Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-02-19
HOTEL RosELAND,
j JACKSONVILLE, FLA,
Feb. 6, 1856.
To tile Editor Of tile Herald:

4 " t'tC A~NtttNf " tftC NV 'ttt
We are now enjoying the "adver-
tised" Florida weather. The Their
mometer at MONDAY indicates from
go to 10 degrees in the shade, and
the air is soft and balmy, aud full
of vigor and health. The climate
here is beautiful, and although a
cold spell may once in half a cen,
fury sweep over The State, and fully
oblitcrate the froSt-line, still the
tourist will annually turn southwark
and invalids will come to breat' G tie
inyigorating atmosphere. The
freeze in January has not been
cqualled before since 1885. The
thermometer ran down only to about
20 degrees above zero, but great
damage resulted. Nearly all Of the
orange crop then ungathered, cstim-
ated at about one-fourth of the
yearly crop, was chilled, and so rem
dered unmarketablc, and the young
trees in many localities were more
or less injured. 1t will he impossi-
bic at present to ascertain the eX-
tent of damage to trees, until the
spring growth appears and the in
jured parts fail to show life and die
from want Of circulation of the sap,
the true damage will not be learned.
The loss is no doubt severe, but it is
not ruinous. Some groves are but
little damaged, and many trees are
wholly uninjured, the leaves now re
naming are as green and bright as
before the freeze.
Thousands of tourists are now
visiting the State, In every locality
are found large and splcndidly
equipped hotels, while boarding
houses are legion. The cost of liv-
ing, either at hotel or housekeeping,
is about the same as in New Eng
land. Hotel board ranges from one
to four and six dollars per day. Rail
road fares are high, about five cents
per mile being charged, be the trip
short or long one.
The State has been chiefly dcyel-
oped since the war, and 1t really
dates its growth from the adoption
of its new constitution in 1868. Its
public enterprises are the outcome
Of Northern capital, and its chief
material progress is due to Northern
energy. 1t is in some portions, in
its push and enterprise a Northern
State planted in Southern soil
There are in some counties Of the
State still existing the old Southern
dogmas, and its attending evils-ig-
norance and intolerance. Tncse in
time must give way. Education
slowly and surely will work out the
unsolved problem. Jacksonville, St.
Augustine, Palatka, DeLand, Orlan.
do, and other fourishing places,
showing thrift, activity and Yankee
push, are but the forerunners Of
many other cities and towns yet to
come into notice. In all of the
places named business is transacted
principally by Northern men and on
Northern principles. The "cracker''
element is fast yielding to the march
of progress, aud here soon will be
found wealthy, prosperous State.
Jacksonville and its suburbs con
tain over twenty thousand inhabit-
ants. AT the close of the war it was
village of only some two thousand
people. 1t is the seat of the bust
hess of the State, and contains some
of the largest and finest hotels in
the country. Nearly every railroad
III the State centers here, and all
travellers make this city their head
quarters. Bay street is the CONNER
cial section, and is busy and acliyt
thoroughfarc. N