Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-06
SKETCHES OF FLORIDA.
THE TOWN OF BELLEVIEW AND
ITS SURROUNDINGS.

BILE Business-The Lee Grove-The
Budding Process-'Let Us Go
FishinG''-A Moral Pointer-Don't
GO Vest.
Resuming his explorations southwark
in the peninsula, your correspondent left
Ocala on the Florida Railway and Navi-
gauonrailrOad at about p. m, and after a
brisk run of ten miles got OF at the pleas
ant little town of Belleview, determined
to have peep at its lions. Escorted by
the enterprising Mayor, DIR. Il. Knight,
who is the head of a private saniJarium
for the accommodation and treatment of
invalids, which is literally patronIzed, we
visited all the places of interest, includ-
ing the
BLUE SPRING.
which is nothing more than an eXhaustless
fount deep sunken in the earth, its steep
sides clothed with vines and graceful
trees and shrubbery. In the heart of the
town, TOO, is pretty lakelet, whose
bright sheen adds no little to the pictur
esqueness of the scene. The site OF the
''cty" is an elevated pine ridge, free from
malarial eXhalations, and from its dryness
we'll suited as resort for those afflicted
with pulmonary diseases.
The first building was erected in July,
1884, but so rapid has been its progress
that the inhabitants now number 200, and
the place contains neat union church,
academy, telegraph office, saw mill, two
hotels, and quite number of fiOurishing
business places. Among these NAV be
mentioned the "HOtel SanitaTia,"
presided over by DIR. knight;
the hotel and bakery, of w. and
II. Price; and the combination aud wire
fence factory, of f. W. Brooks, which is
nearly completed. Messrs. Washburne
& Bros. have a workshop, and are the
principal architects and builders in the
town. The leading merchants are Messrs.
Trask Il Newman and Smith & Stone. w.
W. Mason, farmer in the vicinity, and
proprietor OF saw mill, was the original
owner Of the site of the town.
Belleview with its soft climate and
rich contiguous hummOck lands, offers
an inviting field to the emigrant and
suffering invalid 1t would be amss also
not TO state that Prof. G. G.. Bush, from
Boston, will soon establish q literary
seminary of high order which will add
greatly to the attractions of the place.
The Professor has resided both in France
and Italy, but gives his unequivOcal
testimony in favor of Belleview as a
health resort. He has planted mis- stakes
here for good.
After enjoying the hospitality of Mr..
Price your correspondent took tho train
again about night for Leesburg, and
reached his destination at s p. m. Here
a vexatiOus mishap befel him.
When the train Git was the "CaunOn
Balp') stopped at the depot only for an
instant the writer, laden with his valise
and ether hand baggage, sought to get
out as quickly as possible. But
BURLY PASSENGER
blocked the way and obstinately refused
to move until he was thrust aside and the
train had started. Reaching the plat
form at length the speed was too great to
attempt getting off, and the conductor
was asked to stop the train. This was
done alter many abortive pulls at the
rope, and your correspondent alghted
about three-fOurths of a mile from the
depot. 1t was quite dark, but guided by
the distant light at the station he assayed
to return to that point. Soon, however, a
piece of trestle-work was encountered.
without the usual fOot-bOard for pedes-
trians, and it was necessary to cross over
by stepping from one crOss-tie to another.
These were placed at irregular distances
and the task was delicate one even by
daylight. Finding his life in jeopardy he
was forced to drop upon his knees and
literally creep over the yawning chasm,
holding fast to the iron rails. And thus
he succeeded in reaching the depot, and,
after a long walk, found shelter in a
friendly hotel.
LEEsBURG.
This is undoubtedly one of the most
beautiful towns in Florida. 1t is built
upon narrow peninsula between Lakes
Harris and Griffin, and commands an en-
chanting view OF the latter. From the OBJ
servatOFy on the roof Of Pearce, Hanson
Il Co.'S store a magnificent panorama Of
orange groves, mOss-cOVered live oaks,
handsome villas and vegetable farms is
presented, adorned by the placid waters
of two lovely lakes, the town with its
spires and pretty streets lying at your
feet. Ii is the centre of a considerable
commerce, derived from the navigation
by steamers Of the chain of lakes forty
miles in length, composed of Lakes Eus-
tbs, Dora, Harris and Parker, connected
by Ocklawaha river, and affording before
the advent of railroads the
only communication with st. Johns
river and the sea. Leesburg was formerly
the county seat OF Sumter, and is still its
most important trade centre. 1t contains
POO inhabitants, white and . colored
churches, 4 schools, an ice factory with
the capacity OF 10 tons per day, , steam
gins, planing-mill and sash factory, 8
physicians, > lawyers, and exports
100000 BOXES OF ORANGES
annually, besides many vegetables. -Four
hotels and several bOarding-hOuses afford
accommodations for travellers, but "A first
class and rOOmy structure with the mod
ern Improvements would double the num-
Der OF tourists and inValids who come here
for health and recreation. Happily this
want will soon be supplied.
THE LEESBURG HOTEL
now kept by Mr.. Rodenbougb, with whom
the writer stopped and was most hospita-
bly, entertained, has recently changed
hands, and the purchasers, who are men
of ample means, intend TO tear down the
present building and erect another, which
will I'll every demand Of an exacting pub
lie. In this country experience has DEM
Onstrated that a town advances in pros
perity in proportion with the extension
and improvement OF Its facilities for pro-
vidiDg for the comfort and pleasure Of the
travelling community. This is peculiarly
a Florida axiom, but obtains more or less
everywhere, aud is q recognized trait Of
human nature. In this connection 10 is
but proper 20 say that Mr.. j. A. Earman,
OF the Central hotel, keeps a good house,
and his livery stable furnishes every con-
yenience for those who wish % view the
beautiful surroundings OF Leesburg.
The town has many attractive stores,
which may be enumerated in part as fol-
lows: General merchandise: NJ W. Col
Inns and Baer a. Campbell. Dry goods