The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-02-07
FLORIDA LETTER,

FLORIDA LETTER.
KEUKA, Florida.
EDITOR UNIoN:-One OF the principal OBJ
jects in view in my coming to this state,
was to ascertain it's healthfulness, eli
mate, etc. As soon as reached Pensa-
cola 1 began making inquiries. asked
the proprietor OF the Merchants hotel
how long he had been there. His reply
was, 'Thirteen years, and 1 have never
been sick nor my wife has never been
sick" A vegetable gardner says, "I have
been here thirteen years. I never have
had chiiis and fever. have been in this
town every day during two seiges OF
yellow fever and have never been sick
did not have a dollar when I came
here. l now have sixty acres of land
and most OF it improved. I live out
three miles" De Funiac Springs is a
comparatively new town, and managed
and settled by northern people They
say it is the healthiest place in the
United States. At Palutka. Mr. D. A. |
Boyd, an alderman, says, II am sixty
years old. Have been here twenty
years, consider it healthy; have never
been sick" Mr.. Peterman says, ~
have been here since before the war;
Have hauled soft wood to the steam
boats in the hot weather when I have
been sunburned until l was nearly as
black as a 'nigger.' Have never had a
hard spell OF sickness in my life. Had a
couple OF clills once" He said they call
me rich. I don't think I am I have
enough to pay my board. a shoemak-
er whose name l did not get, says, 81
have lived in number OF different
states. l like this climate here the best
OF any" I said how about the sum-
mers? He said, II stay here because OF
it's summers. Washington, D. c., is the
meanest summer climate | have ever
lived in. 1t is almost impossible for me
to live there in summer time" One OF
the leading physicians OF Palatka, to
whom l was introduced, said, ~ am
from the state OF New York. I like the
climate very much" said, "Doctor,
how is the health OF the city now"
He said, "Quite good deal OF sickness
now, you see it is SO dry, we need rain
Palatka has 1000 Inhabitants and
three doctors, and one OF them said, "If
it was not for obstetricks we would
have a hard time to get living"
Moses Seavett, who lives near this place
says, sI was born in New Hamshire. !
am sixty-four years old. I have lived
in Texas seven years, in Georgia three
years, and here seven years and have
never been sick here nor felt as though
wanted to leave. I am a carpen-
ter and builder and have worked and
lived in twenty-nine states OF the Union,
but like this the best OF any" Mr.. Law
ton says, II was born and raised in the
state OF New York. am seventy-six
years old. When came here five years
ago, could not walk up straight with
out steadying myself with my
hands. Now I can walk up
with a pailful Of water in
each hand without any trouble. Hehas
a five acre lot mostly in trees which he
cares for himself, and likes the country
very much, have not heard OF anyone
being sick. Socially, this part OF the
country is all right, being settled with
northern people. Politically, see nc
difference between here and there. The
only indications Of any unsettled state
OF affairs was seen while passing through
Tennessee and Alabama, atway stations
| of which there are great nlany-ther
were always large number OF people
, both white and black, gathered, and ont
very noticeable feature was the coloret
, women-not always entirely black-have
, babies great deal whittier than them
, selves, and only for the kinky hair, woult
) have been as white as anybody. I pre-
r sumo it is still the effect OF the proclama
t ton OF '63. More anon. j. M. LEEDY.