The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-23


Pcusacola and West EferlAa.
The only portion of the Land Of Flowers I"
inspected by the Harpers Weakly tourists in their
short snj0urn here week or SO ago. was Pcnsa.
cola ~.
But, In the limited time at their disposal they
could not We had a more picturesque portion
of The state TO visit, nor q more congenial host
than COL w. d. Chipley. who entertained them,
and who put them through" q Trip as varied
rs 1t Wis beautiful.
The literary sstar" o. this e,li. ~ Il company
Is Mr.. Chas Dddley Warner, who letters on
Egypt, rrd recent sketches of nor :,ern watering
places. entitled "Theif Pilgrimage" have met
with remarkable degree OF favor.
His pen pictures the South viii be snp:
ple,nented by The rawlings I'd photographic
views made by half dozeu artists accompany
ing the p'rly. The whole excursion was
planned by n. J,hn INN 1, who furnished the
visitors special car he s the gentleman who
80 successfully arranged the trip through the
South last yea 70 several distinguished gentle
tlemen, tie repo'tJ of which were writteH by
Rev. DR.. Field, Editor Of the N. T. Eoangoist,
and one of who's; interesting letters, on ihe
New South was published IN The FLo
RIDIAN. aFr rp
The Florida" trip just made by the Har.
per's tourists, was as follows: After b-esktsst
on Friday they took part in some iotir-
esting Public School exercises which closed
with an address from Mr.. Chss. Du'iIey
Warner At IL o'ciock the party took a special
train on the p s. A. R. R., aud run up the shore
to Escambia bridge here they boarded the
large steam tug Echo" and sailed down the
most beautiful sheet OF water that Florida can
boast, and landed at Fort Pckens During the
trip down the bay a fine lunch was served,
which was enjoyed by all.
This land-locked harbor bounded on one side
by the bold Magnolis Bluff aud the marsti'ne
city OF Pensacola. and on the other side by the
long Santa Eosa Isard was feature of Florida
scenery Of great interest to The visitors. AT Fort
Pickens they were introduced TO the Indian Ge.
rOnimO, and his bloody and unprepOsstssing
braves. The Indians were captured by Mr..
Graham, the photog. apher, by his instautaneous
dry plates, and the neg ltives were slowed away
among his artistic treasures
The view OF the Gulf, from the fort parapet,
where the big gun PORTS seaward, was greatly
enjoyed and Tue party then re-embarked on
the Echo and crossed over to Bayou Chico,
where they again Ian, ed to inspect tie grounds
of Capt Pc, .rseu
city of 10000 feet of lumber per day. Adjpin-
ing the mill. are the garden. groves and hot
houses of Capt. Petersen. and an extensive
stock farm. 1t is all ,erced and plotted, and tall
wind mills are used to pump wafer for irrigation.
At the edge OF d small swamp is a crane erected
over deep hole, at present filled with waieT
This hole Was excavtlei recently in hopes of
finding "Spansh ire sure" said t., be buried
there. Tue spot ha,i been pointed out by the
late Mr.. DutiOn, proprietor OF the Chautauqua
Hotel, al De Funisk Springs. He possessed =
gold seeker" or plumb liue talisman which he
had brought rom the mining districts of Col
Oratlo, and indicated where the precious metals
were to be found. This miners compass pointed
t" his particular place on Capt Prttersen's
grounds az the spot where hid-treasure was
to be found.
Accordingly excavations were commenced and
continued until 500 or 500 had been sunk in
the hole, without any other treasure" being
found AS this was common mining expe-
rience, however. the work was continued until
black stump was encountered 20 feet under.
ground. This was considered hopeful sign
and the crane Was built, the stump pulled nui,
but instead of the " treasurer the hole 6lled
with water from the swamp and The sea- and 90
continues until s,eam pump can be set to
work.
One or two of the Photographic members of
the party also visited Mr.. A. Stod.fards fine
stock farm a few miles north of Pensacola.
Mr.. 8. is New York gentleman. who has
brought here the finest grade If reg s,ered Jersey
cattle, and has COWS worth from $500 and up
wards. The monarch of his herd is a bull as
" big as an elephant" The barns and out-build
ings are of the most substantial character, and
Mr.. SIS winter r. III ence, is one of the most
comfortable appeariog places in Florida II is
approached by several miles of avenues graded
by Mr.. s., and along which he has planted
thousands of small trees. His grounds and hot
houses have all varieties Of fruits, flowers and
shrubbery.
From the bluff ne.- TIC new wateF-tOwer, the
visitors enjoyed fine panoramic view of Pensa-
cola, its suburbs and the shipping in the harbor.
Beyond this bluff, the Astors of New York have
recently purchased property. and also the well
known firm of E. s. Jaffray & Co.
This recalls the fact that several years ago,
before the war, John Jacob Astor, recognizing
the natural possibilities of Pensacola as being
pre- -eminently fitted for the Gulf port Of The
South, invested largely at this point with
other Northern capitalsts) determined if pos
sible, to make this port the New York
Harbor" of the Southern States-its location
and facilities being superior to Savannah, Mo
bile or New ORLEANS.
But, with a shot Sight dness by no means
confntd d 10 their secton the re3idents Of Pensa-
cola and West Florida thwarted John Jac,b
Astor by unfriendly legislation, and forced him
to "pull up stakes " in disgust, carrying his
splendid scheme and capital with him. The
city remained in its solitude and stagnstion. un-
til the enterprise of one man. (who was not only
the host of the Harpers tourists, but also host
in himself" TO West Florida,) projected and
completed the p. & A. r. r" and thus supplied
the missing link connecting the east and the
west coast of the Cult, and placing Pensacola in
close communication with Georgia and Florida
The old seaport is just now waking up to new
life, under the stimulus and promise of a new
railroad from Memphis, which will at once make
Pensacola a formidable rival Of New Orleans
The Baltimore and Ohio" are also looking
southwark for a Gulf terminus; aud this, com
bined with the increased shipm,n'' of the iron
and steel products of Birmingham, will bring
the maritime interest of Pensscola forward, as
never before.
The excursions and sightseeing of the Har-
per's visitors concluded with a substantial sup.
per served at the Continental Hotel, which is
now under the competent management OF Mr..
Bates, OF Nariagsnselt Pier, K 7. The guests
left for New Orleans on the 1920 p. m train,
and they are to be congratulated on falling into
such good hands during their brief sojOurni in the
State.
Hail they remained day longer, they would
undoubtedly have been treated to o trip IN De
Funak Springs, where everything is in active
preparation for the forthcoming Florida Chan.
tauqua."
They would have heard tho sounds of ham
mers and saws echoing through the pines, and
seen upwards of sixty new buildings Ia course of
construction, fifteen new cottages completed,
and three new hotels under way,
West Florida, which has been counted least
among the princes Of Juda," i. displaying brain,
enterprise, and executive skill which will help
the Slate at large. EW.C.
N
MOTHER AND SON. v..