The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-10-31
New York Sun. October 49,
The Land of Flowers.


To the Editor Of The Sun:
SIR: l read with interest the statements of
Mr. Richard Lee in regard to Florida, published
incI Sun of TO day, and venture, from per-
sonal knowledge of the subject, to take excep-
ton to many of them. Before doing 50 would
like to say that am neither speculatOr nor the
agent of Spectators 10 Florida lands, and
that my exceptions wholly unpreju-
diced, and taken only in the interest of fair play
and of people whose past kindness to me is re-
cprocated by feelings of warm friendship Much
OF what MIR. Lee says is true and cannot be de-
MED 1t is true that great portions of Florida
are sandy and swampy; but il must he remem-
bered that Florida is the largest State east of the
Mississippi river, larger than all New England,
ami that though millions of acres of her area are
valueeSs, much that is valuable remains 1t is
also true that no State in the Union has been so
grossly misrepresentcd, and had its good points
so exaggerated while its defects were 50 care
fully concealed, as Florida has been BY the un-
principled agents of wicked and grasping corr O.
rations, and by spectators. That many emf
grants suffer while remaining in Florida, and
finally leave il in disgust is also true but this
is Invariably because they have purchased their
lands without examining them have undertaken
to develop them without means, and have,
throughout the whole affair, suffered themselves
10 be led blindfoldcd by spectators and their
agents, with simplicity that is simply astonish-
ing, however pleasant as examples OF human
cre,luty and implicit faith in the human race.
The men who visited the State and examined
their property carefully before purchasing, and
then went there TO SETTLE do not come back, in
proof of which Dir. Lee has only to visit the
fiourishing colony of Nebraska and Maine men
near Tampa, the Scotch settlement at Dunedin,
the Illinois men at Sarasota, the New England
ers on the Caloosahatchie, or the NOrtherners
who are contentedly farming the rich lands near
Tallahassee.
Mr. Lee says that Florida is not healthy, and
that no portion of it is free from malaria Ny
experience has been that of visiting every county
in Florida. except the half-dozen lying in the
extreme northwest beyond the ChatIahoochee
river, of camping ont for six consecutive months,
much Of which lime was spent in the worst of
Floridiah swamDs, including those of the Big
Cypress, the Everglades, and those surrounding
Okeechobee, and during that time, not only
"r~ m trace of malaria nor of sickness of any
klni, but never eDJoyeu plv.. -.
FlOridians and travellers in Florida who let
whiskey alone, are regular in their habits, eat
proper food, and take proper precautions against
exposure TO the night air, never suffer from ma
laria.
He says that Florida is not tropical, and that
only few tropical fruits are grown within its
limits by dint of care. | never heard Florida
called tropical, but invariably semitropical,
Which term is certainly applicable TO State in
which such fruits as the orange, lemon, lime,
cltron, bergamot, banana, pineapple guava, su-
gar-apple, plaintain, sapodilla, pomegranale CO.
coanut, and many others not only grow, but
flourish and bear abundantly. All of these do
SO in South Florida, and without very much cu-
iivatiOn, either. Oranges in all parts of Florida
below the thirtieth parallel, which is little
north of 81. Augustine, are left on the trees all
winter If it is desirable to do so, and are not
picked until their owners are ready to ship
them. The orange tree requires great care and
constant feeding with fertilizers besides present.
ing many draw backs TO successful culture but
over most of the peninsula frost is not included
in the category
Mr.. Lee says that truck farming in Florida
will not afford living. | know and can prove
that truck farming will afford living and some
thing over. If Mr.. Lee would be convinced of
this, LET him visit some of the extensive truck
farms of Middle Florida, in the vicinity of Mon-
ticello, Tallahassee, or Madison, and let him talk
with the owners of these FARMS especially with
the gentleman whose ten acres Of cabbages netted
him $500 per acre last April, or him whose six
acres of potatoes brought in clear profit OF 81
12S, either of whose names should be happy to
furnish to Mr.. Lee He says: No man can go
on to new land in Florida and earn n living from
the outset" Is there any new land in the world
from which man can earn living from the
outset?
lie says that certain Speculation paid the
Slate l.25 per acre for 1890, 600 acres of land,
and that The taxpayers OF Florida nre curious to
know what has become of the money. In this
statement Mr.. Lee is only 81 per acre out of tine
way, and | am certain that the taxpayers Of
Florida had not, up To last June, exhibited the
slightest degree of curiosity as TO what becomes
Of the money thus received.
He speaks of Southern pines as unsighty
Possibly they are TO some people but that they
are also exceedingly valuable is proved by the
vessels from all parts of the world that con-
stantly throng the ports of Fernandina, Jackson
vile and Penss cola, in search of cargoes of this
same Southern pine.
lie says that flowers are scarcer in Florida
than In New York. Has he ever visited Middle
Florida between January and June, when the
woods are sweet with the Odors of the yellow
jasmine, swamp azalia, sweet bay, AMI magnolia
blossoms, and the hedges are masses of delicate
Cherokee roses and the more showy multi fora J;
when from the gardens come such powerful
scents from orange blossoms. crepe myrtle, Cape
jassamine, oleander, an infinite variety Of roses,
and thousands more, that the air y heavy with
them, and when at the same time the eye is at
tracted by the crimson glow Of pomegranaie
blossoms aDd trumpsa flowers?
He says Florida Is lawless. have travelled
iis length and breadth. absolutely alone, and
carrying valuable property, and returned in
safety. Moreover, / was never assaulted nor In
suited, bat was treated everywhere with uniform
kindness, courtesy. and hospitality. have
travelled much in this country, but never In a
more orderly, law-abiding section than Florida.
IfMr. Lee had named some Of his own per-
sOnal grievances, OF given some Of his expert
ences 10 The Land Of Flowers," your readers
might understand his reasons for his bitter and
'undiscrimlnaling attack against One of the fair