The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-13
FLORIDA.
It's Climate. fine soil and genial Peo-
ple-.-some Interesting Notes.

pls-.-some Interesting Notes.
AcRoN, ORANGE Co. FLA. May s, 1880.
To the Editor of the Argus.
On the 23d day of Oct. 1875. I. with my
family which consisted of wife, two child
ren.my faiher-in law. p. nj, Huahlett. and
my youngest brother, boarded the steamer
Damsel ct the little town of Andaiusia,
bound for the land Of perpetual flowers.
Many were the regrets with which we
parted from dear friends aud neighoors'
many also ware the prophecies OF evils
that would befal us in our mad adven
ture. as it was usually termed, By those
respected friends Notwithstanding all
these disturbing elements.we were welded
to our course, and the result was that 10
just IA days from the time we starred
from Andalusia, we were landed at Haw-
kiusville on the far famed st. John river,
Fla. Our first duty. OF course. was to
seek ont location on which to settle, and
commence the business that had Iured US
hither: this we succeeded in doing in
few DAYS. Our next move was to secure
claim to our place, which we succeeded in
doing By entering into contract with the
government. on the terms provided by the
we'll known and liberal terms of the home
stead law. Since that time we have
siyen our exclusive time in plating out
and cultivating an orange grove" and q
large variety of other semi tropical fruits,
with very satisfactory results, But this is
depressing somewhat from what we in-
tended to write when we began.
Our object was to write something about
the country. We see almost an innumer-
able number of letters written from Flori-
da pretending to give description of the
state, but have yet the 6rst truthful one
to read, Either it is made to represent a
very Paradise or the contrary, neither of
which will suit for this country. 1t is a
part Of old earth, and like sll other parts
of the world, has much that is pleasant,
beautiful and valuable, while at the same
time there are many things that are objec-
,iouable. Prominent among these is the
general poverty Of the soil, when brought
| into comparison with western prairies, for
general agricultural pursuits. All kinds
of grain and vegetables can be grown here
that are grown in Illinois, except wheat.
| but not in SO great abundance, nor with
so little trouble and expense, Yet plenty
can be grown for home use. If proper
L r. L. J IL
are. to 9 great extent, neglected or totally
ignored for the orange grove. Every man
who comes here to live gets the orange and
lemon fever, and loses all pride and
interest in everything else around him.
Even politics are scarcely mentioned, even
at such times as this, when presidential
contest is approaching. However,
would just just say here. that We intend to
wake up before election day and give the
Democratic candidate such a majority in
this state, that there will be no use for a
returning board to doctor the returns
Grant Is. of course, very popular among
the negroes, but it is hard TO End
a respectable white Grant man in this
county. The nigs are the Republican
party all over the south and of course rep.
resent all the ignorance of the country. and
can imagine the total ignorance of the
poor creatures-but to get back to my
subject. Florida is one of the mos,
diversified states in the Union in every
thing. There 10 all kinds of SOIL from the
very poorest and barren to the richest and
most productive. But the best land is mol
healthy to live Cd, and large part of il
subject to overflow in wet weather. Mos,
of it is susceptible of drainage, but being
unf; for orange trees. has been almost
entirely overlooked. This class of lands
and by far the greater portion of the state
is known as scrub and fat woods, which ii
OF no known value except for the timber
and for stock range and game. Their
there is small proportion of the state
that is high, dry, rolling land covered witt
heavy pine timber. This land lies in
patches OF over sizes. containing from Ion
to 10, 900 acres. These lands are healthy
ITO live on, remarkably free from insects o.
all kinds. are the choicest lands for fruit
culture, and are being rapidly taken VI
By both settlers and spectators. ! wat
just one day too late in going to the
river last January TO meet the Messrs
Brackets. of Rock Island. hear tba,
they bought an old grant in Volusia Co
| 1t is also reported that they intend max
ing a settlement on it the coming sum
mer. This if true is good news for us. al
it will seem more like home where We ge
few old western people near US. VIZ
wish you success, gents. and the next time
you come to Florida. come and see US
We are only about 10 miles.west of your
place. would just say to my friend:
before closing that we are allsdelighted
with our new home. and would not &c
north again to live for any consideration
have deferred writing this until the pre-.
ssnt time. in order that might test the
healthfulnsss of the climate. and the sue
cess of the country, and ]. now have no hest
fancy in saying to all who contemplate
moving to come to Florida and see it be.
fore settling elsewhere. l do not recon.