Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-24
LAKE WEIR FLORIDA.
Feb. l3, 1885

Feb. l3, 1885.
Ny friends and acquaintances in
old Kentucky, l often think of you
in your cold, cold homes as you how
er around your fire places as a rigid
necessity to keep from freezing. | do
really think, If you could only realize
what delightful wheather we have,
you would surely, if at all practical,
dispose of your homes for a while at
least, and flee to the Gland of Flow
ers" where the frost seldom visits
and snow is never known. Some
portions of Florida are becoming very
thickly settled. The tide of immi-
grafton is flowing rapidly to this
state and is much greater than before.
Now is the accepted time. My friends
If you desire winter resort, or per-
manent home in the "Sunny South"
you had better come to Lake Weir,
before you purchase. Lake Weir is
four and half miles wide by seven
miles long, and for its size unsurpass-
ed in the State for the transparency
of its waters, and the beauty of its
surroundings, if indeed it does not
surpass all rival lakes in tropical
charms, agreeable to the popular ap-
pellatlon that tits "the lOveliest lake
in Florida" Its fine beech of pure
white sand reflects in shining parti-
cles the suns rays and the crystal
water sparkles meath the sun. The
banks are high and rolling. We have
both hammock and pine lands. Lake
Weir for miles round is bordered
with dense orange groves with the
golden fruit still hanging where it is
not gathered. Florida is the winter
garden of America and Lake Weir
vicinity is in the heart of the great
orange belt. The area of orange cul-
ture is enormous and is steadily en-
larging as the people roll down from
the North. The time is not long off
when the spectacle of an orange for
est equal in range 10 the human vis-
ion will be the grand scene here. In
regard to health this lake region is
so widely and favorable known as to
require no extended proof. Very re-
markable cures are continually
wrought here and those who have de-
rived benefit to health are everywhere
rejoicing in their newly found joy.
My case. is one of them. Coming
here two years ago from Fairview,
KY, with a wasted form and for
lorn hope, suffering from weak lungs,
1 am now restored in health. Too
much praise cannot be said of this
climate, so uniformly mild and equa-
BILE throughout the year, it bears a
near approach to perpetual summer.
AS an evidence Of the growth on Lake
Weir there has been erected here in
the past four months some twenty
houses ranging inscost from 81 800 to
5000, and ten or twelve buildings
are in course of erection. A very
handsome church lredifice of the Bap-
lists is just completed and will be
dedicated ON next Sabbath, if Provi-
dence permits. The names of the
settlements around the Lake are viz. !:
Lake Weir, East Lake, Stanton,
Ochlawaha, South Lake Weir, and
Foster Park. All are in a thriving
state. The prices of land vary from
$40 TO $l00 per acre. According to
locations and relative distances from
the railroad station and business CEN
tres.
Mr.. Ben Harmed (P) of your city
and Mr.. Marcellus Turnkey, of the
vicinity of Hopkinsville, paid us a
flying visit few weeks ago. Mr..
TURNKEY has thriving young orange
grove on Lake Weir which will soon
come into bearing and he an indie.
pendentent fortune to him. We are
in hopes he will return 10 Florida to
make 1t his permanent home.
Mr.. Steve Williams and wife, ol
the Pembroke neighborhood, spent
! about two weeks with friends and