The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-03
Letter from Florida.
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate.

Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate
TALLAHASSEE, March 10, 1886.
MEssRs EDITORS Thinking that your numerous |
readers would like to know something about Flor |
ida, 1 send you these few lines. If you deem them
worthy you will please give the space in your val
liable paper
THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
That portion of the new world now known as Flor
ida lying just north of the Tropic of Cancer was,
until very recent period, almost unknown to a
large majority of the American people.
| 1t was in the year 1897 that Sebastian Cabot,
native of Bristol, England, sailed from that port
under the English flag. discovered the continent of
North America and called It Baccaloas. Fifteen
years or so thereafter Juan Ponce de Leon sailed
from Porto Rico, and on Palm or Easter Sunday.
1912 1913 landed little north of what is now the
city of St. Augustine. and named thatpart Of Baeca-
loas Florida.
There are various reasons assigned why de Leon
so named the place. but the most plausible seems to
be that when he first saw the land it was covered
with flowers
In 1877 the Floridas were ceded to the United
States but the actual transfer did not take place
until July TO- 1921, when the place became q terri
tory ofthe United States with Gen. Andrew Jackson
Governor. Congress passed an act Mays, 1922 es-
tablishing territorial government in Florida, and
on that day VIM. p Duval was appointed Governor.
In 1915 the territory admitted to full member
/ ship in the Union where it remained until 1861,
when, on January 10, it seeded. Florida is now
at home among her sister states competing only for
that tranquility and prosperity necessary to the
1 general welfare and happiness of her people.
1t only since the civil war Florida has been
much noticed. No part of the globe has, in the
same time become so famiiarly spoken of and
known. The present prospects of the state are very
Aatterng. Her soil is prolific in every section, and
for the supply of her greatest need-an intelligent
white population from among those familiar with
American institutions-she has the clearest assur-
| ance
The area of the state is 59,96s square miles. Its
population, approximated by the national of
1880, shows no less than 266 566, of which number
1885, S1 other than whites. The products of the
state chiefly fruits, vegetables, tobacco, cotton
lumber and naval stores. Florida oranges and long
staple cotton are unequaled in the world
The climate is so purely beneficial to persons
afflicted with pulmonary diseases and human afiiic-
tons of similar character, that those who once
winter almost anywhere along the line of the st.
Johns river. the Atlantic and some ports of the
Gulf coast are almost sure to return. The first
named section, the st. Johns river, will occupy the
time allotted to this letter.
The entrance to the ST. Johns river is marked by
Lighthouse its south side. This Lighthouse has
a red tower shows white light at elevation of
eighty feet above the sea- and is visible dis
lance of Is miles.
The town of Mayport, the quarantine post and
anchorage of jacksonville, is passed on the left on
entering the river; nearly opposite is Pilot Town,
and few miles further the right is Yellow Bluff
No place of consequence, however is met with until
one nears jacksonville The river ba nk south side
has number of fine residences with fine surround
ings and on the north side is heard the busy hum
of the steam saw, which is day and night employed,
in ripping Florida lumber into shape for shipment.
These steam mills, which are very extensive at
times have their capacities severely tested to meet
the demand of the market They are known as
.-ys. Wilson's, the Alligator Mill, belonging to
Messis Ssfff6,S . Goshen; Hunters, Clarks Peni-
mans a. =. cfafntt 9. no these and round
ing the staf6vS .,N3e reich the a ,harves of
jacksonville, Duval county. This bea1tirsts"ity-
l the Indian name was Waca -Palatka, meaning con,
ford-is on the north bank of the st. Johns river
Its present name was given in honor of Gen. jack
son, the first Governor of Florida. It has a
population of 22,OO0. The streets are shaded
with fine trees, and have many fine residences bus
ness houses and hotels equal to any in the South.
It has all the appearances common to progressive
American city. Being port of entry, it has Gus
tom house. United States Courts, postofiee (second
Glass; money order Office 0irst class, and signal
service office. Its local institutions numerous
among them that bulwark of liberty well-conducted
free schools and several fine private schools. II
boasts of street railways a fine fire department
having all the improved appliances, well supplied
water works and gas furnished by the Citizens Gas
7 Company has express and a telegraph Office and
telephone system. and an electric light company
= Cigar manufacturing gives employment to a large
Il number of Cubans and here may be found people
, of nearly every nation on the globe. The curiosity
shops deserve special visit and invariably receive
has he aft is hy Ina and
nine aldermen, has city physician and good sani-
tary arrangements.
From Jacksonville the st, Johns river bends
: southwark, and continues through its course
{ By taking of the elegant boats of the Debary
Baya Line, after quick run of fifteen miles we
come to the town of Mandarin. This is the we'll
known winter home of the celebrated authoress Of
Uncle Toms Cabin, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe
t The neighborhood has large population. Oranges
. fruits and vegetables are raised here, and find q
. ready market at the city. Orange Park and Hiber
nia on the opposite side the river very pleas
ant retreats for the winter, and have excellent &C.
Q commodations Fruit Cove and Switzerland, on the
other side of the river places, At Switzer
{ land new hotel has been built, and good accom-
modations can be had There fine orange groves
here and the lands are high hummock and of the
best quality,
The next point we reach is Magnolia. Here will
class in every respect and supplied with all modern
improvements. Green Cove Springs, on its north
bank takes its name from the famous sulphur
spring near the landing. AS the boat nears the
place 1t presents most beautiful appearance. The
spring affords luxuriant bathing. There several
S fine hotels and boarding houses, and it is a mos
p lovely place.
The next polntwe reach is Tocoi. At this pon
we are ffty-three miles from Jacksonville. The
ffrfar drSf
din of busy preparation that is going leads one to
U enquire and learn that this is the landing for st
. Augustine 1t is the eastern terminus of the st
: Johns Railway. The road is about fifteen miles
long and the run made in about forty minutes
:. when we landed at st. Augustine.
n This is decidedly the oldest city in the United
States 1t was near here that in 1872 1913, the
Spaniards under Ponce de Leon firstlanded. It wa'
here the Spaniards under Menendez landed in 1865
: and founded the city The sights of this ancient
city are the old fort Maron), the Catholic Cathe
dral the old city sentry the gate the military bury
: ing ground, the United States barracks, the fine
a hotels and modern residences Property here is
rising in value rapidly it is in all Southern Flor
ida. From this point we go to Palatka.
This thriving aud beautiful town, the prettiest on
. the St. Johns is located on its west bank, which
makes deep bend here. and affords splendid fish
+. ing boating and bathing with complete security
: Baya Line makes regular connections here with the
l Oclawaha steamers There are three papers pub
/ lished here-the Palatka Herald, the Palatka News
o and the Southern Sun. On the whole, this is the
: finest town in Florida outside of Jacksonville
From Palatka to Little George Lake distance Of
twenty-five miles, the east bank of the river is one
continuous high bluff which viii be found hand
D some residences and magnificent orange groves in
splendid cultivation and in some places so thickiy
settled that it looks like continuous grove for
. miles at time, while the right bank it is low
q hummock all the way, and overiows the greater
J, part of the yea-.
:. San Mateo is next reached. Here are the orange
q packing houses of Messrs. Lyle q Fuller. From
these thousands of boxes of this delicious fruit are
sent North annually Passing the landing of Nashua
we arrive at Welaka, the head of deep water nayi
CATION. welaka is the Indian name of the St. Johns
river. The place is opposite the mouth ofthe ocla-
q waha river, and is the site of what was an Indian
village and afterwards flourish ing Spanish settle
meut 1t is well located high bluff, has fine