The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-05-13
LETTER FROM SOUTH FLORIDA.

LETTER FROM SOUTH FLORIDA.
The Progress ofSanford. Railroads.
Newspapers. Post ONCE. Hotels.
lee House. WaterWorks. The Fes-
tive Flea. Scenes and TOwns Along
the South Florida to Tampa.
TAMPA. May ~. 1855.
Editor PALATKA NEWS:
Sanford people always have been
proud of their town. and very justly. too.
but since the last connecting link with
the outside world by the j.. 7. & X. ".
railway has been forged. they have put
on more airs than usual. It's honest
pride, though. and they can't lie blamed
for throwing out their breasts and strut.
ting, any more than Palatkans did.
when they got their second railroad.
Sanford is q rapidly improving place.
and has lots to show for the energy and
capital OF its inhabitants. With three
railroads coming into it, and fourth
one in course OF construction, and the
advantage of water facilities, it should
certainly do something. II will take a
big fire, such as Palatka had, to bring
the brick in as an article os building ma.
terial.
Only one single brick building adorn
sanford, and that is the "Ly man Bank,
built by Rev. Lyman phelphs, so well
known as most liberal and enterprisinX
citizen. He is the present incumbent OF
the post office, and IA look into the in
terror Of it reveals at once good taste,
lberaity and ncatness. To him alone is
all this due, for the office occupies part
of his bank building. and has been fitted
up at his own expense. All that Uncle
Sam owns in there could he thrown out
in not many minutes. In the opinion Of
pos. office experts, it is the "nicest" OF.
flee in the state. Mr.. Phelps deserves
much more credit fer his efforts than he
is given.
The Journal and Argus are ranged
alongside Of each other, like rival gro
cries, and adams and Harris can sit on
their respective steps and dexchange com.
pliments. or mud" a, the case may he,
with tho utmost ease. Both papers are
the best" as matter OF course.
The Sanford House looks silent and
desolate To what it did few months
ago, with its gay crowds. The property
il, however. well kept up during the
Aummer months.
The new ice factory will soon I've com.
pletc,l, and then Sanford can keep cool
without depending on tsimport. Every
citizen of Florida ought to say, God
hles, the man who invented artificial
icey'
Sanford has no brick sidewalks. but
has a good system Of waterworks, the
supply being obtained from clear water
lake few miles in the interior.
The interesting flea purs'les his voca-
ton here, the same as in all other
places, only they are not quite so gentle
as Tampa lleas. Those feas in Tampa
are SO familiar with you. and so tame
that they will walk up alongside Of you.
and allow themselves to be pet:ed and
caressed same as a tame cat or dog.
o, everlasting flea II we could only set
you on to the Chicago anarchists,
wouldn't you entertain them
Sanford has grown rapidly to the
westward, since the railroad opened up
business in that direction.
Boarding the "a. IN. train on the
Sou'hl Florida road, we whirl rapidly
away from Sanford in tho cloud of dust
and sand SO inseparable from summer
rairoading in FLORIDA.
We pass the "I}elair Grove, the prop
erty Of Gen. Sanford and roll on past
"bay heads" ha'woods, ponds, lakes,
creeks. etc, until we came to Soldeler
Creek where is located busy little
shingle mill. manufacturing shingles
Of cypress. From this point on. the
land gradually assumes rolling aspect.
and pine woods predo,ninate.
We pass through l.ongwood, Alta
monte. Maitland. Winter Park and vii.
cox; then comes Orlando. From Long
wood to Orlando is about twenty miles.
and it is a veritablc garden spot, almost
the entire distance being thickl, settled.
and covered with many and many a
lovely home. surrounded by thrifty
looking orange groves
Numerous bright clear water lakes
add greatly to the heauty of the scenery
many Of them Of quite good size The
smaller lakes and ponds are in SOME
cases covered with water lilies.
Passing little flag station, called
Woodbridge, we notice narrow gauge
roal connecting with ours, rejoicing in
the name OF "Apopka & Atlantic. We
rather imagine that the weather will be
quite chilly in July when that road
sees the Atlantic. This point was for
merly known as Mayo station, and pos
spssed the only ice factory along The
road, except Orlando. Some month,