Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-28
MONTICELLO.
The Garden Spot of Middle Flo

The Garden Spot of Middle Florida.
MONTICELLO, FLA, April 2j.aNeyeT
having seen a description of this beauti-
ful little town and its SuTrOundings-truly
the garden spot of Florida send YOU
this imperfect sketch, hoping thereby TO
draw out one more able than myself to do
1t justice. Monticello is the county seat
Of Jefferson county, situated four miles
from No. 3, Florida Western Railroad, to
which station there is a branch road,
twenty miles from ThOmasville, thirty
from Tallahassee, seventeen from Dixie,
and is one of the of the prettiest
towns in Florida or the South. nesting
beautifully on number of hills
overlooking the surrounding country.
The town is not regularly laid out. the
houses are dotted here and there amongst
the trees, giving il beautiful rural APP
pearance, fine roads leading in every
direction, bounded on all sides by the
best vegetable and fruit lands in the State,
as all will admit who visit here. II has a
population OF l,S00; fine court house,
four churches, Episcopal, Methodist,
Presbyterian and Baptist white and
several colored churches, twenty-five
stores, most of them large brick buildings,
skating rink, dancing hall, two hotels,
four boarding houses, where board can
be had for $l5 per month up. The
side walks are lined with magnificent
live oaks and magnolias the latter in
bloom now. Vast numbers of pear trees
are being planted, some fine specimens
are bearing fruit; hundreds of others two
and three years old are to be seen. over
thirty thousand cuttings have been plant
ed this season, all looking splendid.
Young orange groves are springing up in
every direction. Pecans abound.
The climate is delightful, the very best
in the State for lung diseases; high, dry
laria. Wonderful cures have been made
here by those who have tried almost
all parts of the known world
without relief who have been cured by
n few months sojOurn here. / came here
myself an invalid and have been greatly
relieved after months stay. Monticello
is certainly the flower garden Of Florida
The town is n garden Of the most beauti-
ful tlOwers-all kinds, and certainly the
largest and most lovely roses L ever saw
anywhere.
The people are well educated, refined.
kind and courteous TO strangers; i'll fact
one feels ut homo i'll very short time.
The best farming lands in the State are to
be found in this sectiOn--eYerything grows
beautifully.
The farmers are fast finding out the fact
that King Cotton has had his day, and
many Of them are turning their attention
to truck farming. Irish potatoes, melons
and cabbages are extensively cultivated
and Notwithstanding the late frost and
backward spring, are looking fine.
In a few years the whole county will
be fruit and vegetable garden, with fine
stock farms scattered over it. The farm
ers have not paid that attention TO i'm
proving their stock that they should have
done. Yet, stock is much better here than
in many sections Of the State. Plenty of
rich milk and fresh butter all winter
The ''cream agitator" man is making a
fortune selling churns. The railroad from
Thomasyille to Tallahassee will pass
within ten miles of here. They are going
to extend the branch from here across
Lake MickOsukie and intersect that road
on the opposite side Of the lake. MickO-
sukie Lake, five miles from this place,
is one of the largest and most beautiful
sheets Of water in Northern Flor
ida-tine boating and fishing, also duck
shooting. The county is settling up very
fast, price of land advancing now from So
to 500 per acre, according to situation,
quality and distance from railroad and
town. Taking everything into considera-
tion this is certainly the Eden of Florida,
splendid climate and magnificent drives.
SOJOURNER.