Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-03-16
Letter From Florida.
To the REPUBLICAN.

SANFORD, Florida, March Z, 1885,
We are here at the Sanford House, in
the city OF Sanford, Orange County,
Florida. This is quite business place
with popu lation of 1000, has several
wharves, where some ten or twelve
steamers stop every day to load and nn-
load passengers and freight. There are
several very fine large no els and stores.
The Sanford House has about 200 feet
front with wing 100 feet long. The
hotel is two stories high, Is kept in the
hest style, and is full of guests, mostly
| from the North. The city fronts on
Monroe lake. Lots are selling very
high, and only think Of 1t, a few years
ago the place was nothing but wild
land, and was bought by Mr.. Sanford
for ifty cents an acre. Lots are now
worth from s. to $50 per foot according
TO location. The land Is too fiat for
cellars. We took the cars yesterday
and rode M miles TO Winter Park, TO
see our friends, DIR. Tantum and family.
We found them nicely fixed In their
new cottage all we'll, and their children
we're going TO school. We were much
delighted ID see them, and i assure you
| they were surprised to zee us at Winter
| Park. This IL a beautiful situation,
high and healthy 10y the side OF splen.
did and deep lake. The Doctor does
not weigh 200 pounds yet, but | hope
he will gain in flesh and come home in
good health. We took drive out in
the country to-day, aud were surprised
| to see so many fine buildings. The
country is improving every " here. Those
who settled here many years ago. and
set out orange groves have become
lquite rich. We saw 10 day some OF the
largest groves and trees that we have
ever seen. One grove was forty years
old and Was loaded with fruit and bios
SONS. From this same grove OF ~
acres, the fruit sold last year for Sll ).
900. The trees are As large IN full
grown apple trees, and they are still
growing. | never saw such splendid
trees, and each tree has thousands oI
orAnges hanging from its branches
They look as If they would live hun
Idred years. We saw some very fin,
pine apple plants. and great many o
them are raised here and sold in thu
stores. They can raise almost any
thing here In this country. The city o
Sanford il rome 200 miles from
Wilmington, Delaware, l75 miles uI
the St. Johns river. The Monroe lax
is five miles wide. The town Of Enter
prise is located on the other side of tn
lake. II is quite popular resort IL
the winter. A small steamer runs bacl
and forth between the two places every
two hours. ] was very much please'
10 soc Mr. Charles Swayne, whose pa
: rents live In New Castle County. ii
looks we'll and hearty. and is going T.
) settle in this city, and will engage il
| the real estate and law business. He /
: q very active business man, and / thinl
: he will do well. THIS has been coll
winter in the South, but there hav
been no heavy frosts to do much dam
I age. have been looking at the pin
apples that look 81 tempting, but di
not touch them. The banana stalk
, are very full of fine fruit. Upon tn
whole tLis is a fine country and thin
/ there are many chances to make none
/, but see nothing that would induce III
q ii | was young man to leave the Stat
r of Delaware, as think that it is Il
garden spot OF the world.
: Very Respectfully,
WILLIAM Bright.