cotton, corn, and sugar. l DO
not think that Florida will ever excel
as farming region; but will, In my
Judgment, in few years be the great
fruit and vegetable producing country
of this nation. Oranges, lemons. grape
fruit; shaddocks, pine-apples, bananas,
lines, pomegranites, figs, peaches, and
other semi tropical fruits, all grow to
perfection here, and are of fine flavor.
Vegetables of every variety are raised
in every section, and may be had at al
most any season of the year.
Peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers,
strawberries, &c, can easily be thrown
into the Northern markets. in February
and March.
In view of these facts, I repeat, that
fruit andvegetable growing, I believe,
will be the great business of Florida.
am not able, as yet, to furnish sta
, tistics of the amount of fruit raised in
this State; but, with the comparatively
little attention given to it, it is enor-
nous. There are many orange groves
which, although but q few years old
| will yield from one to three million or
anges. while others, less pretentious,
will send to mark ct their thousands and
tens of thousands. Of the fine flavor
and quality of the fruit, there cannot be
doubt. While conversing with a gen
tleman in his Office the other day, 6
man stepped in with bunch of half {
dozen oranges, just taken from one O.
his trees, which weighed near siz
pounds. Lemons reach two pounds il
: weight, SO I am informed. In walking
along the streets of Jacksonville. have
seen lemons ON the trees, which I an
satisfied will weigh a pound each.
The cultivation of these fruits, how
ever, requires great deal of patience
!. and the grower must be able to wal
J. Height or ten years before he can realiz
la fair crop of fruit. On this subject
however, / propose at some future tim'
! to write in detail.
II A word or two in regard to Jackson
vile. As before stated, it is rapid.
growing city. In every direction, al
over the city, new buildings are going
; up, while Bay, the main street, is full o
, activity and life. The shipping trade
very considerable, and there are quit
a number of extensive manufacturin,
establishments. Amongst these is tn
t lumber business, conducted upon a yer.
large scale. and other branches of in
dustry. Notably is the factory of L
e Warrock, who is conducting the bust
ness of Fruit Manufactured. He man
ufactures orange marmalade, guava jel
U ly and marmalade, preserved figs, an
/. up large amount of fruits, and it
:, only those who have tried the orang
marmalade and guava Jelly and mar
d malade can have any idea of their rich
:, ness and delicacy., Although his bust
i. ness is comparatively new, he is ship
:, ping extensively throughout the eptir
y Northern States and the Canadas. MI
: W. is an old Virginian, native OF Rich
: mond, and speaks of our grand old Stat
with pride and pleasure. a.s
This reminds me that in movin
around one is cheered every now an
then by the sight of an old Virginian.
am glad to know there are SO many req
: resentatives of the highest order,of on
n people all of whom. SO far as know
:, have maintained the high characte
= which has ever distinguished the son
|. of our proud but unfortunate old Dc
"A N.nion.
gd I VII Write again;
4 - > Yours truly, H. T. w.
+ sF..RLE OF CAPT. 2. I. FARIsf
e RHREER. We iearn FROM an extra is
II sue by the charlottesville Chronicle tha
If about 10. o'eioex last Friday night,
i large stable on tue premises Of Capt, 7
!. L. Parish near Charlottesville We
burned. The Chronicle says
The stable, which was filled with fin
hay, was soon reduced to ashes, an
II three horses, one mule, one family car
N ~ sl,s, nj v~1r Ipsv