Smyrna times., 1885-11-25
On the Way.
FROM THE DELAWARE PEACH ORCH
ARDS TO THE FLORIDA ORANGE
GROVES.
For the Smyrna Times.


There was not much to engage my
along the route from Clay
ton to Cape Charles except to note
some improvements in buildings and
methods of culture in Sussex county
since my last visit there. The sands
and pines of old Sussex seemed to be
my company keepers all the way
down, for nearly all the territory we
pass through bears a strong resem-
blance to that section.
At Cape Charles there are great pos
sibiIities, and the land agent and spec
ulatOr who enters that field and cult
Yates the ground will reap an abun-
dant harvest, the land being early
and easy to till and with proper fer
tilization will make a veritable vege-
table garden.
The ride across the bay is a pleasant
feature, being quite relief from the
car ride.
Old Point Comfort is quite an inter-
esting place, noted for its mild climate.
The Government buildings are large
and imposing. The place has some
nOtOriety as a Summer watering place,
hut as all the land is owned by the
Government and no one could obtain a
lot, except by an act of Congress, it is
not probable that it will ever develop
into anything more than its present
condition. 1t was named Point Com
fort by Captain John Smith (Of Poca-
hontas fame) and his crew, who, after
beating about in the angry waters of
the bay for a long time, came upon
this point of land and it was so com
fOrting to them to have a place to rest
that they called it Point Comfort, the
"Old" being added years after, to des-
ignate it from another point called
New Point Comfort.
Leaving Portsmouth, Virginia, we
soon reach the peanut patches and you
may inform the disturbers of concerts
and lectures that the crop will be
qudntum suffcit.
After we crossed the Roanoke river
the cotton fields showed their white
caps and the planters were very busy
making the third and last picking of
that article once called King" At
all the cities and towns and at every
cross roads we find bales of cotton
ready for shipment. The cotton gins
arc UuSN oCDdA dAdlluE bilC HOC0 4lOuA bAAO
cotton and baling it for market. The
Southern mule and cart, with the col
ored driver was on hand everywhere
and even in Jacksonville it is largely
used in delivering all kinds of goods
from the boats and cars. In these
Southern States they also raise corn,
tobacco and potatoes, but here cotton
is the principal crop. Good farm build
ings are scarce, but the plantation huts
abound and are generally well filled
with men, women, children and espec.
tally goats and dogs.
At Charlestown, South Carolina, you
can spend one hour there before yOU
arrive. That is, according to the new
time standard it is both in the seventy
fifth and ninetieth meridian, which
latter is one hour slow of all below
CharlestOwn.
From Savannah the rice fields are
the wonder of the traveller. 1t resem
bles oats, but is a water plant, as irri
CATION must be resorted to in its cul
ture. The turpentine farms are also
in this section, and to see the ire,
blazed to let out the sap reminds me o
the sugar orchards of New England
We also saw the houses where the rec
tifying and barrelling is done. Their
is very little real enterprise and mucl
dilapid6tiQp. The Southern methoC
of putting off for tomorrow that whicl
should he done to-day prevails. But,
have seen as fine men physically, an,
as pretty women who are natives, a
you will see anywhere, and they ar
bright and intelligent, but of cOurs
the majority of the people are of tn
palmer sort, and how could it be Other
wise, from the shiftless lives they hav
lived?
Just before reaching Jacksonville W
get the first view of an orange grove
and it Is a beautiful sight, really ahea
of a Delaware peach orchard in flu
fruit. Bananas are very fine crop
some sections here and they hav
done we'll this year. l reached Jacl
sOnville, the metropolis and entranc
gate into the State of Florida, in thirty
I four hours actual run from ClaytOl
By taking a sleeper you can make tn
; run all the time and have no troubl
about exchanging cars. My first in
pressiOns of Jacksonville were those
disappointment, and / think that tn
is the case with all visitors to any
these Southern cities, but after lit
l. time they grow on you in bigness an
develop wonderfully as you get fami
9 lar with the distinctive difference of
Southern from q Northern city. III
dilapidation and unthriftiness of the
Southern cities is proverbial, but ne
life is being infused by NOrthernel
. and the sluggish ways and methods
the people are giving way to the nc
state of things. Jacksonville has SOL
n magnificent public buildings, stores al
private residences and abOunds
large hotels and boarding houses al
ry the amount of business done is surpr
ing. The streets are very sandy a
Mt and this, of course is serious dra
et back to easy lOcOmOtiOn. 1t is W
" shaded and even orange trees are us
d for shade and you will have to b
your head in some places to keep fr'
= hitting your head with luscious fri
sh In every yard orange trees loaded W
es, fruit, and bananas hanging in bunch
nu makes a very nice decoration and WI
D., the blooming flowers the contrasts
A'' the front and side yards of many of
homes gives a pleasing effect, q
to the Northern visitor it is a sou
of pleasure. l found our friend Tru
- peller as busy as a bee in business O
/ paid him and his wife pleasant ,
at their elegant home.
a. =. GRIFFITH
ReIleUielV, Fla.