Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-24
WONDERFUL LAND.


mas coast line OF about twelve hundred
miles. Its rivers, lakes, everglades and
lagoons are numberless. 1t is esti.
mated that from fourth to third of
the entire state, varying with the season
of the year, is covered by water. To it's
extensive and peculiar water contain
ings and surroundings is due its unique
and wonderfully mild and equable eli.
mate. 1t geographically and climati-
cally resembles Italy, but its air is more
bland and healthful, and its soil has
even greater range Of productiveness.
No known land is exempt from the
liability of its inhabitants to pulmonary
consumption, but in this country
statistics of the last two decades show
that the disease progressively diminishes
from our extreme Northern states
southwark to Florida. The mortality
from consumption, as compared with all
other causes of deaths in Florida, is, by
the census, but SO to the 1000; whilst
in the state of Maine it is 25S to the
1000; Connecticut, 179; Pennsylvania,
142 ; and South Carolina, 80.
The low consumption mortality OF
Florida exists, Notwithstanding the
number of Northern invalids who seek
too late it's healthy air, only to end their
days and add to the normally very low
death rate. The best authority on the
subject, DR.. Kenworthy OF Jacksonville,
who has given much intelligent atten-
tion to climate in the cure OF consump-
tion and to sanitary statistics in general,
believes that the mortality from
consumption among the permanent
residents Of Florida does not actually
exceed thirty deaths to the thousand
from all causes.
OF the extended seaboard of Florida
the Gulf coast stretches over seven hun
dred miles. The climate OF this coast
has more of the essentials Of good
winter resort for invaids than any other
of which I know. / mako this state
ment after some personal experience
over large extent of the coast, from
much conference with invalids who
have happily tested It's merits, and from
comparison with the thermometric
and hygrometric records of many of the
various popular health resorts of the
world, The west, or Gulf coast OF
Florida Las Temperature more mild,
equable and dry than that of the CORE
spending Atlantic border. As compared
with that of the much frequented region
of the st. Johns river, in the winter
season it is free from malarious iuflu-
ences, fogs are unknown, and the op.
portunities and inducements for an out
door life are far greater.
For the agriculturist and the orange
grower, and for the gardener who raises
early vegetables for the Northern mar
kets, this coast offers fertile soil and
climate freer from destructive frosts
than any other part Of the peninsula.
To the capitalist and the investor, for
speedy increase in values of Landslide
rapid development OF railrOads--now
stretching their competing lines to the
fertile hummock lands and numerous
harbors of this coast region, it gives as.
surance of a flood time of immigration
The Gulf coast has great advantages
in its many excellent harbors, and is,
in this respect, moro favored than the
Atlantic border of the peninsula, which,
south of the mouth OF the st. Johns
river, has not a single good harbor. The
best harbors OF the west coast are at
Cedar Keys, the Anclote river, Clear
Water harbor, Tampa bay, Charlotte
harbor and San Carlos harbor; but
there are innumerable inlets, with mod.
crate depths of water, passing in be.
tween the thousands of beautiful islands
which border the entire coast line.
These islands or keys are lovely, fertile
tracts, mostly in primitive wilderness,
capable of high cultivation, with a
delightful climate, and their only dis
advantage is the liability to partial
overflow from the occasional hurricane
tides of late summer or early autumn.
Residences on them can be safely
located only on eminences above the
possible reach OF the waters, which may
rise six or eight feet above the normal
level.
The whole OF the Gulf coast, from
Cedar Keys southwark, is attractive for
health and pleasure seekers. The winter
temperature is rarely so low as to
require even the open wood-fire. The
skies, from sunrise over the tops of the
pines and palms to the dip of red sun.
set into the warm waters Of the gulf,
are almost always bright and blue,
checkered only by white flying clouds.
The balmy breezes blow mildly and
almost without ceasing, excepting dur
ing an occasional lull of calm at the
sunset hour, SO that the advantage to
health of continuous and moderate air
movements prevails.
As to purity OF atmosphere the situa-
ton and surroundings are extremely
favorable. The breezes blow from either
the vast area of waters of the Gulf or
from over great forests OF pine, palm
and cypress, with their ozonizing inhu.
ences. 1t is due to these agencies and
to the remarkable dryness, that an
aseptic condition OF the atmosphere
exists. / have seen venison, game birds
and other meats remain for many days,
or even for weeks, hanging unprotected
in the open air, free from taint and
merely become hard and dry without
decomposition.
No claim for the sanitary merits of the
Gulf coast Of Florida will create so
much surprise as that of the compara-
tive dryness of its atmosphere, The
natural and popular Inference that it
has q moist climate must be from a
consideration OF its vast traverses and
surroundings OF water fresh and salt,
and not from the trustworthy reports of
the signal service or from personal OBJ
servation. am not able to give a rea.
sonable explanation of the cs use of the
remarkable dryness of tho atmosphere,
amidst such realm of waters, hut that
the climate of this coast is comparatively
dry and bracing can be proven by tha
records of official observation and
attested by the permanent residents of
the region.
Data supplied by the United States
signal service Prove that during the
five cold months the relative humidity
of Florida, as taken at Q number of
widely separated stations OF observation,
is less than that of what is popularly
the "dry winter climate OF Minnesota
4 F. H.,