Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-18
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.

RIPE STRAWBERRIES AND EARLY VEGETABLES
RUSH Or TRayEL-soHE FLORIDA FRAUDS
HOW BOGUS FLORIDA BIRDS" ARE PAIMED OFF
UPON srRANGERs-wANT OF PRETTY WOMEN
RAPID INCREASE OF IMMIGRATION
Correspondence OF THE EVENING STAR.
PALArKA, FLORIDA, February 12. 1882.
Since my last Il have taken run up to Gaines
Vile, the county town of Alachua county. and
where is located the T. s. land office for this
state. While it has few very pretty residences
and one very neat appearing hotel it is far from
being handsometown having dilapid ated ar,-
pearance. which little attention together with
paint and whit ewash, would remedy to a great
extent The town covers considerable ground
IL Is said by the natives and generally acknOw-
edged to be as healthy as any part of the state
There Is very fine military school. with about
eighty stu dents. located i'm the town. While
Gainesville during the winter is quite lively on
account OF its being of the resorts for stran9-
era, and the stores, &c, reap quite harvest, it
Ia naturally dead town. and it is to be hoped
tiiat the new settlers who are now purchasing
VIII put new Ifeand energy into it. The Florida
Southern has branch to this place it being stu
ated on the main line of the Transit railroad
or what was once the Fernandina and Cedar
Keys railroad. known as Yulee's road. Sir Ed
ward Read an English capitalist lately pur-
Chased this read. and he has now either by
lease or purchase. got control Of all the main
liIes Ia the state. except the Florida Southern
and 1T Is thought By many that he is after and
VIII get the latter road 1t is to be hoped that
the conduct OF the roads Will be changed by the
new management, as up to this time they have
been Shamefully managed.
RIPE STRAWBERRIES
ere in the market and being shipped IA also
esrly vegetables. such as lettuce snap beans.
Cabbage. &c. in Abundance. While the orange
culture Is still demanding attention the people
are paying more attention to vegetable garden
inc. and in little while the northern markets
will be able to have them during most Of the
winter and at a comparative low price.
TRICKS UPON STRANGERS
This town is full Ofstrangers all the time. the
hotels AMI boarding houses are more than
crowded and still they come, most if not all of
them take trip up the st. Johns and Oclawaha
rivers. and take to the loved ones at home after
having paid three prices for them. Florida
canes. &c. &c. made i'll New York and Phila-
delpia. and the number who get stuck on FlOI-
Ida birds that never saw Florida. and only came
70 1t in the same state in which hundreds of
seekers after health leave. would astonish the
heather Chinese. At the fashionable hotels
you see lots of shOddy and extrayawant dress.
ing. and IT has been Noticeable fact to me that
among the many ladies there should be so few
good looking ones The majority are decidedly
plain.
Nothing win give clearer idea of the
increase OF immigration 70 this state than
the
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF LAND
now being sold. &C., at the United States land
Office at Gainesville. During the last month
there were 1,G96 acres sold; there were 100
hOmes.eads entered, embracing "a 80 acres. and
rs final proof entries. embracing s. 763 acres
One matter which our postal authorities should
look after is the irregularity in which the mails
are carried. and in almost every portion of the
state. but especially along the water Courses
sUcn as the II. Johns and the lake routcs
happened to be at one of the river Iaudjnrs
few days ago. where the mail boat passed
three times, not even sounding her whistle
while on Lake Harris a short time since they
received only two mails in one week. When il
is considered that the contractors get paid for
daily mails. and the incony eneDce and annoy
ance it gives the merchants and strangers it is
no more than just that they should be compelled
TO do better: and little wholesome talk to the
postal agents. postrnasters and assistants, which
would lead them to mend their manners and
treat strangers with at least show of courtesy
would nc. be amiss
Ex-Vice President Wheeler spent some DAYS
IN town This month and noted men and women
arrive and depart almost every day. We had
some rain and n few cool DAYS last week but to-
day 1T is again quite sunmer-iike and pleasant
The fruit trees are increasing their bloom and
budding ont every day. and the variegated
ioiiage ana the perfume Of the wild OF yellow
~a@ACS IL oiotu plcdSt.st 70 the eye anu
nose.
The Palatka and Indian River railroad Is push
ing It's WORK ahcad In way which means busi-
ness. Their engineer corps has reached Titus
VILE, the southern terminus VI their main line
while the work Of construction at this end goes
steadily forward. With this and ether roads
contemplated made a fixed fact we will soon
have the whole Of Florida including the
CATERS" woke up with the whistle OF the loce-
motive aud stridine forward to take promi-
nent place in the s;sterheod Of states She can
grow with Prsft NEST Of the tropical fruits, and
In me vegetable line can compete with the
world. and to-day offers better inducements 10
settlers whs are willing to work than any other
section 81 eur great country. NJ. n
BROTHER BARNES is strong with the children.
and they answer his questions promptly. The
catechism runs somewhat like this Rarnes-..It
You are good children. will God love vou;'
Children all together-''Y-a-a-s," Barnes-"If
you are bad will Hesti,l love you?" ChilGren-
f-a-a-sr Barnes-"Do you know what the
parotid gland iss' Cbildren-'.Y-a Barnes
well. what is it:" EChilliren all silent.
Barnes-'Then you've told a lie haven't you:''
ChiidreG-'Y-a AS" Barnes-..You eli ,:v.. N
eat, don't your" Children IA e,fis