Morning journal and courier., 1885-03-07
Saturday, March z, 1855.
A CHAPTER ON ALLIGATORs.

"A YIN OAeSs
Notes of a Florida Trip-Big and
Little Saurians-Alligators and Lit
tie NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of New
Haven Man - other Connecticut
Mems Summer Homes.
promised in my last article on Florida to
write few lines about alligators. No school
boy of ancient or modern times but associ
ates with Florida the alligator, picture of
which member of the sauEaan family is SO
often displayed in illustrated papers and
upon maps showing the numberless lakes and
ponds of Florida. On reaching Jacksonville
we passed up the main business street, where
were displayed all kinds of merchandise,
while the strawberries, oranges, green peas,
new tomatoes, beets, ETC., delighted our eyes.
This sight was emphasized to us by the stencil
from the meat markets and the horrid look
ing meats and caused a decision in our mind
and stomach to patronize only vegetables,
with now and then quail on toast. The boys
bring to market live quails in abund-
ance at three to five cents each.
Beyond the markets and in front
of grocery stores in long, marrow
troughs were young live alligators. Posters
which announced 'Alligators, only rs cents, u
attracted passers-by to look in, and some
purchased the little Grade mark" of Florida
to take home with them. In fact, the de-
mand is such that saw little darkies stand
ing in front of St.James and Windsor Hotels,
crying out "Real live alligators! buy one
boss,'' at the same time presenting the dead
and alive thing on large green leaves, so that
the Northerners and their ladies would be
tempted to purchase. On the whole, think,
the huge boquets of roses and cut flowers
yielded the greatest sales.
Next l left for the interior of Florida, away
from St. John river and distant from rail
ways, travelling many miles among the pines,
winding about the most beautiful lakes and
ponds I ever saw, not one of which was
covered with scum or contained stagnant
water Alligator Lake l reached by most
dismal and almost impossible route
About its borders are deep ravines and heavy
moss grown trees, making it dark and dis
NAL, even i'll bright, sunny day, as @t was
with the thermometer at 920. Here we are
escorted to an opening with good view of
the large lake, which, unlike most other
Florida lakes of clear, white sandy bottom,
is covered more less with water vines,
pOilQ lilies anu BUSHES. SulLdDle
place for the propagation of the alligator.
We happened to be there on the day when
an alligator of unusual size was captured
and brought in. The hunters say it is hard
now to supply the market, for
- alligators is scarce now" which
means that the constant hunting of alligators
for the past few years has cleaned out rlori-
ia, so that people now build beautiful resi-
dences on the shores of lakes and upon the
banks of rivers without the least fear of the
alligator.
Mr.. George R. Hstchkiss, late of New Ha-
ven, is now permanently located at Waldo in
the interior of the State. Mr.. Baldwin, of
Naugatuck, has located at Melrose, some
fourteen miles north, and just beyond, on
Swan Lake, Oscar Whitcomb of Mass,
(nephew of John B. Cough has neat cot
tage just finished, beautifully situated with
an outlook on his grove the east, pine
grove on the west and views of the lakes
north and south. Perhaps may say justly,
I saw no place of equal attraction for pres
ent and future development the one Of
Mr. Charles P. Wurtz, of Whitney avenue,
New Haven, north of the Whitcomb resi-
dence). Mr.. Wurtz has built a spacious
house with broad porticoes on every side; far
in either direction from its elevated position
can be seen the crystal lakes and the beauti-
full groves. It is an elegant winter home.
JOHN g. NORTH