The National tribune., 1885-12-24
HOMES FOR SOLDIERS.
Letters from Comrades in Various Sections Of the
Country.
FROM FLORIDA.

FROh tLOliDA
To THE EDITOR: In answer to the requests
of several comrades through THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE and direct queries, l submit the fol-
lowing for their benefit: This place is situated
on the Gulf coast; latitude, 29l. We have a
tr-weekly mail, and have access to Cedar Keys,
one of the best markets in this State, by sail
ing vessels. This is about the only part of
Florida where land can be had cheap now, and,
everything considered, is rs good part as any
in this State This the southeast part of Tay
lor County, is one of the very heslthiest por
tions of this State. The proof of this is that l
am here. for it was for health that l came to
this State, and did not settle here at first. 1t
Is as free of malaria as any place l know of
in the United States. This part Of Taylor
County, on account of its location and sur
rOundings, has climate entirely peculiar to
itself, which enables US to grow such semi i-tropi-
cal fruits as figs, oranges, etc, equally well with
South Florida; while such fruits as peaches,
pears, etc, flourish equally well, as do also the
farm crops of Northern Florida Another
good thing for poor comrades who may wish
for homes and health, is that here they can en-
ter "homesteads," and with the land get all
necessary timber for improvements and fuel,
or buy land cheap from the State or the United
States, and not have, as in some other parts of
Florida, to pay to spectators from $40 to $50
per acre for unimprOved land no better, if as
good as the land here. We have no railroad
here yet, but we have water transportation.
For new or frontier country we have the
best society l ever have seen or read Of The
people are very peaceable and hospitabe. No
danger whatever to any one on account of his
political opinion. What is said to the contrary
in political papers is all bosh. If that part of
Florida is so desirable, why is it that land can
be got there from the Government, while it
sells so high at other places? Because this
part has not been so invested Il was about to
cary info cfaI\ h.y 1orl lot
quently not so much puffed and widely adver-
tised as some other parts; and there are cattle
men that wish this part to remain unsettled so
as to have the benefit of it for their stock, and
others also residing elsewhere, and who, for
one cause or another, also wish for this part to
remain unsettled, and they circulate all the
falsehoods they can think Of against it to
achieve their purpose.
In conclusion l will say, comrades, if you
wish to come to Florida, beware of land specu-
lators, for they will puff up even the poorest of
land; and there are some sickly places in this
State and even in this County, but they will
deny it being so, where they own or control
land.-JoHN B. CARRIN. Co. E, 130th ILL.,, Ste
phensyille, Taylor Co., Fla.
CALIFORNIA.
To THE EDITOR: l notice in your issue of
Oct 20 an article by Comrade Fisher, Jewett,
n. Y, in regard to a California colony, and as /
have since the 18th of last February made two
trips to the Pacific coast, going each time to San
Francisco, the first time out via Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe Railroad, Atlantic & Pacific
and Southern Pacific to San Francisco, and re-
turning different route, and the first of the
past September went out again, not being satiS-
fed with first trip made, going out this time
via Denver, Colo, Salt Lake and Ogden, Utah;
thence on Central Pacific via Sacramento to
San Francisco. On each trip went south on
a coast steamer 200 miles to San Luis Obispo
County, looking over that part of California
with the view of getting home in a warmer
climate, and write this merely as a hint to
any of the old comrades who contemplate re-
moving to the Pacific coast not to make up
their minds too quickly; and should they visit
San Francisco or any of the towns ON the coast
not to judge that portion of the State back from
the coast by the pleasant climate ON the coast
especially during the warm months, say from
juno until about Nov. Is. If they do they may
be deceived.
l found many things to admire in my visits
to San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Bar
bara and Los Angeles, but on going out into the
interior did not find it so pleasant, especially
during September. My advice to all old com
rades is, see the country first, if possible, before
deciding to take family so far. Some may go
out at an expense they cannot well afford, and
be badly disappointed.-D. J. VANCE, Co. NJ,
4th Iowa Cav, Mankato, Kan.
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
To THE EDITOR: wish to say through your
columns, for the benefit of perhaps many of your
readers there and here also, that the Cinnamon
of this coast are just made to believe that they
are not wanted, and have got to CO. and are
going from our shores fast Many places are
entirely clear of them. In consequence good
girls are in good demand at S15 to $50 per
month to do common house e-work. Good laun-
dry men and women command $50 to $50 per
month. Cooks get from $25 to S75 per month.
Gardeners would do well here, all of which oc-
cupatiOns the Cinnamon filed heretofore. Any
one that wishes to write me in regard to situa-
tlOns here, If they are earnest and know their
business / will attend to it, and l will gladly,
reply, especially to old soldiers or their daugh.
tiers and sons, about this country.
Seattle and King County are as healthy as
any city and County in the United States. The
climate is particularly helpful to invalids, the
air being pure and bracng at all times; while
the sea breeze coming in fresh from the broad
Pacific imparts life and buoyancy to all who
inhale it. Seattle is situated exactly in the
same latitude as Paris, France, and not many
years will elapse until it becomes as favorite
place for the people of the Northwest to rem
devious as the gay French capital now is for
Europeans. The Winter climate cannot be i'm
proved upon. The mercury rarely falls to zero,
while, as a general rule, it stands in the neigh
bOrhood of 40 degrees above all Winter round.
The rainfall during the wet season amounts to
over 80 inches, thus giving the husbandman a
sure crop. The old adage that "crops never
fail in King County" is one of the truest say
ings that has ever been uttered. Health-seek-
ers will find our Summer climate all that can
be desired; the nights never being sultry, aud
the days never becoming oppressively warm.
The Summer tme with its outdoor recreation,
its camp life, etc, makes it the most pleasant
season of the whole year. Nature has evidently
favored us beyond compare in the matter of eli
mate and weather. "Cyclones, cloud-bursts,"
billiards." disastrous overflow of streams
earthquakes and other kindred disasters are
unknown here, and we have no thunder and
lightning. No droughts, grasshoppers, venom
GUS reptiles, potato bugs, scale bugs; no yellow
fever, cholera, or like plaques were ever known
here. Perennial flowers bloom and grass keeps
green the year round. The popularity about
King County is, that most of the Eastern peo-
pie who remain and enjoy its climate for few
months never desire to leave it.-THOMAs II.
CAMPBELL Co. Z, Gath Ill.,. Seattle, w. T.
Thousands have been cured of rheumatism
by Hoods Sarsaparilla. Give it a trial.