The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-06-10
NOT ALL FLOWERS.
What Texan, who is a NatIvc:.of Ander-
son County, Thinks OF Florida.

son County. Thinks OF Florida.
We take pleasure in laying the follow.
ing letters written by MIR. NJ. ]. Dean,
formerly of this County, but for num-
ber of years 6 citizen of Texas, before
our readers. They were written for the
Tyler Democrat and Reporter and are
republished at the request of Mr.. Deans
friends in this County:
promised several of your subscribers,
before leaving Texas, that 1 would give
sketch of my trip and what l saw. I
boarded the Texas and St. Louis train at
Tyler, at 2:40 p. M, Feb. lst., and ran
out to Big Sandy, at the rate of 30 miles
an hour. tell you the 7. g. st. l.. is a
daisy since they have put on the heavy
steel rails. At Big Sandy I laid over
till $50 p. M, for the T. g. P. train.
While there I formed the acquaintance
of Mr.. Sanford, of Boyce, La. Mr.. S.
had been to Tyler prospecting, and was
so we'll pleased with our country and
Tyler that he located his family there,
and was on his way to Louisiana for
car load of Jersey cattle. He contem.
plates establishing permanent ranch,
and also dairy and creamery, at or near
Tyler. Mr.. S. is q very pleasant travelling
companion, and 1 hope will succeed. 1
also had the company of our old towDs.
man, w. G. Cain, as far as Mansfield.
My trip from Big Sandy to Boyce was
during the night; consequently I did not
see anything of the country. Boyce is
about fifteen miles above Alexandria,
and in my old war stamping grounds. l
noticed several places that looked famil.
lar. But the country has undergone con.
siderable changes since free labor came
in vogue. South of Alexandria cane
planting was the order Of the day. They
were breaking and bedding the ground
with six.mules plows.
At $50 p. m. we landed in New
Orleans; and I would here say to your
readers if they want to be heaped up and
shaken together, take trip on the T.
P. Road, for it is just what can do it.
The roughest road extant. After leaving
my friend Sanford. formed the acquaint.
ance of Mr.. Y. NJ. Whitlock, of Union
County, South Carolina. Mr.. W. was
returning home from Texas, via Florida.
We stopped two days in New Orleans,
and took in the exposition. The best
description 1 can give of it is, it is q
failure in every respect. They have a
tableau of the destruction of Pompii'
which is exhibited at night, but the
weather was so cold and unfavorable that
it was not exhibited while we were there.
We left New Orleans on the l.. and N.
road, at p m., and landed in Pensaco-
la, Florida, next morning at 6 o'clock.
Pensacola is city of considerable note
on the gulf coast. 1t is in very poor
country. 1t is supported by its shipping
interests, principally lumber. From
there we started for Jacksonville, via
Chattahoochee, on the Apalachicola
River, over the Pensacola and Atlantic
Railroad, and the Savannah, Florida and
Western, arriving at Jacksonville at 9 p.
m. From Pensacola to Jacksonville, a
distance of about 500 miles, is as poor
country as I ever saw anywhere. From
Pensacola to DeFurmak Springs, 1876
miles, there is not an acre in cultivation,
nor a settlement except in the little vii.
lages at the stations along the railroad.
The land is as poor as "Job's turkey"
The growth is scrubby long leaf pine
and poverty grass. The balance of the
trip through Southern Georgia and
Northern Florida is but little better.
We spent Friday night at the St. Charles
Hotel Jacksonville. On Saturday
morning we took steamer for Palatka,
distance of rs miles up the st. John
River-fare, two bits round trip. There
is war among the transportation compa-
MES, and they almost pay you to ride.
We were on the Eliza Hancock. The
Sylvan Glen, the opposition boat, left the
wharf fifteen minutes ahead of us, but
we overhauled her at Ticoi, so miles,
and passed her. For the next ten miles
it was the hottest race I ever saw. The
Hancock kept about half her length
ahead, and was gaining ground, when
some of the ladies became frightened for
fear of an explosion, and demanded the
Captain to check up. The engineer shut
down the throttle and let the Glenn run
ahead, but we arrived at Palatka in three
minutes after she did, so we claim the
victory.
St. John River will average four or
five miles wide from Jacksonville 10
Palatka, is very clear, and dotted with
thriving towns. The growth along its
banks is palmetto, magnolia and pine,
draped with long moss.
From Palatka we took the Florida
Southern Railway to this place, 4S miles.
1t is a narrow gauge, with heavy iron
rails, and runs like lightning. This is
in the Hammock lands, and is the only
part of Florida have seen that would
have. They cultivate nothing but
oranges and vegetables in this section
They have the advantages of the rail-
road and Orange Lake, navigable fol
boats and schooners. l am in settle.
ment filled with South Carolinians, and
you may guess / feel very much at home
l recei7ed special invitation last night
to take dinner with Capt. w. D. Evans
to-day. l have not met him yet, but will
surely accept the invitation. And as il
is nearly time to start, 1 will close fol
the present.
Will write again next week, and lei
;ou -ron, how T lilo Florida