Smyrna times., 1886-02-17
IOI q
Florida.
BY A, p. GRIFFITH.


Florida was discovered April 4th,
1912, by Juan Ponce de Leon, who, in
search of the fabled Fountain of Youth.
led an expedition from Spain to what
was then the far North but what we
now know as the centre of population
of this country. He and his associates
named it PdsqUG de Flores. The an
niversary of the discovery is still held
with considerable pomp and display.
1t boasts the oldest city in the
United States st. Augustine-which
is quaint city of "ye olden times"
having narrow streets and in some
places the houses projecting over the
sidewalks. 1t is considered by the
tourist the most remarkable place in
the State: while there are many old
towns that have taken new lease on
life, yet the number of new places that
are being built up by Northern capital
and enterprise is astonishing. MANY
of these towns are as noted for their
neatness and beauty as numbers of the
! old ones are for their ugliness and di-
lapidatiOn. Florida, in its geographi-
cal construction is peculiar, being
Peninsula, reminding one of our own
Peninsula, we being the halfway sta
ton between the extreme of North and
South, and therefore enjoying the me-
dium climatic influence, and pleasant
and healthy atmosphere, rendered so bV
our close proximity to the two great
bays, east and west of us and the ocean
on our southern border. Surrounded
almost by ocean and gulf, Florida has
! twelve hundred miles of sea coast, and
being on the 29th parallel, is nearer
the equator than any other State. It
is of the lowest average level of any
State, being only about sixty feet
above the sea. These things combine
to give it the equable climate for which
it is noted being peculiar to itself and
utterly unlike any other portion of this
continent. From the great benefit de-
rived in this climate for throat affec-
tiOns it is the great repair shop for the
lungs Of the Nation. The State is one of
the largest in the Union, having about
sixty thousand square miles of terri
tory, being about equal in extent to the
four Middle States. 1t has nearly two
thousand miles of railroads, and nine
teen navigable rivers. The yearly pro-
duct of oranges is estimated to be one
million bushels and the sea island cot
ton crop is said to be one half of all
produced in the United States. MANY
writers have called Florida a wilder
ness, abounding with poor land, which
is not worth a cake of CASTLE SOAP Der
acre, but find much of her land vaIu-
able for the cultivation of semi-tropical
fruits and for vegetable raising. 1t is
remarkable how much moisture this
sandy soil retains. After heavy rain
in one hour the top soil is dry, but even
in a dry time dig down two or three
inches and you will find moisture.
Her chief attraction therefore is her
climate, and many who bathe in the
sunlight and balmy air of the sunny
cline are healed, though like Naaman
the Leper, may wonder how that a
land not favored as their own could pro-
duce the change from disease to
health. 1t has been my fortune or
misfortune to be in Florida during the
coldest period that has visited the
State in fifty years, the mercury at
Jacksonville standing at 12o, the cold
wind making it really more severe
here than a lower temperature would
north, for they do not build houses
mere IOf prOtectlOn from Such DllZZardS.
Being unprepared for such a condi-
tion it is felt all the more keenly when
it does come. The duration of the
cold wave was five days, and we
found it hard work to keep warm in
the house with good fire, yet having
passed safely through this severe ex-
perience, / hardly think / will bring
in bill against the Weather Bureau
for they might give me the cold shoul.
der in this also. Since the wave we
have had lovely weather, the mercury
running up to 75o at noon, quite q
change from the ice and snow of former
days. Now, Mr.. Editor. if these let.
ters have whiled away the time for, oi
interested your numerous readers,
shall feel amply repaid, formy attempt
, to comply with your request to writ
up Florida.