Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-05
FLORIDALE

part of the state. The city has a pop
ulation of 10000, is supplied with
splendid hotels, mammoth business
houses, and perhaps more elegant pri-
vate residences than any other city of
its size in the south. Northern cap
~italists have invested very largely in
real estate, and are here in such large
numbers hat they are able to control
the affairs of the city.
From Jacksonville to Sanford, a
distance of two hundred miles, the
trip is made per steamer, up the st.
Johns river, in about twenty hours.
The river and the numerous lakes
through which it runs are indeed very
beautiful and one is almost sorry
when the time comes to quit the boat.
But the natural scenery on the banks
is very tame and monotonous and ut
terly fails to justify the gorgeous de-
scriptionS which have been published
so often by enthusiastic tourists.
AMONG THE ORANGE GROVES.
Sanford is a new town which had its
origin about five years ago. 1t has a
population of 250 persons, one nam
moth hotel and quite a variety ofmer-
camille establishments, private resi-.
dences, churches, schools, etc. 1t is
situated on the south side of Lake
Monroe and is the entrepot for the
magnificent orange belt which lies in
its rear and on either side. Sanford is
connected with Orlando, the county
seat, % miles in the interior, by a
narrow gauge railroad which is doinga
fine bushes and which i sto be extend
ed at an early day. Orange county has a
population of 5000 whites aud 1000
blacks. 1t is thickly settled with the
best classes Of northen and southern
society, as far as settlements have
been formed, and boasts more churches
and schools than l ever saw before
on the same amount of territory in
any part of the south. Some of the
FINEST ORANGE GROVES IN THE
WORLD
are to be found in this county. At
this writing they are covered with
blooms and laden with both ripe and
unripe oranges. Wandering around
among these surprisingly beautiful
groves and inhaliDg the Intoxicating
perfume which they yield to
every gentle breeze one can easily
imagine that the fruit that tempted
Eve was plucked from an orange tree.
Everybody here and everybody that
comes here has the
ORANGE FEVER
to an alarming extent. | say alarm
ing because a great many men under
take to plant groves with inadequate
means, and soon find themselves forced
to sacrifice their investments to keep
starvation away from the door. Or
ange groves yield enormous profits,
but it takes time and money to reach
the point where the profits begin.
There is a grove about one mile from
Sanford, of about 500 trees, planted
thirty years ago by a poor widow
woman, which yields an annual net in
come Of about $4,000. It's late owner
refused an offer of SEA, 1000 cash for is.
The price Of land in the near vicinity
Of Sanford, without any improve
ments, is
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER ACRE.
A few miles back it brings S25. By
going to remote parts ofthe settled por-
ton of the country, land can be had
as low as from SO to s. per acre, and
government lands can be had at 81 %
per acre. The soil is all alike-sandy
and poor, with no timber except stunt.
ed pine. But it lies beyond frost level
and with a little cheap fertilizing will
yield orange trees, Sea island cotton,
corn, aud all manner Of fruits and veg
etables in the greatest profusion and
luxuriance. The average land pro-
duces a half bale of cotton to the acre,
which sells for about 30 cests per
pound, 20 bushels of corn; 10 bushels
Of red rust proof oats; 10 barrels of
sugar; 30 bushels Of rice, etc., etc.
Horses and mules sell high, ranging
from sl3O to $3.50. Staple groceries
about the same as in Tennessee. Pine
lumber is abundant, and houses can
be erected at a reasonable cost.
Orange and adjoining counties are
being settled up very fast by a monied
class of people. Thousands and
Thousands Of visitors from the north
and west have been here this season
and many of them will return to re.
main as citizens. The hotels, private
/, clearinghouse and the farm house.
for miles around are full to overflow.
ing. Country board costs $50 pei
month-at the hotel about double
that amount. This is a live, pushing
progressive section, and lazy drone,
who expect to come here and liyC
without moving, and without work
would do well to shift their course.