The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-04-27

The Hotel Question.
A Townsville, Georgia, correspondent of the
Savannah Nescs, writes as follows:
The fiat has gone forth that Townsville must
have one more new hotels The complaint
increases, want of accommodation stares us in the
face once more. The splendid Mitchell House
is no longer sufficient. The winter overfows it
and Hoods all the boarding houses and private
residences that can be entered, and the CRY is,
still they come"
Less than five years ago, when Townsville
was almost unknown as q resort for winter
tourists when the Mitchell House was built
croakers cried out " monument of folly" The
facts set forth in the above ex tract show whether
ii was :" a monument of folly" ora work OF
wisdom" Prior to its erection there was no
need OF hotel, and many thought that the
capital invested in it would be worse than lost
Only those mbued with spirit of enterprise
could see that TO afford is to create demand for
first class accommodations; and in every instance
these must precede the demand. Travellers will
go where the best accommodations await them,
and not where they must be made TO wait. Since
the house above named was first opened for the
reception OF guests, there has been a steady in
now we see it filled to OVERLOOKING and hear
growing clamor for more accommodations. Up
TO the time of this move, as a resort, Tallahas-
see was far ahead of her sister across the line
On which side is this difference now? and what
is the reason Is it not because we have re-
manned idle and made no effort to secure the
prize lille on the other hand il was being earnest
~ worked for? What is to be the ultimate conse-
quence if we continue TO be indifferent to our
local interests? 1t is true We already have one
very good hotel, but that is not sufficient to at
tract the attention of the public, no more than
it would be 10 afford ample accommodations,
were the tide of travel suddenly turned in this
direction. The indications are that such thing
is gradually taking place; and We must not dis
appoint visitors in the beginning, if we wish
10 have them come again and bring others with
them. Many have seen our country for the first
time during the past winter and the present
spring. These, to an individual, have been sur
prised and delighted, and have left with the in
tention of coming again next winter. Doubtless
they will be the cause of others coming, for
whom preparations must be made. Ii is a mis-
taken idea that the erection of new hotel will
NAV HOAA VIZ pouOuoSC Vi tuC OuC oACouy CA
isting. To the contrary, it would be the means
of filling ii and still others in the end Ii is
well known and acknowledged fact that this Sec
ton of country, in soil, climate, features and natu
raj attractions possesses advantages and facilities
far superior to any in the whole South. All that
we lack is strong spirit Ct enterprise. which is
not dead but only sumbering and which we
hope soon to see awakened and revived in our
midst
Our lands and climate are equally favorable
to the growth and culture of all the field crops
cotton, corn, potatoes, cane, rice, oats, &c-and
to that of all the ordinary fruits, besides most of
those of semi-tropic nature-the peach, plum,
pomegranate, grape orange, and all the berries,
and it is the home of the fig. In fact, the very
woods abound in fruits. There are no yegeta-
bles but what are raised here to perfection and,
as Florida is The flower garden of the world, even
so is Tallahassee that of Florida.
For invads, especially those suffering from
pulmonary and throat diseases, there is no por-
ton of the State so favorable, from the fact that
our elevation is greater, our natural drainage
perfect and, consequently. our atmosphere dryer
and purer. From the Gulf, the salt breezes
healing on their wings.
On every side of us the eye meets q beautifully
unduating landscape, valleys ever veriant and
hills clothed in the eternal green Of our ma tive
live oaks. Five miles north of US lies Lake Jack
son, beautiful sheet of water from one TO three
miles in width and fifteen to twenty in length,
sumbering among the forest friDged hills that sur
round it, A less distance 10 the east lies Lake La
fayette, scarcely less interesting. Lake Bradford,
one of the pretiest in the State, lies four miles
t. the South, and there are many smaller ones
within radius of ten miles, all of them abound
ing in fish and fowl of every description. In the
winter they are the resort Of innumerable ducks,
and afford, outside of the game of the woods, ell
the amusement the sportsman can desire. Fifteen
miles Southwest is the far famed Wakulla
Spring, an unequallsd pleasure resort, and the
crytaI river of the same name winding out to the
sea through banks of tropic beauty. About
the same distance to the Southeast are the not
less noted New Port Sulphur Springs, on the
banks of the majestic st. Marks, beyond which
is the best hunting ground, in winter or summer,
in the bounds of the State. Twenty miles to
the South, by rail, is the old seaport Of ST.
Marks, the lighthouse, the Cult Of Mexico and
the finest fisheries on the Florida coast.
With all these advantages, and many more Of
which it is impossible to speak, If We do not
have new hotels, and the one that We already
have, filed with winter visitors-if the country
aud town are not built up, then the fault Is with
the people, and with the people only.
-O>~