The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-08-12
THE GREAT LAKE REGION.
Observations in and Around Lees
burg, Florida, and Other Places.

To those who have never visited this
/ section Of our state, even among that
number to the manor born" and who
are familiar with Florida scenery and her
varied resources, a trip may be attended
with much interest, if not profit. The
Great Lake Region is not unknown to
many Of your readers, but for the benfit
Of those who have not been fortunate
| in ayailing themselves of the means of
easy ingress by rail and steamer, we un-
I dertake to give some faint idea of its de-
sirable features of soil and situation. to-
| gether with its many attractions of semi
| tropical scenery.
| Chief among the large bodies of water,
for which this region is famous, are lakes
Griffin, Eustis and Harris, all of which
are connected by rivers, and which, a
few years ago, were navigated by our
| quaint little Oczlawaha steamers in car
rying the large quantities of fruit, cotton
and other products that are yearly cult
waited. OF late years this traffic has fall
len off, owing to low water in the Ock-
lawaha river and the better and quicker
means Of transportation furnished by the
| Florida Southern, the PeninsuIar, and
the st. Johns and Lake Eustis RAILWAYS.
All Of these lakes are surrounded by high
rolling pine and rich hammock lands,
and an appreciation OF both qualities of
soil is evinced by the numerous orange
groves, and plantations of pineapples.
guavas, lemons and lines, to be seen
| growing on each. The scenery is sub
lime, and the placid waters, fringed
with everg teen trees bearing q wealth of
golden fruit, nesting among which are
neat cottages and handsome residences,
and all combined with the cerulean skies
at once enchanting and conclusive in
convincing one that this is, of all coun-
tries, the most desirable for a home in
which may be secured future health
wealth ard happiness. Lake Hallis is
the largest of these lakes, and on its
shores are situated the towns of Lane
Park, Astatula, Yalaha and Leesburg,
the latter place, which IS the largest and
most important, being situated on the
narrow peninsula which separates lakes
Harris and Griffin. Leesburg is in the
center Of the lake region; it is the dis
t.ibuting point for a large portion of
! South Florida, and is now reached by the
iorida Southern and the PeninsuIar
| railways. Tt has live newspaper, the
News, a number of large wholesale and
retail stores, a number of hotels and
boarding houses, and, above all, law
abiding and enterprising class of citizens.
Among the recent enter prises, we noted
the boring of an artesian well, which has
now reached some three hundred feet in
: depth, and the work Of paving Main
street with clay. After rain, the clay
and sand, becoming thoroughly mixed,
forms a pavement very firm and durable.
Her citizens have also devised a plan fof
the building Of a $4,000 academy, and a
large amount of the funds necessary
have been subscribed Leesburg, being
surrounded by the valuable orange
groves of Orange Bend, Corley Island
moth and south shores Of Lake Harris
besides one Of the best pine-land regions
in the state, and having the trade of {
large area of South Florida, will eventu-
ally become one of the most important
cities Of our rapidly growing common
wealth.
For the great increase in value of real
estate and the founding of new towns
near Leesburg- which may be
mentioned Montclair, T. ditland Park,
Lady Lake and Conant-Sumter county
is indebted to the Florida Southern rail.
way. Since the completion of this road
these towns have spIung into existence
and are rapidly growing. Surrounding
them all are valuable and productive
lands, which are being rapidly settled
with thrifty class of Immigrants. The
lands are of the best quality of pine, anC
as it is well known that the pine
apple, lemon, lime, guava and Other
fruits thrive better and are more produc
tive on pine land than on hammock
they are being much sought after
Throughout this entire region an unpre
cedented state of prosperity is manifest
in town and county, owing to the large
number of new settlers, the innumera
able Improvements that have been made
and the prospect is that the anticipation
of the most sanguine VII be more thar
realized in the increased prosperity ant
wealth Of the country in the near future
The shrek of the iron horse resoundt
{ through the virgin forests, and Soutl
Florida awakes to a new born day o
peace and prosperity. J. H. c. P.
a Burglary.
SomaLima amr.no SUNDAY ninhr hLl..