The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-03-28
JOYS OF FLORIDA.
| JULY CLIMATE IN FEBRUARY,
A Haven of Rest for Northern Inyallds.
sanford and southern Florida Some Fa.
mous Orange Groyss-s sympathy of
tho People with. General Grant.

NOUS Orange droyes-s Sympathy of
tho People with. General Grant.
oorepoadence Of ne IateligAer.
SANFORD, FLA, March 19.--Thousands
make the great mistake and return 10
their homes comparatively unaequainted
with Florida, who lipger amid the FASH
ionable society Of Jacksonville and St
Augustine, and who fail to go up the St.
Johns to Sanford and from there TO Tampa
and the coast or from Enterprise opposite
Sanford on the st. Johns river TO Indian
river, We have Just spent a most delight
ful week at Tampa, and realized what We
have often read but never realized before,
q July climate in February and seen tropi-
cal flowers and plants in luxuriant and
prolific growth, and where sitting In the
sun-l10 degrees in the middle OF March,
or cheered and. cooled by the fresh gulf
breeze, we find health and yigor, re-
newed strength and haven OF rest and
repose-not TO be found in the north
ern part OF Florida. We would adj
wise our friends who suffer from
colds, catarrh, or consumption or indi.
gestion or dyspepsia not to tarry at Jack
sonyille, but to go at once to the South,
where we can be Independent and not
| restricted by fashion, or TO those who
seek investments to visit that section
where the railroads are just entering, and
the prospect OF realizing on purchases are
Immediately Hattering. You shall see so
many who come to Florida who are met on
every hand by land agents who tempt
them to buy before entering the Southern
gate to wealth. As the writer has no in
terest in an acre OF land, but like many
others, formed opinions OF Florida SO
favorable before investigating the south
ern section and, being amazed at the
surprising advantages, would only suggest
TO the readers OF the INTgLLlaEscER not TO
be satisfied without spending few days!
in the country Of which we will write.
SANFORD AND SOUTH FLORIDA.
Leaving Palatka, we take a steamer Of
the De Barry. .Bsyslineat1oA. M.and arrive
at Sanford at $3.50 P. NJ, after q delightful
trip. On the famous st, Johns there are
many pointsof interest aud delightful
scenery, but as l intend a special letter
descriptive OF the st. Johns river, shall
speak Of Sanford and South Florida. San
ford Is on the south shore Of Lake Monroe,
small inland sea ten miles long by five
miles wide, into which the Upper st.
Johns empties, and outof which the larger
st. Johnshows. 1t is practically at the
head Of river nayigation-that Is for tho
larger and better class OF steamers. Il is
lB5 miles from Jacksonville by water. The
st. Johns extends for many miles above
this, but it Ia small, shallow stream,
very narrow. None but little steamers Of
light draught attempt Its navigation.
The Sanford grant was one OF the exten-
sive land enterprises in the State, and Isl
the centre OF a most fourishingregion. Its
history will be interesting 10 readers
OF the IHTRLLlG &NoRR. In 1870 General
Henry s. Sanford, OF Connecticut, made
an extensive tour through Florida and
was SO impressed with the tract that now
bears his name that he effected q purchase
oft. It was one Of the Spanish grants
and embraces twenty-five square miles,
wholly OF good quality and susceptible Of
profitable cultivation. General Sanford
at once commenced improvements, clear.
ing off the dense growth OF timber from a
large acreage on the lake front, opening
up q number. of broad avenues. He built
a fine pier GOO feet long in the lake, erected
spacious store houses, an extensive saw
mill, machine shop, and surveyed aud
located the present beautiful city OF San.
ford. He also built the commodious San
ford House, standing in we'll keptgrounds,
and established teleeraphic communica.
ton with the outside world,
AFAMops oRANag GROVE,
Thespear Greyeis only one and Q hall
miles from Sanford, II contains less than
GOO trees on a little less than six acres Of
land. The trees are about 80 years old
and yield annually about hall million Of
oranges. The crops are sometimes sold on
the trees, regent sale netting the owner
nearly $1,000. In this grove Is alemon
tree OF immense size, producing from 12,-
600 TO 5000 lemons Of superior quality.
Three miles from Sanford Is Belair, the
special grove OF the General, of about l25
acres, under the highest cultivation. Here
are thousands OF lemon, orange and
tlime trees, pineapple plants, and hundreds
OF other foreign and native tropical plants,
fruits and flowers. The Generals efforts
| in introducing Swedish laborers has been
Upsala, in Sweden, in 1871, and at his solo
expense brought over colony Of
one hundred 81 these people, for
whom he erected cabins, giving to each
a homestead Of five acres OF good land
they are among tue thrittieat, happiest
and most prosperous people in Florida.
It Is an incident worthy Of mention that
one OF them sold his little property for
s., 400, yet he owed for his passage when
he landed In SANFORD seven years ago.
This may seem amazing, but when your
readers consider that one acre will bear
100 orange trees, and recently saw one
acre with 100 trees, on Tampa, held at
$1,000. The General has also brought
overadditionais swede4, and aiRo some Poles
and Italians. All busy at work and seem.
ingly contented.
THE TOWN OF SANFORD.
sanfordis q prosperous and attractive
town and the climate enjoyable all the
year round, hut tourists ahould moi stop
there, aa many do, but go through the
orange country and the south. Sanford
has population OF about 1900. The
death rate has been 5 in 1000. People
from all sections are here. Among others
who own groves are Gen. O. Il, Aabcook,
the late Senator q. B. Anthony and
Thurlow Weed. Mr.. j. E. 1ngraham,
President oil the South Florida Railroad, Is
manager for Gen. Sanford's estate, which
is so vast that none but a thoroughly live
executive man could graspit. Mr.. 1ngr9.
from from Wisconsin, IL shss va ;'T supposed p e to
be the last stages ot consumption. He Is
now supposed TO be In excellent health.