The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1890-10-24
CAPTAIN LEWIS
Writes EntertaInlnoIy OF Florida. .---The
Land ofFlowers and Perpetual Youth
Charms the Warriors Heart and
Weans Him From Old Clal-
borne. .--lnteresting Facts
and FiQures.

Having received several letters ask
ing information about Florida and her
prospects, take this method Of giving
such information as may possess.
There is a good opening here for men
Of good practical sense and steady, in
dustrious habits. To young men,
whether married or single, possessing
these qualifications there are splendid
opportunities. If they have not the
means to purchase land on the river
bank, there are plenty Of opportunities
Of raising fruits and vegetables on
shares. This will keep them employed
from October first TO the middle of
April, when the shipping ceases, and
the shipments from Charleston and
Crystal Springs commence. After that
the pine apple crop furnishes remuner-
ative employment TO all who are will
ing TO work. The regular wages for
such labor is sl.50 per day.
Almost any day, in sailing up or
down the river, one may see schooner
either sailing or lying at anchor. This
schooner is owned by an old black man
and two young white men. They are
taking contracts to prepare land for
planting. The white youths are the
orphan children Of the old mans former
master, who. dying. left his orphaned
children in theold mans charge. And
most faithfully has he discharged the
trust. Had those orphan boys been
left a little land or other property,
doubtless some kind hearted white man
would have taken pity on them, and
thrown his benevolent arms around all
they had. About two years ago the
three came to Florida from South Car
olina, without a dollar. Went to work
BY the day or contract, and are now
well-to-do. The earnest affection man
ifested By the young men for their ne
gro friend and benefactor is beautiful
to see. Would you disfranchise that
nigger?
But to return. The very first thing
that an immigrant should do when he
comes to Florida, is to HHiedrR and
forget all he ever knew about Missis-
sippi practice and methods. There
have been some bad failures on this
river. But they have been confined
to those only who had neither eyes nor
ears for new and changed conditions :
lacked adaptability-whO we're too
strongly intrenched in their corceits TO
heed the warnings or profit by the ex-
perience OF the old settler. OF course
the immigrant should bring little
money. With anything like prudence
and economy an ordinary family can
live comfortably on IS or sl0per month.
IL may take a month or two TO get
started. Vegetation is very rapid.
With plenty Of fruit and vegetables,
plenty of game, and lots Of fish and
oysters, one need not starve on Indian
river.
The production Of guavas is rapidly
increasing. This is delicious and val
liable fruit, and is growing in quality
and value every season. Perhaps your
readers do not know what a guava is
1t is about the size of an ordinary peach,
grows upon bush or low tree and has
delicious flavor when eaten from the
tree. The celebrated guaya jelly Of
Cuba is made from this fruit. 1t is
used in various ways. Its culinary
uses are many, and there is scarcely q
table in Southeast Florida but is sup
piled with some of the various prepare
tons of this fruit. Il is easily raised
and produces plentifully. 1t is rapidly
growing In value. Last year it sold
| for fifty cents bushel. This year il
brought forty cents peck. 1t readily
sells at one dollar a bushel. But il
must be utilized here, as it is too ten
der for distant shipment.
The Cisal hemp, a member of the
cactus family, is of spontaneous growth;
and, if Systematically cultivated, would
be paying product. From it is made
the finest and strongest cordage. IL is
largely produced in the Bahama Islands,
and shipped TO the North and Europe
TO be manufactured into cordage. The
leaves, or blades, grow from two to four
feet in length. The lower blades are
stripped off annually, and the remain.
der left to grow. Twenty or thirty
blades can be taken from one stem; and
when decorticated, produces a fine
silky fibre. About 200 plants can
be grown ON an acre 1t is shipped
Just as picked, without any other pre-
paration for shipment. Whether Its
cultivation would prove as profitable as
that of fruits and vegetables is a ques-
ton yet to be decided by experiment.
The cost of getting here is matter
Of some Importance. The passage alone
viii be $3.50. BY leaving by the
night train from Port Gibson the pas.
senger viii be in ample time for the
3:55 D. m. train tor jacksonville, where
he viii lie over till noon the next day,
when he will take the train for Titus
vile, and the next morning take the
steamer for Aukona or Eden, where he
viii arrive the same night--thus being
out only two nights. The entire ex'
penses need not amount to over $40
October is the month to come, as gar
denine commences at that time.
This letter is intended in the ma
ture of general epistle in answer
TO inquiries tor which there is nc
charge. anybody wishes TO come
here are all the directions he ol