Evening journal., 1888-12-01
The FLORIDA FAMILY.
A Talk with MIR. smith ON HiSProsPeets
and on other Subjects.

"A Talk with mr. smith ON HisefrosPeetA
and on other Subjects.
James A. Smith, who with his wife and
their three children and the three chill
dren of his deceased brother. recently
arrived in this city from Florida. was
seen few evenings since by an EVENING
JOURNAL. reporter who desired TO learn
something Of the family and
its future prospects The reporter
was received by Mr.. Smith at
his residence. No. 1901 Lincoln street. It
is an eight room house. the use of which
is kindly allowed TO Mr.. Smith by w +.
Seeds. the owner. The first floor rooms
have been partially. but simply furnished
through the kindness of those who sym
pathized with the family in its misfor
tune The family is now quite comfor-
tally fixed Notwithstanding that the bed
rooms are not furnished.
In conversation with the reporter
Mr. Smith said 81 thank the PEG
pie of Wilmington who have as
sisted us TO our present condition,
and will at some future time pub
fish a complete and correct list Of those
who have helped us returning thanks to
them individually / hope TO be able to
pun through this winter. ] expect to
start work carpentering for myself
shortly and am now taking small jobs,
and hope after pulling through
the winter which will be a
struggle, no doubt, that | will be on
a better basis for pushing business.
Through the kindness Of friends | have
received chest of tools with which
win work
Before came TO Wilmington | in
tended to take up car finishing, having
heard that Wilmington was car build
ing centre. but now find il will be bet
ter for me to stick TO my trade Of a
builder and carpenter. All now want is
steady work.
IN speaking Of the yellow fever cpl
demic. he said "While it was in pro
gress you could not buy row Of pins
everything was strictly quarantined. The
recent frost knocks the yellow fever; the
germs cannot live in such low tempera-
tureas that Of last week. Mr., Smith,
asked the reporter, what do you think
caused the yellow fever epidemic in
Florida2" Some persons think that the
fever was brought from Havana,
by vessels running between that place
and Jacksonville; my impression is that
yellow fever was gtarted by the germs
arising from the excavation of so much
new ground lmproveme hts that have
been going on during the past year
necessitating the turning up of new
ground, have freed the germs that were
secreted therein This is my theory, and
besides there was never any proof that
the vessels brought the fever The fever
is now over. On last Tuesday, for the
first time in 112 days, no new cases were
tuA hn 90 a
persons in whom the disease has been
coming, but these are not many
How is the crop of oranges this Year,
queried the reporter.
''rhere is a fair crop of oranges this
year but ] do not think prices will be as
high or the demand as great as in pre-
vious years A great many people are
timid about buying because of the recent
epidemic The epidemic Of course has nc
effect whatever upon the fruit. %
How about land In Florida"
Near the cities, land of course is high
in the backwoods il is low Florida has
been booming for years. and this i'm
proyement viii still continue although il
viii be delayed by the quiet following the
epidemic
Persons often hear Of the immense
fortunes made in orange groves in Flor
ida; and the ease in which groves art
cultivated. What can you say on that
subjects? In order to properly cult.
vate an orange grove the owner must un
derstand the matter, lust as a Delaware
farmer to successfully cultivate peaches
must know how 20 do it. For greenhorn
to attempt the cultivation of either
oranges or peaches he would reap heavy
failure. Profits in orange growing are
large, but the risks are correspondingly
great. A heavy frost would make orange,
useless for shipping. Insurance compa
MES who take risks on growing fruit
have been established. The most success
ful shippers are the ones who practically
control the market by their large ship
ments
The boys Of Mr. Smiths family have
never seen heavy snow and since thei
arrival have been on the lookout for tn,
first flakes. Mr. Smith is ratiye O
Rhode Island and heavy falls of snow
are not new 20 him.