The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-27
FLORIDA.
SOME NOTES FROM THE LAND OF FLOWERS
Lake Monroe Beautiful Sheet or Water
The Trip from Sanford 10 RockIedae The
Indian-River Country-Needed Internal
Improvements-Go south, Young Man
Some Fish Stories.
Especial Correspondence OF the Dispatch.l
RoCvt pnQE Eohi.t,or-,y % 1904

ROcxLEDGE. February 90, 1884.
In passing from st. Augustine to this
place, very soon after taking St.-Johns-
river steamer Mt Tacoi, you begin TO note
the new buildings and new groves that
have sprung up within the past twelve
months, and at Palatka you find the hotels
crowded, whilst the wharves swarm with
people who are taking the boats which ply
between that place and Sanford on Lake
Monroe. At Sanford the crowd scatters,
some going to Enterprise, on the opposite
side OF the lake. and some taking the rail-
road to Tampa and intermediate places,
whilst others. like your correspondent,
take the little steamer AstatuIa for the
upper st. Johns and the Indian river.
All, however, have to stop over in SAM
ford for at least one night, and nowhere
In Florida will the traveller or sojourner
find more comfortable quarters. Lake
Monroe Is distant from Jacksonville little
over 300 miles, and Is the terminus for me-
dium-siZed steamboat navigation, the
largest boats stopping at Palatka. From
this lake to Lake Poinsett, on the upper
st. Johns. none but small boats can run,
and q more crooked way you can scarcely
imagine. To give you an idea of its many
winnings, have only to state that the dis
lance by water to Indian river is 140 miles,
and by land 90 miles.
LAKE MONROE IS THE PRETTIEsT
Of all the lakes have seen in Florida. 1t
is eliptical in shape, five miles in width.
and seven miles in length, and on bright,
calm morning the eye takes in the whole
picture, with its mirror-like surface re-
ilecting the rays OF the sun. its smooth
shores and the two thriving towns OF Sam
ford and Enterprise OIL its banks at oppo-
site points.
The trip from Sanford to this place takes
about twenty-four hours, the interesting
features Of which consist in wondering
how your little steamer will ever find its
way through the {" bonnets" (high grass
and reeds) that in many places spread over
n vast area with many apparent channels
winding through them-in watching the
numerous waterfowl and looking out for
"'gator," and In paying the necessary at
tention to loluaclous gentlemen. who want
to know how tall you are, where you came
from, how far you expect to 90, and
whether you own or expect to own
"grove." When you reach
ROCKLEDGE, WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL GROVES
OF palms and other surroundings, YOU feel
like an escaped prisoner who has passed
through an ordeal that makes the beauties
of nature and the comforts OF civilization
doubly enticing.
This Indian-river country is attracting
much more attention than II has formerly
had. for the reason that its climate is more
healthfu and pleasant than that OF the st.
Johns and lake regions. and because 1t Is
comparatively free of frost. and tropical
productions can be cultivated here with
more safety and attain more certain per-
lection than in the northern and western
portions OF the State. The present winter
has proved that there is no frost line in
Florida, but on this river the frost has
done but little damage, and in some
places-say one hundred miles below this
point-the pineapples, bananas, and cocoas
were not scorched.
think can safely say that the number
OF visitors and settlers in this region now,
as compared with tive years ago, is as ten
to one, and
What the Indian-riyer country needs is
quick transportation, and then capital and
energy will soon make Il the most desirable
and most profitable region in Florida. A
railroad from Palatka, one also from Enter
prise. and a steamboat connection with
rail ut Halifax river, are all spoken OF as
being in the near future. l am fully con-
WINGED that young man with moderate
capital and commendable energy can in
eight years secure larger income by Gull
tivating fruits and early vegetables here
than he can get in twenty years in the North
or West, unless he Is fortunate enough to
strike bonanza but he must make up his
mind TO tight insects and undergo many
priyations.
THE FISHING
down here is not neal so good rs usual,
owing, il is said, TO the unusual cold
weather, vet / have had some fine SpOl
catching bass that weighed 2G8 pounds and
crevali that weighed 11s pounds. A few
nights since i was stopping at point some
eight miles below this place, and party OF
Young men went out in two rOw-boats to
catch "iumping-mullets." These fish
come out ut night in shallow water to feed.
They come in immense shoals, and when
frightened will Jump three or four feet out
OF the water. The young men alluded to
run their boats INTO Il large shOa OF them,
and 1jj fish jumped into their bouts and
were secured.
Among the numerous
VISITORS TO FLORIDA
YOU will see quite a Sprinkllng Of English,
some French and Germans, and indeed al-
most every people belonging to Europe or
America is represented. Many come for
health and pleasure, whilst Others come TO
seek home free from the chilling blasts OF
the North, and at the same time lay the
foundation OF Il hoped-for fortune. Ii is
pleasant to note the different characters as
they pass before you, robust in health ana
with Joyous expectation depicted in ex-
preston and movement; but your feelings
change sadly when you see at some depot
the long. plain, box marked "Mr. or Mrs"
so and so. which encloses the casket OF
last remains, silently on its way back to its
last reSting-place near the patcrnal home.
&. NJ. X.