Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-05-08
INTERESTING FROM FLORIDA.
The Country. The Timber. The Water. Gams
Plentiful. Chief Industry OF the
Country. The Pine Inexhaus-
tible. Grain and
Fruit.

| ioof.-LDiIoh uEhALD' thinking THAT
perhaps some of the people of Lancas-
ter and vicinity might be interested in
having something from West Florida.
and knowing of no better way to reach
those so interested than through the
pages of The HERALD, / will ask per-
mission to give through its columns my
impression of the country after a brief
visit of about eight weeks.
l will say at the outset that on the
whole my impressions of the country
are very favorable. Judging from what
l have seen and heard, West Florida
possesses capabilities for development
that are equal if not superior to those
found in any other portion of the state,
and in one important particular, that of
climate, it is certainly unapproachable.
West Florida comprises that portion
of the state that lies between the Per,lido
river, which forms the western boun-
Diary, and the Apalachicola. Its length
is 100 miles, aud the mean breadth
about 60 miles. The surface of the
country is greatly undulating, the gen.
eral slope being southwark toward the
Gulf. Almost unbroken pine forests
cover the entire area. Springs and
streams are very abundant, while here
and there, interspersed throughout the
magnificent forests of pine, are numer-
Gus lakes, varying in size all the way
from one-half to 20 miles in circumfer-
ence. The waters of all these are clear
as crystal. perfectly pure, containing no
mineral ingredients whatever, and of
moderate temperature.
The Pensacola and Atlantic railroad,
opened about year ago, runs through
this entire section from east to west,
Pensacola being the western terminus
and River junction the eastern. From
the latter place trains connect with
those on the Florida Central and West
ern line, which runs through to Jack
sonville. The distance of this latter
place from Pensacola is 60 miles nearly
due east. All along the lines of these
roads towns are springing up, and set
tiers are coming in rapidly. Among
the most prominent and promising of
these is Lake De Funiak, situated on
the railroad so miles east of Pensacola.
The town is located upon an elevated
track, about 280 feet above the waters
of the Gulf, being in fact the highest
point in the state. 1t takes its name
from the lake around which it is pro-
posed to build the town. This is a beau
tiful little sheet of water, exactly one
mile in circumference. and having
depth of over sixty feet. In shape it is
almost a perfect circle, the water clear
and cool. Surrounding it on all sides is
a beach $50 feet in width From the
outer margin of this, the surface of the
land regularly rises to a height of 25 or
30 feet, and then slopes gradually away
in all directions. This rise is crowned
with tall and stately pines, which add
greatly to the beauty of the surround
ings. IL has been very aptly described
as ga brilliant in setting of emerald"
About one and one-half miles west of
Lake De Funiak are two other lakes,
known as the Double Ponds The two
lie close together, divided by a narrow
strip of land, rot over ten or twelve
rods wide, through which runs a chan
mel of water connecting them. Each of
these is many times the area of Lake
De Funiak. All of these lakes in COM
mon with the rivers and streams of this
region, contain an abundance of excel
lent fish of great many excellent vari-
cites. The woods also abound in game.
Deer and wild turkey are quite plenti-
full, while bear, foxes, wolves, wildcats
and others are to be found. Along the
large streams alligators are very nu-
merous.
The chief industry of this country at
the present time is stock raising 1t is
said that there are $4,000 head of sheep
and cattle within a radius of 80 miles of
Lake DE Funiak. The sheep are raised
chiefly for their wool, and but few for
the market The cattle, during the
spring and summer, fatten on the ranges,
and are then shipped. Both SUBJ
sist by grazing the entire year, although
it is the opinion of many that better re-
suits could be obtained by feeding, some
at least, for two or three months, when
the pastures are bare. There are GER
tainly great possibilities in this industry
for this part of the state. There is also
great room for improvement, both in
the methods of caring for the stock and
the kind of stock raised. These will
have to be introduced before the great
est profits can be realized from this bust
ness. But even in its present condition,
with the imperfect care, or rather no
care at all, that the stock receive, and
the inferior varieties that are raised,
stockmen realize all the way from 80 to
60 per cent. on their capital invested.
No doubt but that these profits could be
increased with better care and by the
introduction of better grades.
As might be expected, the numbering
business is being rapidly developed
throughout this part of the South.
The extensive forests of pine, covering
tens of thousands of square miles and
as yet scarcely touched by the AK of the
woodman, offer great inducements for
the profitable investment of capital
The variety of the pine mostly found
here is the yellow or long-leaved species.
The wood has fine and beautiful grain,
and is very resinous. 1t is also very
heavy, its specific gravity being about
that of oak. 1t is claimed, that for all
purposes, it furnishes the best lumber
in the world. and that at the present
time, all over the United States, wher-
ever transportation facilities make it
available. the yellow pine is in great de-
mand for all government buildings and
all other iirst-class buildings in which
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