The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-04-11
FLORIDA LETTER.

"A long promised leGCeE from r. W
Lyman, an old resident in this city,
and well known by the people of this
county, has been received from Flori-
ola. Mr.. Lyman, for several winters
past, has spent the cold season in
Florida, where he has been engaged in
the growing of oranges. His many
friends here will be pleased to hear
from him by the following interesting
letter, which came too late for publica-
ton last week:
GEoRGIANA, BREvARD Co., FLA, !
March %, 1884.
EDITOR TELEGRAPH.-The reason
/ will assign for long delay in telling
you Of progress in Florida will also
tell the difficulties pioneers now en-
counter in building, clearing, &c.
Jacksonville is the commercial me-
tropolis of the state. On arrival there
Oct. Both, Mr.. Munson and myself
bought lumber, bricks, doors and
sash, for each a house. All was ship
ped via Smyrna, and should have been
here within two weeks. Feb. 4th the
last load was landed on the bank of
Indian river, thirty rods west of our
house. Fully one-half the bricks and
considerable lumber were thrown
overheard during a gale on the Allan
tic
While we were getting the lumber
in small quantities, Mr.. Curtiss, an ex-
cellent carpenter from Bristol, built
cottage with two rooms that we moved
into after a stay of ten weeks in a
!" claim house," We are now pleasant
ly housed. Have three open fires in
chimney built principally of coqui-
ma" good roof siding and floors of the
beautiful Southern pine. Very few
houses are plastered. Still variations
in temperature make an open fire COM
Portable and at times necessary.
Lowest temperature IS Q, which was
coolest for several years. No oranges
were injured in the least, and more
tender fruits, like pine-apples and
bananas, very little. Indian river
oranges, finest in the world, are now
going to northern markets. All fruit
north of Sanford was more or less in
jured by frost. Good hammock lands,
suitable for orange growing, are high
priced. A lot Of fifteen acres, eight
miles from here, sold a few days ago
at 5000 per acre. Nopart of it cleared
or improved in any way. This county
has all grades from that price down to
SO cents per acre.
Excepting one state, it is said more
miles of railway have been built dur
ing the past winter in Florida than in
any other state.
More immigrants, tourists and
health seekers have visited the state
than during any former year.
Notwithstanding the great increase
in saw-mills, lumber, doors and sash
are very scarce and difficult to obtain.
Two enterprises now in progress
will, when completed, connect this
isolated section with the outside world. |
These are the Palatka and Indian river
r. r. and the Coast canal. The latter
will connect St. Augustine Ola Man.
tanzas, Halifax and Hillsboro rivers
with Indian river, thus giving con.
tinuous inside navigation for light
draft steamers to lake Worth. Then
a great influx of population is expect
ed.
Messrs. Kingman, Robbins and
wives are well pleased with the coun-
try, but have not yet bought land.
Frank Munson, with his father and
are pleasantly located in his
new house. He is part owner and |
sailing master of the sloop
Minnesota.
Glad to see the TELEGRAPH is sound |
on "high license and expect soon to |
see it advocate the very reasonable re-
duction in tariff duties proposed by
Mr.. Morrison. With a surplus reve-
nue. of one hundred millions per year, it |
is not probable the American people |
will longer submit to the present very
high taxes upon iron, wooden goods, |
leather, lumber and other indispensa-
BILE necesSarieS of life.
When pineapples are cultivated |
and trees set, will tell you how our
Kenosha county people employ and
amuse themselves.
Very truly yours.
= w LYMAN