The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-06-10

Gated in Central Illinois. lie rode all
dav looking on and over a broad eXpanse
of treeless prairie. ga land, unbroken
save by undulations as graceful as the
waves Of peaceful ocean," said some
one-think it must have been ''Siva. "
One can ride all day in Florida amid
stately pines, magnificent oaks, and fra
ride where you may, you are surrounded
by a forest F'unbroken save by clear
lakes and an occasional orange grove"
1t is to some delightful land.
! THEY SEE BEAUTY IN THE TREES,
romance in the lakes and rivers, and
comfort and enjoyment under the vine
and fig tree. To others it is an abomina-
ton. 1t is too woody, too wild, too
weird, too sandy, too hot, too wet, and
/ last, that should have been first, too far
! from mother. The first class has indus
! try and atience, the latter can not
adapt themselves to circumstances, and
are usually born tired. When we hear
of man talking of coming to Florida,
yet is fearful that the climate will cause
| him to lose his activity, the community,
will have brief season of prayer.
Shortly afterward we hear of him in
some other state, and publishing sense
| less verbiage about men losing their ac-
tivity by taking up their residence in
Florida. 1t seems to be natural for some
| persons emigrating to 4 new country to
sit down while the wife is getting the
first meal to write to the home paper of
the beauties and advantages of the new
| ly found paradise. In most cases this is
done because the emigrant feels lonely,
sometimes done because he has an in
| tarest in that section and expects to in
crease the size of his bank account.
After a residence Of two years and half
l would hesitate to advise any one to
come to Florida for the purpose of
MAKING IT A PERMANENT HOME.
until he first visits this land and exam
ines thoroughly its climate, soil, pro
ducts, manners, and customs of the peo-
pie and the possibilities of securing a
livelihood. Those who are troubled
with rheumatism, catarrh, hayfever,
neuralgia, diptheria, and throat and lung
diseases can afford to make the change.
But the man who has a large family de-
pendent on him should move slowly
and hesitate to go into any new country
until he is satisfied that it is for the best.
Florida is full of inducements for ener-
getic men as well as men of means, es-
pecialiy to the class who prefer four
months spring and eight months summer
to eight months winter and four months
summer. Some portions of the state
have never been trod by the foot Of the
white man, but it will be. Railroads
are being built in every direction. The
slashes, the prairies, the rolling pines,
and the hammocks will soon he pierced
| by the iron horse, and every section of
the state will become accessible to the
| tourist and emigrant. This county, Put
nam, has doubled in population in three
years and doubled in assessed values in
two years. Taxes last year was $40 on
! 800.
| THE PRINCIPAL PRODUCT IN THIS COUNTY
is the orange. According to the last
raised one-seventh of all the oranges in
! the state. and notwithstanding the low
price Of the past winter, a grove in bear
! ing is a fortune. A full-bearing grove
will yield from 800 to 500 boxes. At
dollar box one can make both ends
meet, especially when he is not compell-
ed to spend any money for overcoats,
mitts, and tirewood. Spears grove gave
forth last year $4,000 and over, and this
year $4,000. 1t contains six acres, but
is a very old grove. Harris grove does
much better; last season it went SIS. GOO.
This one is opposite Palatka and is visi-
ted by thousands annually. Bishop
owns sixty acres in bearing. Harris 100.
and there are others equally fortunate.
We don't know what they do with their
money.
1t is not an easy thing to make a
grove. The land has to be cleared fen
ced. plowed, and the orange trees set
out. The cost for this, selecting average
land, is about 1926 per acre. If budded
trees are used they will bear some the
second year, and the fifth year some
times pays the whole expenses. 70 do
this, however, thrifty trees mnst lie Sc
cured and kept growing by jndcious
cultivation. Mr. Boyd, of this county.
came to this state nine years ago. He
walked all the way from his home in
kentucky.
| he HAD CAUGHT THE ORANGE FEVER
and came to seek his fortune. He says
that if on his arrival whole counties
were selling for a dollara dozen he would
not buy ten acres. But the spirit was
? born in hlm and he soon found work al
S so cents per day and board himself. As
= he had no other bOarders the bill of fare