The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-09-28
Daily Jacksonville NewsHerald
mid LEON'S ROLLING HILLS.
A Drive from Tallahassee to the Fort San
Luis Vineyards.

asuale MISUNDERSTANDING to Deoelop the Coun-
try-Great Hopes for the Future-M. Dubois
CldretS.
"There is no use talking" said prominent
Florida man to Nesos Herald representative
day or two since, this South Florida bubble
will be pricked some day, and then look out for
boom in Middle and West Florida That is
Gods own country over there, and people are
bound to find it out sooner or later. 1t is really
the most beautiful farming country in the South,
and | say it as man more or less familiar with
every State south of Mason and Dixon's line.
The people over in that section of Florida want
to develop the country in way which it de-
serves, but variety of causes operates to hold
them back. But it's coming, and it's coming
with rush when it does come"
AN UNBIASED OPINION.
This man is in every sense tue Floridian,
welded to no particular portion of the State, and
certainly having no interests in Middle or in
West Florida. His opinions are therefore I'M
biased, and residence in Florida Of more than
fifty years, coupled with wide business expert
ence in almost every section of the State, gives
a weight to them which attaches to those of
hardly any other citizen.
This conversation was held IN Tallahassee, and
a view in any direction from the Capitol win
dows-north, east, south or west--contirmed the
assertion that this is Gods own country"
There are most certainly no fairer fields to look
upon, or more beautifully wooded slopes than
those of Leon county. The face of the country
is one long
SUCCESSION OF ROLLING HILLS
and green, watered valleys. The soil is deep
red clay, and the contrast of the surface Of the
highways with the green fields on either side of
them is lovely to look upon. The landscape is
most inviting. This beautiful Hill country seems
to promise more beauties still beyond each roll
ing slope, and the temptation to explore it
proved irresistible to the newspaper man. In
viting friend to accompany him, he walked to
the nearest livery and ordered pair of" readers "
hooked up Immediately While this was being
done the stable proprietor, who is also large
landed proprietor, talked most entertainingly of
his large farm about ten miles out on the road
to brownsville, Ga, and waXed most enthusi-
astic over the prospects of an early development
of this country.
BEST IN THE WORLD
"There is no better land on Gods green earth
than that of Leon county. There is hardly a
marketable farm product which cannot be raised
here and sold proftaby even with our present
railroad facilities But we want better market
outlet. When this brownsville and Tallahas-
see line is completed | won't ask any man to be
my banker! But we want better rail cOnnec-
tons still, and public sentiment is gradually
working up to the proper point. There is an
element, however, which is retarding it. We
have got to have about dozen tirst-class funerals
in this town, and then we'll be ready TO 90
aheadr'
1.-THE "hooking up" process was now com
pleted, and, jumping into the vehicle behind the
driver, the two visitors were soon speeding over
a hard, smooth road, in comfortable surrey
and pointing due west. The read had been cut
through high hill years ago, and on either side
the banks presented the appearance of rocky
formation, so hard had they become from the
alternate action of the rains and semi-lropical
sun of more than half a century. 1t was enough
to be there seated and rolling along through SO
beautiful co lntry, but at is always best to have
some objective point in view, and so the Nedos-
Herald man, recalling the fame of the Fort San
Luis Vineyard, directed the driver to push on TO
that retreat.
BEAUTIFUL PICTURE.
1t was late in the afternoon and the whole
western sky was aglow with The radiance of APP
preaching sunset. A delightful breeze was blow
ing and there was in the air that indescribable
odor of luxuriant vegetation which so charms a
city bred man and makes him for the nonce al
most long for lite in the fields The cotton
picking season is just beginning Every few
minutes one of those picturesque and typical
"cracker teams" was Overtaken returning from
market and bearing marks of having taken a load
of that staple into Tallahassee. Seated fat on
the floor OF their carts numerous negroes pulled
safely to one side to let the surrey pass, and in
variably saluted its occupants most deterenlially.
On either side were wide white fields of cotton
awaiting the fingers of The pickers to start the
white hollis on their way into the market these
were succeeded in turn by acre upon acre OF fer
tile land either given over entirely to pasturage
or else grown shoulder high with weeds.
IN THE OLD DAYS
Thirty years ago" said The newspaper mans
companion, every foot OF this ground was
der the highest state of cultivation. The plan
tiers OF Leon county were among the richest In
the whole cotton belt and although the war
did not lay waste the country to any perceptbe
extent, yet the sudden change from the old sys-
TEN of slave labor completely upset the indus
trial system. Every factor in agricultural devel-
Opment underwent a change and the country
lapsed into a sort OF sleep from which it has not
vet awakened. l hope, however, 10 see every
acre of this land under cultivation within two
years The land is here and we shall soon have
better market outlets. | am hopeful OF genu-
inc, well-founded BOOM"
AT THE VINEYARD.
The driver had halted upon the top Of one of
the highest hills and pointing To the right said
"Yonders Misser Dubois place" He was di-
rected to open the gates, and the carriage then
proceeded through an avenue of oaks up To the
steps OF a large old fashioned and hospitable
looking house. rap at the door received no
response and after il had been repeated several
times with the same result the two visitors
walked to the rear and Immediately heard a
voice In minute or more up u narrow, shaded
lane from the valley below, came pair of black
mules their loose harness gathering about them
as they logged. Asride of one was foreign
looking young man. clad in blue flannel shirt
and anon eXhortng the animals in a delightful
French accent. He was surprised at the sight of
strangers, but recovering from his momentary
embarrassment he said, in answer 10 his visitors
inquiry for Mr.. Dubois, that the vineyard pro-
prietor was absent in New York, but that he was
himself in charge at present, and would be
pleased ~ show them about the place. gate
was opened and the three were at once among
the grape vines.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Fort San Luis lies about one aud a half miles
west of Tallahassee. 1t was formerly a strong