The Dawson journal., 1885-04-09
A TRIP TO FLORIDA.
Former Terrell County Citizens-U Up
The st Johns, Etc.

Last Sunday week, IN company
with Hon. o. B. Stevens, we board
ed the passenger train at this point
for the Land of Flowers via Alba
ny, Thomasville, Quitman, Val
dosta and Waycross.
We arrived at Thomasville on
schedule time and took supper at
the Gulf House, where we found
Mr.. Jas. G. Clark, a former Ter
rell county boy, behind the coun-
ter as clerk. From there we went
to Quitman. Arriving there about
8 o'clock p. M, we went to the
Commercial House, where we re-
manned until morning. Monday
morning we called on our Con-
gresham, the Hon. III. G. Turner,
and found him busily engaged in
opening and filing away the many
letters and petitions he is daily
receiving from the various appli-
cants and their friends for the diff
ferent postofices throughout the
district, He does every thing with
perfect system. One would sup
pose from the many letters and
applications he has, and is still
receiving, that his time is we'll
consumed just now in giving at
tention to the wants of the con-
stituents he so ably represents.
We left Quitman on the South
bound train and arrived at Jack
sonville at 8 o'clock p. m. Monday.
Jacksonville is a thriving city of
18,O0e inhabitants. 1t has many
magnificent hotels aud they are
overfowing with northern visi-
tors. Tuesday morning was spent
in sightseeing, and by accident
we met Mr.. NJ. w. Goode (more
familiarly known as Mack), son
of Mr.. t. S. Goode of Wards Sta
ton. At Mack's solicitation we
boarded the steamer, Sylvan Glen,
at 2 o'clock p. m. for Picolatka, a
village about fifty miles up the
st. Johns river, on the east side.
From there we obtained convey
ance to the home of Mr.. Goode,
situated about three miles back
down the river at Sowell's cove.
Mack has charge of Maj. o. O.
Nelson's orange grove, situated at
the point Of the cove above men
toned. Here we met Mrs. Goode,
nee Miss Filpot, of Talbotton, also
Mr.. Charley Melton and family,
formerly of this county, but who
now reside near Mr.. Goode. Both
families seem perfectly contented,
and, we think, are doing we'll.
Maj. Nelson's grove contains about
1000 bearing trees, which are now
full of oranges and blossoms.
There have been gathered and
shipped from the grove this sea-
son 1900 boxes Of oranges and
Mr.. Goode thinks there are now
600 or 800 boxes of this fruit on
the trees, which he is gathering
and shipping. We also visited
the Geise grove and there met
Mr.. Hugh O'Pry, who has charge
of it. This is also q beautiful
grove and contains 300 bearing
trees. Our stay with these gentle
men was limited, but we spent it
very pleasantly indeed, as all
newspaper men do when they have
such good eatables as oranges,
fish, quail and vegetables such
as cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes,
etc-and we had 'em and in pro-
fusion, too. Thursday morning
we babe the good ladies and chill
dren Of these families farewell
and taking a small boat, cared by
Charley and Mack, were soon
landed at Picolatka, where we
again boarded the steamer Sylvan
Glen, this time to return to Jack
sonville, and from there home.
There is much to be seen in
Florida and we will go back again
when we can prolong our stay.
The ST. Johns abounds in fish and
ducks, and the woods with quail,
squirrels, turkeys, deer and other
game. The scenery on the banks
is beautiful, and Green Cove
Springs and Magnolia and Orange
parks, on the west side of the riv-
er, deserve special mention for
their magnificent hotels and hand
somely arranged streets, walks
and groves.
While this is all true, do not let
us forget that Georgia is the EN-
pire State of the South.