Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-04-01
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
De FUNIAK SPRINGS, FLORIDA.
March 25, 1886.

stay. and whom we left there to do up
the CITY as much as their time would
permit.
In leaving the city Of our four weeks
soiourn. We did SO with some degree of
regret. not only on account of the inter-
esiing features Tat cluster around the
place, but because of separating trom
our friends, who with US, when together,
formed circle Of eight, and as was re-
marked by one Of the party, it seemed so
much like home in old st. Clairsville.
Westward. hO! the star of Empire
takes its way" We didn't go that way,
however, but eastward we sped our way
through to Mobile and the intervening
southern winter resorts on the Gulf
coast, such as Bay st Louis, Mississippi
City and Ocean Springs, on the L IL \ K
K, on to Flematon and Pensacola, thence
continuing our course due east on the
Pensacola & Atlanta r r. We didn't.
however, see any of these places. not
that we went so fast, but because we
went fast asleep in section of Mon
arch palace sleeping car" Still on we
went all the same, and when daylight
came it was easy enough to know and
acteristic sandy soil and pine forests.
over which and through which we were
passing. Eighty miles east of Pensacola
| and $40 miles east of New Orleans, at
7:45 a N, we reached eur destination.
away down here in Walton county, mid
wav between New Orleans and Jackson
vile, also midway between Pensacola
and Tallahassee, on the line of the Pen
sacola & Atlanta r r, is
DE FUNIAK SPRINGS,
A place destined, as think, soon to be-
come famous place of southern resort
on account of its natural beauty and ad
vantages natural and to be acquired and
made recently by a vote of tue people of
the county the permanent county seat,
and to which the public Offices and the
county archives were removed few
days ago. 1t is also the seat of the new
Florida ChautauQua.
THE LOCATION
Is on high sandy ridge, 2S0 feet above
the Gulf of Mexico, and within % miles
Of its shore. The ridge is about so miles
in length and 80 miles in width. and GOV
cred by open pine forests. This fine
table land, on which the town is situat'
ed, WAS opened to settlement by the
completion of the Pensacola & Atlantic
Railroad a little more than two years
ago. The altitude of the location, its
freedom from malaria, the purity of its
water, and the rolling character of the
ground, together with the abundant
shade furnished by pine, live oak, mag
nolia and other Florida forest trees
make it, [ would think, most desirable
place for a winter resort. The grounds
of the
ASSEMBLY ASSOCIATION
Proper, consisting of 2OS acres, surround
a most beautiful lakelet-or really al
enormous spring, which is gem in it
self, and in some respects most remark
able. Ii is just one mile in circumfer>
ence, and as near perfect circle as could
well be; in fact, its perfect regularity OF
form makes it hard for one to digest one
self Of the idea that it was scDOped Ou,
by art. From the margin of this lake
the ground gradually rises to the edge
of the basin, about 250 feet from the
lake. The edge of this basin is as nearly
| perfect in form as the lake itself. The
lake in the center is about go feet il
depth, aid is supplied by very strong
spring, or numerous ones, which bubble
up from beneath. clear and cold. The
water, which is very pure, is said t.
possess medical virtue.
The gentle slope between the crest o.
the hill and the margin of the lake i
laid out in beautiful park, with wide
. drive and promedade surrounding thu
oil "a IL
buildings of the Assembly will be loca
ted. All arouhd this park overlooking
it and the lake, is laid out in building
lots, which the Association sell and ap
ply the proceeds in identifying and 9th
srwise improving the grounds. Nearl,
all these lots are already sold, especially
those on the immediate front looking
iirectly out on the lake. About lift,
neat and more or less deliberately finish
ed and handsome cot ages are alread
built and more are Dring built, and pre-
parations are being made by lot owner
for a large number more to be built thi
: coming summer and fall. Outside thes
grounds, which lie on the south side o
. the railroad, ard for a mile each way ol
the same side, and half mile back 0
, south of the road is laid out in block
i of one and two acres each, with wild
avenues and streets Intervening. Whicl
blocks are ap.ble of being subdividei
into smaller building lots. These block
are rapidly purchased. and many Of th
: purchasers are erecting buildings upol
and otherwise improving them.
The village of De Fuuiak Springs i
Immediately opposite on the north sid
of the railroad, where the depot, postof
j ice, stores. shops, livery stables, saw
mills and planng mills are located. ant
where the new court house will b
? built, on plat of two acres of leve
: ground donated by the railroad compa
ny to the commissioners for the purpose
! There will not, | think, be built so larg
! OF a, expensive d building as is ours il
st. Clairsville, nor will it be necessary, a
least for some time to come. for the pop
lation of the county is small in numbe
comparatively, and besides, local optior
substantially obtains here. No iDtoxi
eating liquors of any kind are permitteI
to be sold within five miles of the place
:; and it is the desire and expectation o
the people as well, that this senti
ment and condition of things will b
maintained as the place and county in
crease in population-so the courts vii
S not be troubled with having time take
, up in the trial of liquor cases at least
r No charge is made for admission to th
! assembly grounds, they being free to all
3 but moderate fee Is charged for admis
sion to the Amphitheater alone. Thi
plan is preferable and is more satisfac
] tory to the people than is the one pur
sued by the northern Chautauqua. Al
the principal eHtertainments,s ,such-as lee
lures, concerts, ,stereopticon illustrations
readings. elocutionary instruction, clas
: teaching kindergarten talks and exhib
its, &C., are held in the Amphitheatel
which is built on the slope bordering tn
lake with side and end walls, and is il
size about one hundred feet square, hav
+ ing a seating capacity of about 25O
people.
The Florida Chautauqua combine
the Chautauqua idea and plan, ais
Ihaalfh-ooalyipn onh ipct rup