The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-04-01

TM1OUGm FLORIDA.
Taliahassee. ne EIewer C1sy-Cen.
sorvntave naa select Deaatlfai-
a GracGeas Gevernsr-The Freed
nan ana Ills Fsricna she MALE
Awakening.
In my previous number I neglected to
give Mrs. Oakley, Of the Chanlanquay hotel.
Monticello, proper credit for the ample and ex-
cellent dinner she gave the visiting editors, ana
then picked her excellent hotel up bodily In my
mind and transported 1t to Tallahassee. here
with return II to its proper place, tor oil who
visit Monticello will need Mrs. Oakley's care
The Leon house, the fourth Of ]. n. Lees
mammoth hotels to give rs entertainment, re-
ceived us in Tallahassee The party were met
at the depot by Mayor Walker, ex-Mayor Pearce.
Messrs Dorr s. Bowen, of the FLORrDTAE, and
Mcleod, of the Tatsahasseean, and other citizens
and conveyed in carriages to the hotel, where an
elegant supper was served. After holding 9
meeting and being almost persuaded" to spend
an entire day at Floridas Capital City, the party
were returnd to the Luzano for the night and
the next morning found carriages in waiting to
convey them once more TO the Leon Tor Dreak-
fast AT o'clock carriages were at the door
-
over the picturesque hills of the environment
We saw as handsome landscapes as lie out OF
doors and the general verdict was that Tallahas-
see is beautiful for situation. The grounds
about the residences are adorned. with shrubbery
and flowers and many of them are large and
elegant Society in the Capital City is very Sc.
lect and the tone Of the place has been quite
conservative, but the sentiment of the people is
undergoing a change and the disposition is to-
ward progress The city was settled in 1856.
The population is but little more than it was
forty years ago. What we saw OF the country
is very attractive and good share of the county
is of the same character-black loan with red
clay subs0ii.
The LeConte pear is being extensively intro
duced in Leon and Middle Florida, and is super
seding orange culture The pear takes its name
from Prot. Joseph LeCOnte, of the University of
California. Two trees were brought to Wash
ington from China before the war. Mr.. LeConte
obtained them and sent them 10 his plantation
in Liberty county, Georgia. The LeCOnte has
been widely disseminated in Georgia and Ala
bama by cuttings A full grown tree, which in
shape is like Lombardy poplar. will bear from
tree is not subject to blight. They ripen month
earlier than any other variety Middle Florida
expects great things of this fruit. Cotton has
been king, but it is expected it will be de-
throned by the LeConte: =
Uc pldIlttIS ulOStiy live III
rent their plantations, being contented to live
on the rent and enjoy the pleasures of society.
Many of them see that more thorough culliva-
ton would be more profitable and few attempt
it, but the progress is slow. Nevertheless the
steel pillow is coming in use, and deeper cultiva-
ton has many advocates aud some who practice
it. Our friend Bailey, of Monticello, when
asked how many negroes were cultivating his
land said he had 100 mules and he rcckOned
there were about two niggers" to mule. But
he thought il would be better the other way,
two mules to a Niger. That gives clue to
The drawback of the country. Negro labor is
too cheap and animal labor too dear hence two
negroes are employed for every mule. When the
method of cultivation Of the Northern farmer,
two horses to man, shall prevail, Middle Flor
ida will see more progress and become para
disc. Progressive men are reaching after this
condition and will welcome with heartiness all
who can come aud assist in promoting its reali-
cation. Whether the black man will ind il as
favorable for him doubt, but he may find his
place in the procession.
There are fine opportunities for fruit and vege-
table growers in Middle Florida and capitalists
will find grand opportunities for investment.
The region is healthy. F. b. Papy, our railroad
friend when young man, was subject to hem-
orrhages Of the lungs, so severe and frequent
that he grew respondent and declared the next
one that occurred would be the last, he would
end the matter with bullet He was induced
to go to Tallahassee, where he improved, got
into ralroading and recovered. Moral: Go to
Middle Florida and grow up into Master of
Transportation.
About 1890 the party gathered at the State
Capitol and were presented to Governor Perry,
an affable and substantial gentleman. photo
gragph OF the party on the pOrIico or the Capitol
was taken by our special artist, who got some
other sketches, including two crackers carts,
that were unique as 10 construction, occupancy
and teams.
At 12 o'clock we babe our friends in the
Flower City goodbye and once more took up
our pilgrimage toward the Crescent City. We
had been royalty treated at Tallahassee, and the
flavor of the Scuppernong wine viii linger long
in the recollection. We got the first taste OF 1t
at Lake City, also of the flavor of Florida tobac-
CO in the shape of cigars. They were little
strong for an aesthetic editor but they went.
BY the way, extensive vineyards OF the Soup
pernong grape are cultivated in Leon county,
The wine is delicious. German gardeners and
fruit growers would fairly revel in Middle Flor
ida; nature is so kind and the opportunities so
manifold.
The Florida Central and Western railroad has
been greatly improved since it came into the
hands of the Florida Railway and Navigation
Company. 1t used to be very rough, but we
made one stretch of thirty two miles in thirty
minutes and kept our seats. The road
bed and track have been improved and steel
rails cover a good share of it. The Florida
Railway and Navigation Company are doing
themselves credit in its management
Mrs. G. E. Dyke, of Tallahassee, Joined the
party for the trip to New Orleans. and Col.
MacWilams, of Florida, and Col Papy, who
had accompanied us through our peninsular
trip, and other friends who joined US in Middle
Florida, tore themselves from our fond arms and
enhancing company and returned to Jackson
Vile
At River Junction our party was met by Col.
W. D. Chpley, of the Pensacola & Atlantic
Railroad, who escorted US to DeFuniak Springs.
After passing River junction we were the guests
of Col. Chipley and the L. & N. railroad AT
DeFuniak a host OF citizens and band wei
coined US, and while the band plays will take
a rest MAC.