Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-13

Groves t1S1Ie0 kSy A New 1AaNoA A2Ae
 cursionist-B1rds Of Tho Tropic-
 Plenty of Fish And of quail, Hut No
 Hooks Nor Gun-A Gopher-COnnec-
 tfcut People And Silver Springs
 Park.
 A New Haven gentleman writing from Silver Springs Park, Fla, February 7th, says: We have recently visited some twenty towns and villages in this section of Florida, some of them very young settlements, and all seeming to subsist on traffic in lumber, fruits and vegetables. This city, Ocala, is the county seat of Marion county, and is considered one of the most promising inland cities of Florida. It has population of about three thousand inhabitants and is in creasing. Some very nice brick and frame buildings are in course of erection Out of the city, in southwesterly diree- tion, we visited some very fine orange groves, among which were those of Messrs. Greene, Pooser and Eckelberger, which are valued at $20, 900, $75, 900 and $1OO, 900 respectively. The trees looked very fine, but it seemed too bad to see oranges lying on the ground so thickly that we could not avoid stepping on them as we passed along.
 We next visited Silver Springs and found a large hotel almost completed, and, through the courtesy of MT. Bishop, the proprietor of the hotel, we were rowsd over the springs which we regarded as an interesting treat. The water of the spring is so clear that at a depth of seventy feet every form clearly as though it could almost be reached by hand from the boat. When we saw five large fish fnning abound we involuntarily felt for hook, but, having none, ''pulled for the shore."
 Not wishing to wait for the train or walk the distance on the railroad track, we en- gagged "cracker' to steer us through the woods to Silver Springs Park, as it is only one hours walk in this way. On our way through the woods, which are of pine, the trees growing, say from ten to fifty feet apart and six to eighteen inches in diameter, running from about sixty to one hundred feet high, and in company with the bluejay, cuckoo, swallow, robin and oth- CT birds which were strangers to us, we found the trip very pleasant; but when we came on nine quail and they did not even rise from the ground, but ran along like so many chickens, we felt for gun, but not having one, passed along, soon to overtake gopher Then we felt for a stick, found one, turned MT. Gopher over and found his shell measured over fourteen inches; then let him burrow.
 We spent some time on the outskirts to get the lay of the place before we showed up at the center and on nearing the neat little depot we could hear the sound of the ham mer and saw in several directions. On in quiry we learned that the largest building was a new hotel being completed by MT. R. B. Burchell, of Brooklyn. On the other side of the track opposite the depot, w re en- gagged joiners, plasterers and painters pushing a very neat two story house to completion. A force of men were also the grounds grading and planting orange and other trees.
 From this point may be counted sixteen z io md dwelling of Dr. E. G. Granville, which is also nearly completed. Dr. Granville came here for his health, and, having recovered it, says that he and his family are here to stay. It is said that there are thirty buildings on the grounds, which certainly seems to be as healthy as any we have yet visited in this State, as we found the location to be dry rolling land. Moreover, we did not see shred of moss on the trees which is said here to indicate a healthful location, and this is stated over the names of twenty-five prominent business and pro- fessional citizens in F'The Ocala Daily Item" Several indignation meetings have been held in this section censuring the course taken by the New York Herald correspondent in rela- ton to his description of Silver Springs Park.
 Knowing that the many people in Connec- ticut who own lots here would be interested in a statement of facts, we have spent more time Ill ueS pLIOu GLdIl WS dt uTSb AnIonu- ed, but would like to add that two young men building very rustic house from the refuse lumber at the mill here. We edged around to them expecting to hear tale of woe, found one inside making table, the other outside sitting on stump sewing can vas together to cover the house. He was asked whether he would have his roof on to- night He looked up with pleasant twinkle in his eye, saying, ''Oh, yes; that's my stint"
 We'll, but how do you expect to live here? You have not room enough on your lot to raise living. ''We know it," he replied, ''but we have two lots which we pect to live and go back into the hammock to raise fruit and vegetables" We learned that these young men had come here intending to build quite house, but they saw a good chance to buy eight acres of good rich land in the Hammock" as they call it. which is out of the pine woods, and in richer but less healthful land to live on. So they bought it and will get their trees in to gain this years growth. Success to them, say we.
 The uncleared lots here are like any other unproductive property, but can be made productive by having the timber removed or cut for fuel, and building cottage costing here say $500 to $500, according to design, then planting out a few trees, say live oak, magnolia and orange trees, to beautify the place. You then have beautiful winter home for yourself, or to rent or sell to the many who are now ''hoteling" here for their health, who doubtless would be glad to get such place.