Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-29
A FLORIDA FARM.
What 1t Costs to Settle Down in the
Land of Flowers
-. Meolars b. PANadelpAta ~.

JACKSONNiLLk, March l6.-A single
week is q short time in which to look over
State with as many lmperfectly under
stood features as there are in Florida. l
don't pretend to have done anything APP
preaching justice to the subject, but /
have traversed the st. Johns from this
city 10 Sanford, distance OF nearly two
hundred miles; have travelled between
the same points by rail; have journeyed
southwark by rail from sanford tfty miles
to kissimmee, and spent a day on the
lakes and reclaimed lands which skirt
them; have seen the Atlantic coast
at venerable st. Augustine and
the northern part OF the State
from Jacksonville through Tallahassee to
Pensacola, and have noted and studied
with care the features OF climate and pro-
duct which chiefly interest the surplus
capital and industry OF the North. With
the exception Of one day given to a Jour
ney in the northern part OF the State from
the eastern sea to the western gulf, that
is simply the southern fringe OF Georgia,
lhave devoted nay time to observation
and inquiry In regard to the newer and
more southern region that is now, and
must long continue to be, the central at
traction for Northern investors and set
tiers. The early settlers from the North
naturally located on the r0nWutic
banks ofthe st. Johns, as there was no
transportation southwark except that
furnished by the great river that is a law
unto Itself in lowing its waters toward
the North Star. On its romantic banks
are beautiful winter homes, with orange
groves, early vegetation, a prOtusiOn of
heartsome shrubheFy and fragrant t1Ow-
ers; but the winter frosts are expected
annually with more or less severity, and
the growth of oranges and early vegeta-
bles is an incident rather than a purpose.
The banks of the great and its sue
cessiOn of fresh lakes are spangled with
towns which are supported mainly by
winter soiourners, and settlers have log
ically followed the embryo cities. The
largest and best cultivated orange
groves Of the State are close to
the st. John's-fr0m one TO two hundred
miles south of Jacksonville, and they are
sources of immense profit even with the
peril of frequent frosts. Had the country
for nearly 200 miles farther south, from
Sanford, the chief southern point of bust
ness on the river, to Lake Okeech0bee,
been opened by rail and boat ten years
ago as 1t is now, the great orange groves
would be there and practically safe from
the ravages Of winter, as they are on the
Indian river. 1t is to THU new part Of
Florida Just opened to settlement by the
railroad from Sanford southwest to the
Gulf at Tampa and also TO Charlotte
Harbor, and by water through the Diss-
ton drainage system, traverslng the
interior lands, to the mouth of the
CalOosahatchee, that the attention
of investors and settlers must now be
directed. BY these improvements mill
ions of acres of the best lands in the best
climate of the State have been made in
viting to settlers, as they present all the
advantages of the earlier settled Northern
section, with more productive soil and as
nearly tropical climate as can be found
in any part of the continent that is inhab-
table. nave observed this section has
tily and studied it imperiectlY of course /;
but sufficiently TO reach correct general
conclusions, and | Will close my Observa-
tiOns and suggestions by few practical
| hints to those who contemplate Investing
or settling in Florida.
WHERE TO GO.
While there are other portions of the
| State which offer great inducements to
both capital and labor, the tide Of both
money and population will certainly so
south of Sanford for years to come, and
believe that the more fortunate will be
within fifty miles or more sout Of Kissim-
NEE. The rapid growth of thriving
towns and beautiful farms along the line
of the railway from Sanford to Kissim-
NEE, and the rapid increase of the value
of lands, prove not only how Northern
settlers get as far south as possible with
in range Of transportation, but how
rapidly and substantially population and
wealth multiply. Now the railway is
open for the first time from Sanford clear
through to Tampa, striking the Gulf south
of the 2Stn degree, and only to-day opened
to Charlotte HarbOr south OF the 9th de-
gree. Their railways drain the products
of the Gulf side of Southern Florida, and
the water highway just about to be opened
through the Dissten system of connecting
canals and lakes will drain the products
of the ocean side, and both traverse the
centre of their respective sections. This
region would have been preferred by early
settlers even il the present severest viii
ter for half century had not given an adj
montion on the subject that none can fail
to heed; but with the whole orange crop
remaining on the trees and the entire crop
of early vegetables destroyed by the freeze
OF last January, all doubt will be resolved
in favor of the lands farthest south which
are productive and accessible TO rail or
water highways. This region has been so
lately opened TO investment and settlement
that IL is virgin soil for both, and Is much
cheaper than any other lands OF equal fer
tillty and advantages to be found in the
State. don't hesitate to advise, there
fore, that present investments IN Florida
for either actual settlers or for specula-
tive profit, as rule, should be made in
the newly opened Southern section Ofthe
State. Both settlers and spectators can
easily make mistakes there as elsewhere
in new country, but believe that there
is the very minimum OF risk in the belt OF
the peninsula extending from midway be-
tween the 18th and 2Sth degrees 10 the
9th. This taxes IN the Indian river and
the reclaimed lands Of the interior lakes,
and there will be the centre OF productive
wealth in the Land OF Flowers.
SETTLERS WANT SMALL FARMS.
Spectators need no advice about the
purchase OF lauds,f nor is IL a matter OF
special public interest whether they are
successful or unsuccessful in their ven
lures, but actual settlers need TO be well
and practically advised and their success
or failure Is a matter OF vital interest to
both the community and the State. There
may be many speculative operations ia
Florida which Will be fruitful mainly in
disappointment and there will be many
actual settlers who, from some OF the
many obstacles which ever confront i'm
migrants in new homes, Will fail In
Florida; but, as "A rule, IL Will be the
fault Of the settler aud not the fault OF the
climate, soil or possibilities OF the
country. one OF the common mis-
takes OF agricultural immigrants Is the
belief that they must have as large a farm
here ~ they would need in PennsylVa-
mia, where they must devote half OF their
Iand "A u kats IN raaF,fros fhatD aaIyns 49,,