Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-15
MiddIe Hs- Smith FInrida.

Editor Morning NelCS Now that South
Florida is enjoying so much notoriety, and the
public are so eager to learn all that they can
concerning it, it may not be amiss to indulge
in a comparison of the natural advantages of
that section and the high rolling lands OF Mid
die Florida
The earliest settlements in the State were on
the eastern coast. but gradually attracted by
the fine oak and hickory hummocks that Gov
cred the rolling lands lying between the Su-
wannee and ChattahOochee rivers, the middle
counties were cleared and settled. Of the con-
fiicts between these hardy settlers and the
Indians that were in possession of this beauti-
/ ful section. Washington Irving has given sew
eral inter sting Incidents. These settlers were
| sciOnS or the old families OF Virginia. Georgia
/ and the Carolinas, who. bringing with them the
wealth, culture and refinement for which the
| planters OF those States were noted in those
| days, settled tie towns OF Madison, Monticello,
| Tallahassee and Quincy. built handsome resi-
dences on their fine estates near these towns,
and lived in an atmosphere OF Arcadian ease and
luxury that was closely allied to the colonial
DAYS OF "Old Virginia"
With the close of the war came a complete
revolution in the farming system OF this sec
ton, and the sons of wealthy farmers, who
had been raised in the lap of luxury, took the
pillow handles and carried on as best they could
with the changed system of labor their fathers
farms, till now the people Of Middle Florida,
with haoits of thrift and industry, added to
their inherited culture, have no equal in all of
those qualities Of head and heart that go to
make up desirable population.
So much for her people. OF her soil and
climate comparatively little is known abroad
as YET, for the tide of IN migration following
that highway Of travel (the st. Johns river)
has not set that way yet, but who can doubt
that when the tide of wealth that has made
the low, sandy lands OF South Florida Chat
with few exceptions have no desirable quality
but that of being below the frost line, and, there
fore, adapted to the cultivation of semitrOpical
fruits blossom as the rose" and TEEN with
energiziDg industries.
That when it reaches, as reach it will, the
rich stiff hills Of Middle Florida. watered with
its foe streams and dotted with beautiful
lakes free from malaria and insects, that are
the bsne Of South Florida. it will be trans
formed as If by the touch of an enchanter's
wand into a country whose beauty would rival
the viBe-clad hills OF sunny France or the gar
dens and olive yards of classic Italy.
Middle Florida has some advantages over
South Florida that the most enthusiastic ad-
vOcate Of the latter is forced to sdmit. 1t
offers to the immigrant the advantages of fine
schools and good society. OF rich land and
cheap labor, and while il is not GAINED that
fortunes can be realized in few years there,
it is certainly true that a good living can
always be had for very little labor, aud that
whenever truck farming has been inteligently
tried it has always been very profitable.
In investing his money, the immigrant has
the satisfaction of knowing that he is not
building upon bubble that may collapse at
any moment and leave him ruined man; but
that lands are now cheaper there than they
will ever be again, ana that in the near future
their value will be doubled, trebled and quad
rupled
To the capitalist or speculator or to the
wealthy invalid, south Florida, with its cheap
acres TO be turned over at handsome profit
by the first, and its costly orange grove planted
and tenced for the pleasure of the other, offer
many advantages, but to the man of small
means that wants 70 invest his savings 10 per-
mauent home that is intrinsically valuable
now, and hiss, beyond a doubt, bright future
in store fer it, Middle Florida is the place. Its
soil and climate are pre- eminently adapted to
the cultivation OF pears. peaches. vines, melons,
figs, IomegranateS and veget lbles of all varie-
ties II is twenfy-four hours nearer TO the
Mest-the best market for the products of this
kind-and it only needs a small portion of the
wealth and energy that have developed South
ElOriUa to make il a far more desirable h Jme
IN every particular. HUGH LONG.