The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-12-31
From the Jacksonville Times Union1
A Proportion for the Florida Cities
ana Villages TO Consider.
OFFICE SUPT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,
TALLAHASSEE, December 81.

OFFICE SUPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, !
TALLAHASSEE, December 81.
To the Editor of the Times Unson.
Permit me through the extended circulation
of the Times Union to call attention to matter
which l think of great importance 10 the people
of Foridai in an educational, financial and health
full point of view, namely, the improvement and
identifying of our cities. towns and villages all
over our naturally beautiful State. During the
recent Forestry Convention held at DeFunak
Springs the Hon. B. G. Northrop, representative
from Connecticut delivered most beautiful and
instructive lecture on "Village Improvement"
showing its necessity and its great benefits. The
attention of His Excellency, Governor f. A.
Perry, was specially drawn to the lecture by the
interest the subject afforded, and in subsequent
conversation Mr. Northrop stated that he would
be pleased to deliver his lecture through the
State tor simply his expenses, and that having
heard that the people of Florida had started q
fund for the purpose OF erecting monument 10
the memory of her honoret dead soldiers and sail
Ors that all surplus over his expenses should he
devoted to that fund. Mr.. Northrop is not only
a Northern man. but Republican in sentiment.
yet in the fullness of the spirit of a thorough
National REORGANIZATION not only approves the
desire on the part OF our people to permanently
commemorate our beloved and honored dead
but is thus DESTROYS OF aiding US in that fund.- To
tue miuu Oh tu0 WTlteT noble sentiment.
But, Mr.. Editor, independent of all this. is the
great benefit that will result from the distin-
guished gentlcman's presentation of the cause of
Village Improvement. Throughout our broad
country the reputation for beautiful forestry.
shrubbery and flowers has been given to Florida.
and the writer has frequently, while travelling in
coaches laden with passengers from almost every
State, heard the eager inquiry: Where are
the flowers and the shrubs? True, our roads
have been constructed through the poorest, be-
cause the cheapest part OF our State, and there
fore many of our most beautiful towns, such az
Tallahassee. our floral city, beautiful as the Al
mighty artistic hand has made it, is passed by.
almost out OF sight So with Quincy, Monticello,
Madison, and many Others, truly garden spots of
elegance in their floral abundance Yet even in
these, great improvement might be made by the
people with rarely any expense and but little Ia
Dor, while The very work would be Of the char
acer to improve the heart and mind of our
young people and The children. Now. if this
be 80 in reference to these older towns, how
much more so is ii the case in the hundred new
towns and villages so quickly and starilingly
sprlnging up all over the peninsular part of our
State, as well as those cities which have sue
cumbed to the fiery element, and Phoenix like.
nave so nohiy and exceently arisen from their
ashes, as in the cases of Ocala and Palatka The
great hurry and amazing thrift characterizne
this portion OF the State, seems a. have for the
present. NJ least shut "ut The beautiful lines |
ouu C'"iHS tI eAL'F0hl attuftlOenf
No one can deny that it these improvement. |
were ad led not only The money value of the |
whole town woull he greatly enhanced. but |
that the h'.alth, Comfort and purer refining and |
enabling pleasures and JOYS would be greatly in |
creased, and that these Improvements wuuld |
greatly and I" the educational advantages in that
they would become educators themselves
Now, in view OF all these benefits. Mr. Editor |
have teli that this lecture delivered in the |
large cities anil al Paatka, 81. Augustine Ocala
GAINESVILLE. Sanford. Orlando, Kissimmee Civ
Lakeland, B,riow, Brn'ksville and Tamna
would greatly benefit each and oil. and il heartily
entering INTO the instructions and suggestions of |
The lecturer would speedily transform ali these
places into things Of beauty" far surpsssina
their present condition and afford a means AZ /
largely increasing our monumental fund which
~ .ne nanus OF our hon"red Governor, by proper /
sand dollars. "SSr
Ii any committee Of ciiizena In these Cite. and
owns, or u the County Superintendent Of
schools will take hold and perfect arrangrmen,.
or iness lectures. and write me at Taliahassee
wiz csc ina. the dates are fixed and forward
trusting that our good people may zee the
great benefits which undoubtedly win accrne
rom such improvements, shall PATIENTLY avail
my correspondence ON the subject I he~ n
700 Tue following notices from various nane,s In
he States: ""' P"pc's IN
DR.: Northr"p !rea,s the subject OF rural i'm.
orovement very broadly in lie material "A well
y moral aspects; He Is An encyclopedia of in.
orma'ion OF world wide extent and 81 practical
my. reisilne to forestry and kindred mattsrs
= re TevnaoM Hdtoaps0n and &ots Journal
NO oe.ter service can be rendered tn The conn
~ man that which Mr.. N0rihrop Is engaged N
~ we 10 not wonder that he declines he nre.'
uency ~ college for this benefIcent h ~,
A. Journal ef Eduoat;on. s''' 'aoof'-
Ut Northrop gave popular and entertaining
ncs .. ~ sn 81. az and delighted audi.
-MMepas Appssk 'S"'e 'ec'ufe
III, an's earnest and scholarly speaker held N.
loeess attention Of the crowded houss. N.v .%e
r .S e'd IN hour seem to glide BY % ouiohly
os;lv NJ W.. - mucn proa..-IM Bsnsfssas (Ra)
AIsnsT J. RusssrI.