The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-12
NOTES FROM FLORIDA.
N INTERESTING TRIP FROM
TAMPA TO LEESBURG.

Tho Fover Scare-Judicious Course of
the Morning News-Its Popularity
1ncreasing-A Word From Plant City
Encouraging Outlook-Lak Gland
It's Great Salubrity-Dade City-An
immense Orange Tree-Precautions
AGAINST Fever - Brooksville - It's
commanding Location-Vast Forests
of Hard Woods-The U. v. B. g.
Design of the Organization-A Great
success - Leesburg - Lovely Sur
roundings, Etc.
left Tampa in the midst of the excite
ment caused by the yellow fever dispatches
and deliverances of Surgeon General Ham
ilton from Washington, and Health Officer
Drummer in Savannah. At first, some were
disposed to find fault with the NEWS for
giving publicity to the same, but soon
realized the fact that it was the duty of that
journal, as a common news carrier, to
print all information emanating from
official sources that could affect the public
welfare. Moreover, this was necessary to
mt the whole of South Florida
on guard, and induce prompt
sanitary action in the premises.
This object happily has been achieved,
and all the towrs in that section are on the
oui vive, and every possible prudential step
will be taken to prevent the inroads of the
dreaded fever, or mitigate its effects by the
most stringent hygienic measures. So far
from the circulation and influence of the
MORNING NEWS having been impaired, its
patrons to-day are more numerous than
ever, and the faith of the people in the stall
wart journal which has stood by them in
sunshine and shade for more than thirty
years, and long before nearly all its Florida
Contemporaries had seen the light, is not
only undminished, but constantly increaS-
ing. As to the fever in question, your cor
respondent, by personal inquiry at
PLANT CITY,
learned from a medical expert sent from
Orlando to investigate and report the facts
to the authorities of that city, that he had
been able to discover but two cases of sick
ness, one of which was hemorrhage of the
bowels, and the other bilious fever. Indeed,
as editorially stated in the NEWS, many be-
lieve that the disease that has prevailed
there for months is simply Dengue or
Broken Bone fever, which is very apt in
malarial districts to succeed the genuine
yellow fever
Plant Cityis almost deserted by all of the
resident population save the merchants, who
have generally had the fever. With the
precautions and sanitary steps taken by
the health and county authorities there is
every reason to believe that the normal
health of the town will soon be re-estab-
lished. 1t is worthy of mention also, that
after the most unrestricted intercourse
with the outside world all winter, the fever
has never been communicated to any other
community.
LAKELAND.
My next stopping place was Lakeland,
which, though languishing from a CONNER
cial standpoint, is one of the most pleasant
and salubrious villages in Florida. Several
of the physicians and druggists assured me
that there was absolutely no sickness there,
and the mortuary statistics of that region
will compare favorably with any portion of
the Union. They have not the least fear of
yellow fever, and, indeed, this fell disease,
which feeds upon miasmatic and decaying
vegetable and animal substances, can obtain
no foothold here from the entire absence of
the provoking causes. The surroundings
are elevated pine lands, dotted with crystal
lakes free from marginal swamps.
In this connection. justice to the travelling
public demands that should commend the
Commercial Hotel" of which Mr.. John
Jackson is the attentive proprietor, to all
who love good cheer and clean beds-going
there once they will ''call again"
PEMBERToN FERRY.
This inchoate city is situated at the cross
ing Of the Florida Southern and South
Florida railways and near the banks of the
WlthlacoOchee. 1t boasts OF a neat new
hotel, one store, post office, and express and
offices. On the romantic banks
OF the adjacent river is the favorite picnic
ground and trysting places for the Sunday
schools and pleasure excursions of the sur
rounding country for many miles Just
before reaching this point, however, the
traveller by rail passes through
DADE CITY,
the seat of Justice for the new county of
Pasco. Here l passed night under the
hoSpitable roof of j. K. Davis, an old
friend, who has just moved into new
boarding house, and is doing well.
The enterprising inhabitants of this town
have pulled up stakes within the last twelve
months, and literally moved en- nlosSe to a
more eligible and salubrious site near the
f., K. q n. Co. depot. The old town was
SIMPLY evacuated, leaving the improve
mfntS, which were of all inferior character j
still standing, and rebuilt de moro upon an
enlarged and vastly more imposing scale.
heavy amount of business is done here
from very wide and fertile scope of cOun-
try. Oranges, peaches and vegetables are
the chief production, but the staple crops,
Such as sugar cane, cotton, corn and oats,
grow luxuriantly. Some of the orange
groves are not surpassed in tho State.
A MAMMOTH ORANGE TREE.
One farmer in this vicinity, A. J. Gill, is
the owner of an orange tree So years old,
winch is ~ feet in diameter and 81 feet
hlgh. This tree has yielded 10000 oranges
IN single season, and it is believed if no
mishap supervenes the product will reach
IL wv the present year. 1t is one of group
OF eighteen, each but little inferior in size.
The yellow fever scare had reached the
town, and at a meeting of the au-
during my visit a letter
was addressed to the manager
OF the Florida Railway and Navigation
company, asking that no passengers. per-
Sonal baggage CT furniture, might be re-
celved until further notice from Plant
City, nor any freight, save shipments Of
vegetables and fruits. 1t is hoped that
These precautions will be deemed unneces-
Sary n the light of subsequent information.
Dade City has commodious and we'll
Kept hotel, which is doing much to attrac
visitors to the place. DR.. j. w. Fisher, a
promising physician and pleasant gentle
man, Is ono Of the newcomers.
BRooKsvILLE.
One Of the most charming little cities in
al Florida is reached by branch road of
Ihe Florida Southern from Pemberton
+ cry, about twelve miles in length. The
town Is peerched upon lofty hill, and COM