The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1886-03-24
$5OOOOOO
Is the Extent Of the Damage in Round
Numbers Of the Florida Freeze.
More About the Frauds-An Interesting
Letter from Thomas Hiatt ON the
Advantages and Disadvantage
OF the Land Of Flowers.
LEEsBuRG, FLA, March ., 1856.

LEEsBURG, Fla, March 8, 1856.
l do not know that what I write is in-
teresting to many readers of the NEWS,
but as I have received several inquiries
about the injury to this part of Florida
by the severe freeze Of last January, and
seeing so many conflicting statements in
the papers abroad about it, I am con-
strained to write again.
little thought when l wrote before
that the statements I then made would
soon be so fully and forcibly vindicated
as they have been by the severe freeze
of this winter While the damage to
all the northern parts Of the State, even
as far south as Marion county, is great
nearly all the young groves and nursery
stock are killed to the ground, and all
the larger trees defoliated and many
killed, and the people are discouraged.
Here it is different. Very few of the
| smallest nursery stock have shed all
their leaves. None of the groves are
hurt in the least, and just now they are
loaded with bloom, bulbs bursting with
promise of an abundant crop The peo-
pie are in better spirits than ever. The
freeze has demonstrated this to be one
of the favored places for the orange.
The benefit from our large lakes afford
ing water protection has been fully dem
onstrated; all who have seen it aclznOwl-
edge it.
The w. @. T. U for the State of Florida
met in delegate convention at Leesburg
February 24th and 25th, and was largely
attended and an interesting time was
had. Many were the expressions of sur
prise by the delegates from the more
northern counties at the little signs of
| injury here. This week the delegates of
the National Press Association paid this
place a visit, and the expressions Of sur
prise were similar, as well as at the
growth and enterprise OF the city. The
activityin real estate and planting orange
| groves since the freeze is greater than
| ever before. Land here is at a premium
now, and will remain so. Five acres here
is of more real value than five hundred
acres in the northern counties. Mr.
Aahlon Holingsworth, formerly citizen
of Highland, o., but now of Iowa City,
Iowa, on a wedding tour through Flor
ida with his new wife, made us a call
two weeks ago. He had invested in lots
in two or three paper towns" in Florida
andwas around inspecting his purchases,
and found he had been badly taken in.
He, too, was surprised to find 80 little
injury here.
1 will here drop a thought for some
thoughtless ones TO consider. A man
writes me from Kansas to know about
certain lots in a paper town" offered at
$500 and a railroad pass to them thrown
in. He said three thousand lots had al
ready been sOld-enough for large city.
Now in contrast with this 1 will state
that there are only about three hundred
lots in Leesburg proper, and yet an open
lot on Main street, 5Ox55 feet, sold lately
for $3.50 another, 55xlO5 feet, sold few
days ago for $780, Lots in towns of
real value are not dealt out so fluently
in Florida
The loss to the State from frozen fruit
| is immense. Some estimate it at $5,OOO,-
OOO To Leesburg and vicinity it is be-
. tween one and two hundred thousand
, dollars-a calamity as great proportion
ately as that to Kansas by the grasshOp-
. pers, Cincinnati or Boston by the floods,
Michigan, or even Chicago, by the fire.
j To all Of these and others public aid was
% asked for, and was extended literally.
, But has anybody heard of anybody ask
ing help for Florida She asks for none.
She only asks for fair and honest dealing,
{ and that swindles let her alone.
p THOMAS HIATT.