The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-08-12
BrOOksville-Her County
Railroads. Ac.s

The delegates who assembled at Brooksyille
On the 4th of August composed the first Con-
gressiOnal Convention that was ever held in that
growing and prosperous little city amidst the
beautiful hills of fernando.
The sessions of the Convention were held in
the court house, where everything had been ar
ranged for the comfort and convenience of dele
gates and visitors. The seats were apportioned
to the several county delegations Each dele
CATION was seated in front of small banner
bearing the name OF the county they represented.
The names of the counties, printed in large let.
tiers and encirced by tastefully arranged wrea,bs
OF evergreens, the handiwOrk of Mrs. DIR. Str;n-
ger, were appropriately ranged around the walls
of the hall.
Behind the presiding officer a large space was
devoted to an immense advertisement of the Or
ange Grove and Home Real Estate Agency.
This work was executed by Mr. Cash Thomas
editor OF the Brooksyille Register, and besides
the artistic lettering and fiourishes, embraced the
chief productions of the county,
Dat stalks over seven feet in height. with long
heavy heads. grown on the farm of Mr.. L. Eand
about dozen ears of corn, as large as were ever
produced in any country, from the plantation of
MIR. W. j. Bailey, formerly of Middle Florida
and cluster Of fine oranges from the grove of
Hon. O. e. keathley, in the city, were on exhibi-
ton in the hall and attracted general attention.
Brooksvlle is yet small city, but il is grow
ing. and among its citizens are numbered some
of the biggest hearted people in Florida As
soon. as it became evident that the two hotels
could not accommodate the large crowd, the hos
pitable people threw open their doors and made
The soJourn oil delegates and visitors in Brooks
vile and pleasant comfortable.
Brooksvile is the county site of fernando.
and is located on a beautiful hill 1t has two
good hotels, livery stable, bakery, number of
boarding houses, two or three drug stores. one
newspapcr-and will soon have another several
stores and other business places that go TO make
up thriving business town, and some of the
stores carry as large stocks as are found in most
inland towns of Florida
Several new buildings are being erected in
Brooksville. Among these are a livery stable
business houses and residences The new two
story residence of Hon. C. C. Keatbley. when
completed, will be an ornament TO the CITY. and
~ - '~ -NS' 'S"s N"piC anu pIettieSt Uutu-
ings in the State. II is being built entirely Of
Florida woods. In the wainscoaling doon
facings, balnstrades, stairways, mantes and Other
inside work he is having red bay Tor Florida
mahogany, cedar, cherry and curly pine a.
ternated in a most unique and attractive style
Brooksville is destined to become one Of the
most important inland cities of South Florida,
and fernando county is rapidly increasing 10
wealth and population. In her equable cir
mate, productive soil, and progressive, cultured
and intelligent citizens fernando county posses.
ses elements that insures her still further great
ness in the future-radid growth in population,
greater increase in wealth and voice and infa-
ence in the highest councils OF the State
The trip from Tallahassee was made in day
light over the Florida Railway and Navigation
and Florida Southern roads, a distance Of about
365 miles. If those who visited Brooksvile
were convinced of one fact more than another
it was the fact that there are no secondcisS
railroads in the State Florida railroads -
first class in equipment aud make good time.
Everywhere In South Florida are to be sen
evidences OF progress and prosperity.
On cur return We stopped two hours at n
latka, and there we saw. more evidences oil
solid progress than at any other place. Since
the disastrous fire, about eighteen months ago.
a number of elegant and handsome brick blocks
have been erected and work Is progressing Oh
several Others. Palatka Is indeed the Ten
CITY" of the East