The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-28
letter from Florida.

Of Columbia County. 1t is located on
the railroad running from Jacksonville
in the East to Pensacola in the West.
1t is beautiful little city, and much ad.
mred by strangers for its beautiful lakes
and the gigantic water oaks that line the
streets. 1t is a town Of some 500 or
1000 inhabitants, perhaps. 1t gets its
name from the numerous clear water
lakes that environ it on every side.
Most of the residences are empowered
amid orange trees. and when they are in
full bloom the fragrance of the flowers
is truly delightful, reminding one of
tropical city. The lakes afford pleasure
to the many sportsmeD, who with hooks
and line never fail to draw many Of the
fnny tribe out of the clear, pure water.
Not only is fishing q pleasure to the
young people, but is a source of consd-
erable revenue to the sable sons eff Africa
many Of whom make their living by sup.
plying the city market with delicious
fish, The fish, mostly trout, weigh from
four to ten pounds each. During the
fish season the most of the colored peo-
pie, not only boys, but many men also,
engage in this business as their only oc.
cupation. There being SO many anglers,
fish is necessarily very cheap. In the
cool Of the evening. particularly moon
light nights, the young men and ladies
have delightful time gliding over the
smooth surface of the lakes in row and
sail boats. Young people, above all
others, know how to appreciate this kind
of amusement. The city is growing now
perhaps more rapidly than at any other
time in her history. A grand Agricul-
tural College is now being built. The
brick aud lumber are upon the ground,
and the corner stone will be laid at an
early day by the Masonic fraternity.
The city and county together bought the
land 200 acres), and are to build the
College structure, and the State, think.
appropriates $40, 900 annually to meet all
expenses. Since it was known positively
that the College would be located there,
property at once began to increase in
value. Not only is town property ad.
vancing, but lands all over the county
are becoming more valuable too. The
railroad facilities are becoming better
also. One read now runs through the
centre, or near the centre, from East to
West. Another road is running through
the Southwest portion Of the county :;
and another still has been surveyed, and
work will commence about the 1st of
March. This road will run North and
South to intersect the Florida Central at
Lake City. 1t will run through the best
portion of the county, both as regards
agriculture and fine timber. This road
will start at Gainesville, some thirty
miles South of us, and run to Macon
Ca, via Lake City. Georgia has given
charter from Macon to the Florida
line. This last mentioned road is sure
to be baiit. 70: some sixteen miles of it
are already graded and ready for the
iron. So We will be we'll supplied with
railroad facilities. From my house can
now on calm day hear the whistle of
the locomotives of two different roads,
the survey of the third runs in hun
dred yards of my dwelling.
The country for three or four miles
around Lake City 10 very poor; the sands
are deep and so white as almost to injure
the eyesight, but soon the land improves
and continues to improve until the end
of this and the middle of the county
South of US ia reached. Though this
county was first settled near forty years
ago, yet there was no rapid increase of
population till within the last fifteen
yeas. Since then the increase has been
Iapid. Before that period the bulk of
travei and imm.ss alton were centred in
those counties that we're moro accessible.
South Florida was their objective point,
because the st. John River could trans.
port them 30 easily. But railroads now
traverse, or soon will traverse, this coun:
" In every direction, and people will see
that one of the best counties Of the State
has been most entirely ovsg!onkaa.
Inc people who have filled up this
country are almost to q man Southern,
intensely Southern in their sympathies
and politics. Thsy welcome all good
citizens :.among them; they truly give
them the right hand of fellowship.
ind that everybody meet with is from
Georgia or South Carolina. Those from
Abbeville are familiar names, such as
Hawthorne, Hogan, Wilson, Lites aud
host of others who are good men and
true From spartsnburg we have the
Whetstone, Means, several families of
Tue Means). and from Anderson there is
put small TspTeesntation-Rev. ID. w.
Humphreys and myself are the only rep.
tesentatives that can now recall. From
Edge6eld there are g-es. sssny, sza IS
ior Georgia there 10 no end to them /;
'ae'r name is simply legion. And it is
wonderful that among all these people
! see mono but who are getting along
) well They are good citizens and we'll.
to'do farmers. They came here with
i very limited means. but with energy aud
a economy they have succeeded in making
y their condition independent. Indeed,
i some Of them have grown rich. And