The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-02-17
AN INTERESTING J ErTER FROM
AN ASHEVILLE MAN BROAD.
ST.. AUGUSTINE. Fla. Feb. 10. 18e

ST.. AUGUSTINE, FLA, Feb 10. 1886.
Editors Citizen Il have thought thai
a short letter from Florida might Il o. be
uninteresting to many of your reade rs.
left Asheville, as you know, about the
commencement of the last blizzard, and
owing to the severe weather. the trains
on all the roads were off schedule, and
from 3 to % hours late. In consequence.
my good luck was to miss all connections
and to be days in coming through to
st. Augustine, instead OF So hours. While
missing connections L tried to disconnect
with the blizzard, bnt failed; it kept right
along with me, sticking closer than "a
brother" and paradoxical as it may
seem, it was giving me the "cold should
er" all the while On arriving here it
was like passing from mid winter into
early summer; in a very few hours pass
ed from snow, sleet, frozen streams and
icles pendent from houses and trees, to
bright-wa rm, sunshiny weather; from
seeing every body in oYercoats, head
wraps and Arctic overshoes, to meeting
the children upon the streets in barefeet |!
But Florida, too, has had her winter (the
"winter of discomfort" to many of her
people)as is evidenced on every hand l t
is no "Land of Flowers" this time, the
fine, balmy, soft, spring-like weather
alone tells us that it is the same Florida,
the flowers are not only wanting, but
many species of trees and shrubs ha We
Lost their beautiful, rich green foliage,
and the ''oranges''-the staple and the
pride of the State, have lost both~its fruit
and its foliage and does not give to the
visitor that beautiful blending of "green
and yellow" But this all-the tree itself,
generally speaking, is uninjured-this
applies, too, tn. nursery stock" in both
"orchards" and nurseries, you will find
damaged trees and plants, but / am told
that it is only where the tree or plant
was wantingIn health and vigor. Do not
think either that the crop was entirely
lost, because there are more fine looking
oranges on the retail market than / ever
saw. The growers had little hint in
December of what the winter proIs ised
and great many gathered large quanti-
ties of their fruit and properly handled,it
keeps as well, or better than apples.
Vegetables, though not ruined, are set
back about 30 days, and it will be along
in early part ofnext month before peas,
potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries and such
like garden truck is very plentiful in the
market -
This quaint queer old city is certainly
on big BOOM in the way ofimprove-
ments-ike our own beautiful mountain
Icity-she is building up in almost every
direction. Sheis building water WORKS.
'.gas works, telephone exchange
and railroads; yes and hotelsl She is
e.e long to be as noted for her hotels as
in being the oldest city in. the United
States She has now some Of tie finest
hotels in the South; one charging $3.50
per day, and several 400. The Ponce
De Leon, "now in course of construction,
is mammoth ini ifs proportions, covering
some four or five acres of fground, and Is
to cost S., 600 600 It is to be on the fold
Moorish style' of architecture, having
an immense open court in centre, made
accessible from the street by an arclled
carriage way, with carriage drive around
court. They are working 800 hands, and
| a night force extra; propose to finish up
| in two years. The material used ID con
lstrlctiOn is shell-like stone, called here
aCoquina. IT is brought by steam vess
| sells from the ocean beach, and convey
| ed to backgrounds from the wharf py mar
row gauge railroad. They use 400 bbls.
/ of cement daily. The architectn tells me
that FOR bis own amusement, he made