Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-24
SKETCHES OF FLORIDA.
WHAT WAS SEEN IN THE THIRTY
ING TOWN OF BRONSON.


Its Location, Orange Groves. Industries,
Iron Ore and Progress-LeVy County
Times 49, CUR Hammock - Archer-A
Great Vegetable Centre Bistory OF the
TOwn-A Resident scientist-Prehis-
tOric Remains--A Sensible MOcking
Bird-HswthOrn-Exp of Fruit
and Vegetables-A Desirable Section
Jersey stock to the FOre-PersOnal,
etc.
The writer, retracing his steps from
Cedar Key on the line OF the Florida
Railway and Navigation Company, en-
route to Oeala, stopped awhile at the
Thriving town OF Bronson, which is the
seat OF justice in the county Of Levy. This
time we travelled by daylight, and had a
fine opportunity Of viewing the approach
es to Cedar Key, which lay directly
through succession of small islands, or
keys, with patches of open water between
filled in or spanned by trestlework. Be-
yond, in the interior for les the country
is swampy, and thick forests of cabbage
palmetto lit their weird forms, tower
| ing, some OF them, to the height
| of 20 feet, mingled with
live oaks, magnolas, cedars, and cy-
presses. These trees, all decked in the
tender garniture of spring, were ViVidly
green and beautiful.
The business portion of Bronson, which
is SO miles from Ct dar Key. is built close
to the brink OF a deep pond, forming one
| OF chain of small lakes flowing into
| each oTber and stretching away for miles.
| This is calculated to prejudice the new
conner against the place, but the water is
| perfectly clear ard sweet, and the inhab-
itants are singularly exempt from all
malarial complaints. The ground rises
| gradually on every side and expands into
an elevated plateau covered with pines,
upon which the dwellings of the citizens
| are erected.
The soil OF the surrounding country
| with the except on OF the numerous hum
mOcks, though not rich, responds gener-
| ously to the least assistance, and IS pc
/ cuiarly adapted 90 sea island cotton and
| fruit and vegetable culture. In the inn
mediate vicinity of the town no less than
| ffty-fOur orange groves are located,
| stocked with $4,000 orange trees, one half
of which are in bearing. Numerous pear
| orchards also have been started and those
1 sufficiently advanced are now covered
with snowy blooms. The writer visited
! several of the orange groves and found
them without exception putting out Wig
/ Orouslv and showing large numbers or
/ flower buds. The per centage of trees
/ killed to the roots is next to nothing.
IRON ORE.
Near Bronson, the only iron deposits in
! Florida yet discovered worth developing,
are to be found. The ore is very rich, and
exists in large quantities The Con-
federate government, towards the close OF
| the late struggle for independence, took
steps to utilize this valuable natural
| benefactiOn. An extensive furnace and
other works were In process of cOnstruc-
ton, when the glorious fabric reared at
such an inestimable cost Of precious blood
and treasure, it's defenders overborne by
superior numbers, was forced to succumb.
DIR. JAMES NJ. JACKSON
is the big-hearted Mayor of the town, and
also owns drug store and practices his
profession.
Col. W. r. Coulter, the Oldest living
| original settler, is citizen OF great worth
and highly respected. The efficient Clerk
of the Court, j. M. Barc0, ESD, has held
his position for ten years, and it Is said
| may continue to occupy the Office as long
as he desires it. Bronson has a pOpula-
ton OF 600, ten business places, two
| schools, two hotels, two churches, a
saw mill, sea island steam cotton gin,
! planning mill, barrel mandatory, and
| single mill. 1t is one OF the best trading
points on the line of road and receives
SIX HUNDRED BALES
of sea island cotton, besides exporting
large quantities of oranges and vege-
tables. The leading business establish
/ ments are: General stores, w. j, Epper-
son. w. Benus q Co., and Fl. V. COarsey
| q Co.: groceries and provisions, Taylor 81
Stands; drugs, DR.. j. NJ. jackson, also
practicing physician; livery and sale
stable, W. j. Jones; iewelry, N. l.. Lind
say and W. Z. Lindsay; photographer, l..
A. Biggs; cabinet shop and wagon
maker, Il. W. Denham. There are two
| boarding-hOuses in the place. The writer
had a good dinner at SOAK Grove house."
which is kept by a deserving widow lady.
Mr.. Sol Bachman is successful straw
berry grower and horticulturist. W. II.
BIgham is Sheriff. Probably the most
enIerprising citizen In the place is Mr.. j.
V. Burke, the talented editor Of the Leug
County Times. He publishes a capital
paper that is doing much to develop his
town and section, and is engaged in the
real estate business also.
Bronson borders upon the celebrated
GULF HUMMOcK,
which is 40 miles long by II in width, and
is claimed TO be the largest compact body
Of really fertile land in Florida. Here
sugar cane, sea island cotton, oranges,
pears, and every variety Of vegetables
grow luXuriantly and attain to their great
est perfection. These lands are attract
ing much attention and will soon be filled
with settlers.
Nine miles farther north, situated in a
high and rolling pine region on both sides
of the railroad, stands the pretty town of
ARCHER.
This il one of the greatest vegetable
centres in Florida, No less than Al, 900
bushe crates have been shipped North in
a single season, embracing for the most
| part tomatoes, cucumbers and beans. 1t
is to be regretted that, owing TO high
| freights and the eXtcrtiOn OF the "mlddle
men," the results are not always salts
factory. AS a rule, however, tomatoes
| will net $50 per acre. Within a radius OF
| two miles $4,000 orange trees are grow.
| ing, and 5000 have commenced to yield
| fruit. Not as much as / per cent. were
/ killed down by the freeze, and the trees
are rapidly putting on fruit aud foliage.
The town was Incorporated April -,
/ 1873, and contains 400 inhabitants, 4
| churches g white and color, d ), l school,
2 gins, grist mills, ? boardng-houses,
saw and planning mill, and business
| places. The worthy Mayor, Hon. W. A.
! Wood, is possessed Of much practical
/ good sense. and Is a gentleman or modest
and unassuming manners.
q. p. Quaintance is a real estate agent,
and A. +. Wyman runs the Lone OAK
hotel. Hon. john n. Mcdonnell has lust