Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-03-07
CORRESPONDENCE.
In the. Land OF Flowers.
Rock LEDGE, Indian River, Florida,


Doubtless Florida has more northern visi-
tors Ethis winter than ever before. say
winter. The mercury on the day L arrived
in Jacksonville was seventy-nine degrees.
The sub-tropical exhibition in Jacksonville
has added to the usual attractions. The
number of persons who are investing in Or
ange groves and lands. and who feel It very
desirable to break the business strain of win
ter as well as summer, are rapidly increasing.
The facts prove that those who judiciously
locate and intelligently manage their invest
ments usually meet with success. There are
quite a number of Connecticut gentlemen lo-
Gated here, among whom is our esteemed
fellow-townsman, Mr.. H. P. Shares, and Mr..
A. n. Clarke of Plainville. Both of these
gentlemen have elegant cottages, orange
groves in bearing, sailboats, &c. Mr.. Shares
has sent over fifty boxes of oranges to his
friends this season. Query: Who are to
be the most congratulated 1t seems to be
generally admitted that this is the most att
tractive place in the State. Situated on the
Indian river of salt water, it is considered
free from malaria and produces fruit no.
where in the world excelled if ifequalled. One
of the most prosperous places I have visited
is Orlando, about two hundred miles south
of Jacksonville. Here is place of about
six thousand people, which seven years ago
had less than three hundred inhabitants.
The city is controlled by northern capital
and influence. Among these public spirited
citizens is Mr.. E. II. Sperry, of Ansonia,
who has come here to stay. He has a large
orange grove, an interest in machine shop,
street railroad, gas works, sc. Mr.. Sperry
is showing the natives that vegetables as
well as oranges can be successfully grown, a
new idea to many of them. visited his
packing house. Besides packing fruit from
his groves he purchases from others, packs
and markets them. The sorting is a simple
matter; two narrow boards parallel to each
other, inclning sufficiently to allow them to
roll down easily. The opening being mar
rover at the upper end, they naturally drop
through into boxes placed TO receive them in
about four sizes, ranging from niaety-six to
one hundred and seventy-fye in box.
They sell OR the ground from two dollars and
fifty cents to four dollars box, and it costs
about seventy cents freight to New Haven
The russets or bronzes are more numerous
than is desirable, as they bring a less price,
although quite as good quality, in fact trans
port better. The discoloring is thought to be
caused by insect which punctures the cells
of the peel the oil escaping, and becomes
oxydized It is claimed that the use of GER
tain patent fertilizers will prevent it, which
many growers, however, question. 1t is
delightful novelty to spend week or two on
an orange grove, where the air is laden with
the delicious perfume Of the blossom and the
ground is covered with the "drops," as they
are called, and are as free and plenty cider
apples in farmers orchard. 1t seems a
great pity that SO large proportion of the
visitors spend their time in the cities. Mr..
e. A. Chat6eld, who spends his winters here,
has invented simple device for pressing the
corners down, COMPRISING the oranges as
much as desirable, and holds the cover while
it is being nailed.
There are great opportunities down here
for loaning money, which is the most prom
Using business have heard of. The regular
discount for paper in Orlando banks is two
per cent. per month, and one of the banks
earned last year forty per cent; rather more
than any New Haven bank earned. judging
by the dividends paid. Money can be
loaned, secured by frst-class property in
Orlando or Jacksonville, at twelve to fifteen
per cent per annum. Probably no one per-
SON has done more to develop Florida than
Mr. Fl. B. Plant. Hewever,if he had been
on the steamer bearing his name when it left
Sanford for Jacksonville, on the 21st inst,
he would have concluded there was some.
thing wrong in the management in one re-
spect, or that the passengers were very un-
reasonable. The tickets entitle the purcha-
ser to two meals. They arrive on the boat
at 10 p m, expecting to get their dinner,
but are told none will be served till six
o'clock. One Boston gentleman offered two
dollars for six sandwiches for his party, but
could get nothing. Dinner and supper was
naturally expected, breakfast could be
had on shore, as the boat is due in Jackson-
vile at daylight. No one fails to visit ST.
Augustine, the old city which disputes with
Santa Fe, N. M, as to which is the older.
The three new hotels attract much attention
and deservedly SO. The "Ponee de Leon" is
conceded to be the most unique and elegant
hotel in the country. Of Moorish architec-
ture, exquisite harmony in the eolors of its
furnishing, with its court filled with tropical
plants and also growing on the roof, &C.,
&C., its equal for good taste and magnif-
cence it would be difficult to find. Mr..
Flagler, the proprietor also of the "A1eazar," !"
wanted the ground occupied by the Metho-
dist church, but they declined to sell. He
finally proposed to build them a church on
another site near by of the same style of
architecture, which he did at a cost of eigh-
ty-one Thousand dollars. The minister, SO
was informed, afterwards met Mr.. Flagler
and told him he had dream that the church
was all furnished, when he gave the minister
an order on q New York house to make his
dream q reality. The reception of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Cleveland in Jacksonville was
enthusiastic and the decorations were credi-
table. Evidently the center of attraction
was Mrs. Cleveland. The sub-tropical exhi-
bition has been so fully written up I will not
attempt to describe it, only will say all visi-
tors should see it. R. P. G.