The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-16
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
A Letter From Hon. Bel! HuitOn From
the Far South.
Montgomery, Jacksonville, st. Augustine,
Paiatka-The Soil of Florida
Gainesville, Etc.
special Letter to the Sentinel

Special Letter to the Sentinel.
GAINESVILLE, Fla, Jan. II. Thousands OF
Northern visitors are now in Florida. Thou
sands more are on the way, and many more
who are at home ought to De here. There
are no good reasons why parties who are
able TO spare tRs time and are possessed of
the necessary amount of wealth should not
spend a few months during the winter
season enjoying the delights OF this tropical
climate. Florida and 81 q Georgia, through
the extensive advertising they have re-
ceived are now 81 most everywhere favorably
known IS winter resorts, and while those Up
North are confined to heated rooms and OF
chambers, lowering around the fires to keep
warm, We are down here amidst the flowers
and the evergrsens, fee from snow, ice, and
the ch llY tlssts OF more northern ATTITUDES,
watching the oranges grow, the flowers
bloom, and Listening to the singing of the
sweet birds. It is great undertaking, aud
requires but few hours trsvt to reach this
winter paradise. The expenses requisite
have also been greatly reduced during the
last few years. Leaving Louisville via the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad about
noon, you are rapidly carried l)ng through
fertile and rich portion Of Central Ken
tucky passf g lkTou IN number OF live, en-
terprisIng towns, you reach Nashville,
the Capital Of Tennessee. This city
during the last ten years has made
rapid improvement. and IS coming TO the
front az lively rate. For the next 100
miles the soil is not so fertile, being OF the
red CLAW character. At Decatur Ala, the
Tennessee River is eros ed, and shortly you
enter and wind through the mountains,
stepping for few minutes at Birmingham,
tue Pittsburg of the South. This p,aes has
grown during he last fea years from small
village of few hundred 10 CITY of mors
team 20 GOO Inhabitants. Numerous rolling
mills and iron blast furnaces have been
erected, and Others are IN course of c0nstruc-
brated city OF
MONTGOMERY
is reached. This is the capital of the State
snd is one of the incest cities
In tie South Ii too is building
up rapidly. fhe Capital building
stands upon high hill, upon the east side
Of The city al The end Of the principal street
IL this Building is where the Confederate
&C eTsss met and IN the office OF the State
Treasurer may be seen the Bible which his
W ND be Excellenoy, Jefferson Davis, kissed
U on tsejDg lie Oatn Of Office as President
CT the COnf' deTae States
Tho SOL and ciiEste OF this section OF the
State are excellent. Wheat, corn cattle aud
no. are al raised here. Coed lend can be
bought at from > 60 so per acre. From
here there are two routes to Florida You
Can 90 on TO Pensacola Junction BY the L.
and W. Railroad, and thsre take
the 2. and A. Railroad to Tai.
labsssee or Thomasvilie or take the
EnfaIs line, oyer the Cantral Railroad Of
Georgia. The latter is the most direct and
Popular route, making close connection al
Albany. Ga, with the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railroad, an important trunk line,
leading TO sll the principal cities and t0Was
n Florida and South Georgia. thus far YOU
have travelled abont 600 miles, and without
chsnee Of cars, and over but three lines Of
railroads, sil Of which are steel rail, well
equipped, well managed, always on time
and with The cleve1est conductors 20 be found
IA tie UOited States. l maize il convenient
to stop few days IN
BROWNSVILLE, GEORGIA.
This is place of about GOO inhabitants
twelve miles from the Florida lire and forty
miles fIon the Gulf Of Mexico 1t is nicely
situated on high sandy ridge, come 500 feet
above the level VI the sea, with dense pine
forests surrounding II On every side. IL is
certainly healthy locstion and entitled 70
eli the reputation il hiss scguired upon that
subject. 1t is by no means sn agricultural
money farming, raising cotton, etc But
the people are the cleveTest in the world;
they make you at onca feel a. home they
look after your comforts. and will
60 very far to accommodate 700.
At present there are probably
one Thousand Eastern, Western aud North
ern parties stopping here at the various
hotels and boarding houtes. Aboat one
year sgO the Mitchell House q frst-olass
hotel of geo rooms or more, was burned
This is now being rapidly rebuilt. The
Plney Woods Hotel, OF $50 rooms, was
opened only a few days since, and Is dong
sD immense business. The city is now in
good shape to entertain all those who desire
to stop. Every body who goes to Florida, of
course, takes in
JACKSONVILLE
This is the largest city in the State,
having population OF about ten
thousand, bat by no means the
prettiest or neatess. In fact, IL is quite a
dirty place, full of mud, fogs ana miasms.
aud by no means healthy. 1t is O city OF
hotels an boarding. houses. where they re-
QuiTe YOU TO pay enormous prices for very
culinary accommodations, The visitor