Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-09
SKETCHES OF FLORIDA.
THE FLORIDA SOUTHERN RAIL
ROAD.

hAONNt-~tA VT NNA y pun "a
HiIl-A Florida Principally Big
gerthan"Littic Rhody'-Annrutal-
iga Dirt-Tucker's Orange Grove
fernando County in the Past
Present Productions - Hunting
Ground of the Indians-The Semi
mole War-Capt. William Hope
BrOoksville as She is-Who are Her
Business Men-A Buggy Expedi-
ton to Dade City-Incideuts 10y
the Way-SketCh of Dade City
A Fine Orange Grove, Etc, Etc.
The traveller wishing to visit the charm
ing town of BToOksville, OF which so much
can be said, and so little is really known,
must take the train of the Florida south
ern railroad marrow gauge at Leesburg,
and proceed thither via Pemberton ferry
on the WithlacOochee river. He will ind
the track laid with heavy steel rails and
in tirst-class condition. Arriving there,
our advice is to go straight to the
FERNANDO HOTEL,
where he will meet with a cordial recep-
tion from Mr.. Jenness, late of Green Wood
Lake, n. Y. This gentleman has cook
whose equal can seldom be found, and re-
gales his guests with creamery butter d.
rect from his home in Orange county, n.
Y, rich cows milk and the best that the
markets can afford. The house is elegant
ly furni-h he'd and carpeted and can COM
fortably accommodate 100 guests. Hav-
ing said so much for the benefit of the
Wayfarer, let us now, after enjoying the
luxury of a good bed and nights rest, sal
ly forth and view BroOksVille Dy daylight.
The first impression will be that OF per-
feet su rprlse at finding a town in this low
Southern latitude
PERCHED UPON AN ENIINENCE,
which commands a magnificent view Of
the adjacent country for miles on every
side. Still this is a fact, and but Tor the
tropical surroundings of green orange
trees in blossom, blushing roses and the
sweet carol of the mOcking-bird visitors
might we'll imagine they were standing
upon one of the ''red old hills Of GeOr-
gla.7 This is the county seat of Herman
do, which ls a principally within itself.
1t contains 1900 square miles, and is
one-fOurth larger than the whole State of
Rhode Island. No portion OF Florida can
show so great proportion OF arabic, fer
tile land. In the single hummOck of
ANNUTALIGA
no less than 6, 600 acres have been sur
veyed and located, most of which is agree
ably diversiti with hill and valley and
capable OF producing sea island cotton,
sugar cane and tobacco in their greatest
perfection. This hummOck just touches
the town Of BrOOksville, and the land at
low average VIII command S25 per acre.
Some farms could not be bought for four
times that sum.
fuckers ORANGE GROVE,
In the vicinity, has 200 trees that yield
on an average 1000 oranges each, and
measure TWO feet in diameter. The lime
rock crops out TO the surface throughout
this region and the lands are peculiarly
adapted TO the growth OF fruits and veg
etables.
Long before the war fernando county
was noted for the fertility Of its soil, and
il was here that Senator Yulee's Tigertall
sugar plantation was located. But the
MAGICAL RAILROAD
has wrought marvellous change in every
thing, and sugar and cotton have given
place to oranges and vegetables. 1t is a
noteworthy fact that not a bale of the
great staple is now raised in the county,
while hundreds of truck farms and orange
groves are springing up on every side,
and the smaller fruits, such as straw ber-
ries and grapes, are coming into Dromi-
hence.
This was the favorite haunt and hunt
ing ground of the red man, and it was
here the squaws cultivated the small
mOdicum Of corn needed for household
wants, and the most pOpulous Indian viii
lages were located. In this immedat
region, too, were fought many Of the most
sanguinary battles Of the Seminole war.
CAPT. WILLIAM HOPE.
This sturdy pioneer and sterling citizen
is probably the only surviving original
settler of the county. He is II years old
aud a native OF Liberty county, Ga, but
moved 10 Florida when it was an unre-
claimed wilderness, in 1888. He was
participant and sufferer in the long war
with the savages, and many are the thrill
ing scenes and haT-breadth escapes the
old gentleman delights TO relate. A re-
cent number OF the BrOOksvlle Register
an excellent weekly sheet) contains a
most interesting aud graphic sketch of
his lie and adventures, which is delight
full reading, and but for its length would
be gladly reproduced. rne Captain is a
successful orange and vegetable grow
er, and is still in the enjoyment of green
old age.
The taxable values OF fernando county
are 81 q $50, $50. The tide of immigration
sets strongly in this direction. Brooks
Vile is only 10 miles from the gulf and
commands the trade Of large and grow
ing section Of country. Her merchants
are full OF enterprise, and carry heavy
stocks of goods.
STATISTICS.
The town has over 900 inhabitants, ;
churches. { 3 white and , cOlOred), one
fiourishng white school, one cOlored
school, cigar factory, wheel
wright and carriage shop, 4 hotels
g. "a