The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-02-18
Price: 81 per Annum, Single Copy 8 Cents.

es Florida Pensacola, as a business
place will surprise the visitor, with its
scores and scores of merchant vessels,
from nearly every nation, lying in the
broad harbor, loading with lumber, ma
val stores and other products. From
this point onward along the line of the
Pensacola and Atlantic Road to River
Junction there are many places of charm
ing interest; and from the latter place to
Jacksonville on the line of the Florida
Central & Western, one sees some of the
best soils and towns in Florida. Lake
De Funiak, Tallahassee, Madison, Lake
City, ETC., are among the points of invit-
ing interest. The best cattle i'll the State
are found around Tallahassee. The two
latter roads have been greatly improved
recently, and the through coaches of the
L. & N. pass over them, landing us on
the bank Of the broad st. Johns River,
in the lively city OF Jacksonville.
If, on the other hand, one desires to
get into the tide of northern settlement,
and join the fruit growers, the great
army of enterprising and intellectual men
that are embarking in the culture of Or
anges, lemons, pineapples, Japan per-
simmons, guavas and many other profit
able fruits, or if he wants to secure first
class, yet cheap orange lands, he will
find them in scores of intelligent COM
munities, along what is known as the
Transit Road, leading from Jacksonville
southwest and far south past Gainesville,
on the Gulf side of the State, down to
Leesburg. On its line are thousands of
acres of good, and at present, very cheap
lands, and the road is literally managed
in the interests of the country. The
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tracts of cheap land in grand section
of country much of which is adapted to
orange culture, and much of it to cotton
and corn, and some of it to sugar, and
some to grass and cattle raising. On
this road Capt w. I'll. Mann, formerly
i of Gilman, Ill. the great Usage Orange
man of former years, has delightful To-
cation at Meanwhile, in the midst of many
charming lakes and beautiful scenery
He is growing trees, all manner of fruits
lRud hesrias, and hos fine start OF i'm
ported cattle Capt Mann and his wifi
are delighted with their home, and well
they may be. Hon. Ed. Rumley, of Pa
latka, formerly of Gilman, ILL.,, also has
rich possessions on this line. The road
is reached at Palatka, on the st. Johns,
one of the best towns in the State, and
! a great winter resort for Northern tour
lists. The city was recently devastated
; by fire, which destroyed some of the
largest hotels in the State. Fortunately,
however, the old and popular Carleton
| House, one of the best in the State, af-
| fording accommodations at very reason
able rates, escaped the fire; SO also the
West Moreland and some smaller ones.
Palatka will rise again from the ashes
brighter than before.
A little further south we reach the
verv heart of the orange country and the
center of interest and Northern enter
prise, in Volusia county. DeLand and
Orange City have brilliant records as in
telligent and enterprising places. The
country north of them along the line of
the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
Road (Which is graded and will soon be
completely beginning at Beresford, is
one of the most beautiful and attractive
locations in the State, and passing north
ward along the new road, to Spring Gar
den Centre, Spring Garden Spring and
the fifteen miles OF new country north
of it, holds out the most hattering in
ducements to orange growers, stock
raisers and even spectators. The soil
is good, the grand springs and lakes are
beautiful, the pasturage is fine, and the
OAC VI OilO OOou AOoOio VI OiiO
State; and the newness of much of the
country makes it specially inviting
country for the home-seeker. No part
of the State surpasses this for orange
growing, or for intelligent orange grow
ers. On the other (west) side of the
river, in Orange county the settlements
are older and the lands mostly higher.
The South Florida Road, however, start |
ing from Sanford on the st. Johns,
passes through fine country; part Of
the way through beautiful and thriving
towns and cities and winter resorts, such
as Winter Park, one of the most beauti- |
full resorts in the State, managed by /
Chapman and Chase, gentlemen we'll
known at Bloomington and Normal, Ill. |
In the newer part of the State this
road has abundant cheap lands with a
good climate. The trains on this road, !
with all the work they can do, tell the
story of the prosperity of the country. |
The St. Johns and Lake Eustis Road,
running west from Astor, on the St. |
Johns river, passes through a magniffi-
cent country. and such famous and
beautiful towns as Ravenswood, Altoona,
Eustis and Leesburg. The lakes in this
region are most charming, and the peo-
pie enterprising. There are some rich
lands, little above government price,
on this road, from five to fifteen miles
from the river, notably those around
Sellers Lake, beautiful body of clear
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