The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-15
Crystal Lake.

CRYSTAL LAKE, Marcn X, 1902
Editor PALATKA NEWS:
During the time that l have been in
Florida, have been a reader of your in
teresting paper, and have been much in
terested in the correspondence and items
from various portions of the state. Will
you allow me therefore, to speak few
words through its columns, in favor of
this section of Florida?
For the benefit of my northern friends,
who are passing the winter here, Iwould
say: In your excursions, through vari-
Gus parts of the state, do not fail to visit
the country about Crystal Lake. In
order to do so, you will leave the ST.
Johns river at Welaka, twenty-five miles
above Palatka, opposite the entrance to
the Ocklawaha; you can there engage
conveyance into the country to Crystal
Lake, which is about half way between
Welaka and Pomona. Arriving here
you will find one of the loveliest sections
of country that you have seen in Flor
ida.
The land is first-class pine land, high
rolling. All, more or less improved
with neat cottages and lovely young or
ange groves, many of them already bear
ing. All through the peninsula are beau
tiful lakes, the land sloping gently to the
waters edge, and no marshes or low
lands are found in the vicinity. Conse-
quently, the atmosphere is very dry, and
the place exceedingly healthy,
/ find the inhabitants energetic and in
dustrious, and many of them are cultur-
ed people from our northern cities. They
have been drawn here by the delightful
/ climate, and are all, more or less inter-
ested in orange growing. Their improve
ments are progressing rapidly, number
of pretty cottages are now being erected,
which will soon be completed. One can
also enjoy the privileges of church and
| Sabbath school. The school, when there
is a full attendance, numbers some thir-
/ ty pupils. There are also five good
and half miles, and the mail is deposit
ed in boxes at many of cur doors four
times week. 1t is expected daily
mail will soon be established.
I can hardly realize in passing from
one well improved place to another, that
but little more than ten years, this whole
section was an unbroken pine forest, and
the land being given away to actual set
tiers. Now, many of the homesteads
are being divided up into lots of ten
acres each, and lovely young groves are
springing up in every direction. 1t is
quite easy to see what this peninsula
will become, before ten years more have
passed. 1t promises to be the garden of
Florida. Everything will aid in its be-
coming so, its fertile soil and healthful
climate, alone, give it pre-eminence over
those portions not so highly favored. If
invalids knew the advantages of a resi-
dence here, the place would soon be
thronged with those seeking a healthy
location. But as yet the people have
made no special effort to have the great
advantages of this, over many other Sec
tions known. They have gone on quiet
ly with the improvement of their lands,
and putting out groves, that in few
years will yield a rich harvest to theil
owners.
No hotels have been erected as yet, al
though there must be soon, as there is
already a demand for them. Several
private families, however, accommodate
few boarders each, and know of nC
place in which persons seeking health ol
recreation can pass few weeks more
delightfully."-, than in this vicinity.
; I have so many inquiries to answer
northern people whom l meet in Florida
respecting this portion of the state, tina
I have endeavored to answer carefully
, (some of them in this article. for you
valuable paper,
MARY L. CLARK.