National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-14
HOME FROM FLORIDA.
OUR SPECIAL GETS TO WASHINGTON
And Tells About His Last Trip-The Northern Ele-
ment-Oranges-Win Winter Residences Pine
Forests-Cities of the South Atlantic
C0aSt-MemOirs of the Past.

My last letter was written from Green
Cove Spring, Fla, just after we had escaped the
dangers and eXcitements ofthe tripupthe far-famed
Oekiawaha. Our party came out of the wilder
ness IN very good condition, and don't think any
member of it will have to go into an asylum with
the exception of one or two who might be bene
fitted by being sent to the asylum for the restoration
of exhausted imaginations and disappointed an
ticipations. After remaining a few days at the
"Spring" we started down the ST. Johns on the
steamer Hancox mot the Hancock, for that vessel
blew up last falD, Hudson River steamer, which
with her sister vessel, the Sylvester makes daily
trips between
JACKSONVILLE AND PALATKA,
distance of seventy-fye miles. Almost every
thing on the st. Johns smacks strongly of the
North. The steamers which spin over its bosom
in winter ply on the Hudson or other North
waters in summer; the hotel keepers along its
banks have their houses of entertainment at the
North in summer; the large orange groves are
mostly owned by Northern men, and the large
amount of money put in circulation during the
winter comes from the North. The fact is,
THE NORTH Is THE BANK
on which Eastern Florida draws not only for funds
but for almost every article of food which graceS
the tables of its admirable hotels. The orange
crop appears to be about the only crop that is
relied on, and that is unreliable unless below the
frost line. A gentleman in cOnversing with me on
this crop remarked that he would as soon think of
establishing a coal and wood yard under the
equator as to plant an orange grove north of the
frost line, for later the groves would be
destroyed. great many gentlemen have
WINTER RESIDENCES
on the banks of the st. Johns. General Owens, of
Elmira, N Y, Judge Van Valkenberg, and
General Sp inner, formerly the able Treasurer of
the United States have most lovely places, free
from the cold blasts of Northern winter. The
communication between the North and Florida
has recently been greatly improved. A new rail-
road has just been completed between Jacksonville
and Savannah, by which the trip between the two
cities can be made in about six hours This road,
called the Way Cross road, has been built almost
exclusively by convict labor.
AS WE SWEPT THROUGH
the pine forests on this road we frequently came
across working parties made up entirely of negroes
dressed in prison uniform. guarded by some half
dozen white men with shotguns, stationed i'll such
positions as to give them an admirable cross-fire
on any unlucky negro who should attempt to es-
cape. 1t was rather singular to observe that not
single white man was among the groups of con-
yicts. This went to prove that crime which re-
quires labor to expiate it is i'll the South exclu-
sively confined to the colored race. AS we rushed
past the various parties of convicts they frequently
chee-ed US, which
OUR SOUTHERN FRIENDS
who were with us say was an evidence that the
cOnyicts were satisfied with the paternal govern
ment under which they were living. In justice to
the negro, however, must confess did not hear
his side ofthe question. We remained some time
in the queen cities of the Southern Atlantic coast
Savannah and Charleston. They are slowly re-
covering from the effects of our terrible civil war;
and in time will no doubt occupy the position they
held UP TO 1S6O'61. At present they appear to be
slumbering. You don't see the life, the energy.
and the activity that you will observe in Northern
and Western cities of half their size.
THE MEMORIES OF THE PAST,
the disappointed hopes of an independent gov
ernment and the consciousness of an Overwhelm-
ing defeat still embitter the feelings of the ma
jority of the people of the South and make them
receive with great lukewarmness the advances of
their Northern brethren, who have nothing but
the waTnest and most kindly feeling for them.
Time however, it is TO be hoped, will cure all this
Having escaped all the dangers by food and field
to which travellers are exposed, we are now enjoy
ing the delightful climate of Washington with the
mercury at 900. HUFF.