New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-27
FLEEING FROM THE COLD.
CROWDS ALREADY FINDING THEIR WAY TO
FLORIDA.
THE RAILROADS AND THE ORANGE GRowEgs-
BEAUITEs OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER
MAKING USE OF THE PINE.

BEAUITEs OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER
MAKING USE OF THE PINE.
Orlando Fia Nov. ls.-The ANIMAL winter flight to
Florida VI those who dread Goa. freezing weather.
snow billiards. sleet slush and other dscomfor which
enters into daily routine of life in and about the
region, beginning orly little north Of Mason ard
Dlxor's Line has begun little earlier than usual
No better proof Of this assertion was needed by the
writer than the about the great trains Of sleep
Ing Of the Pennsylvania Railroad made mp for the
Atlantic Coast line, 10 through to Jacksonville
the night that he left week ago: or at tile Union
station In Jacksonville. upon the arrival OF the trains
or at the wharves of the clyde steamship Line or the
handsomely furnished st. Johns River steamboats, or
at the many stations OF the South Florida kahroao wv
tween Sanford and Tampa. A light fall of SNOW
followed by ore OF those Inexperienced coh ram
storms, and penetrating, cold atmosphere painluis
suggestive Of pneumonia-was the weather In New"
York and Philadelphia the day before your cor
respondent started for the hand Of roses oranges ana
other tropical futs phospbates and curios-such as
alieators. both alive and dead. Thirty hours lafer
VIC were enjoying Floricas dry atmosphere roses ana
flowers In bloom out Of doors, luscious, yelowfos
end oranges that hang from the trees IN greater
abundance than ever. everybody IN summer cio'n's
and a temperature OF ~ degrees ut sunrise anu ho
higher than 7e In the middle OF the day.
The RIM from Jersey City to Jacksonville was made
IN less than thirty six hours and the train reached lts
destination less than twenty minutes late. 1t MADE
the distance OF 0s7 miles, without a Jar or mishap
Of any sort whatever with much ease and comfort
TO the passengers that there was not murmur OF dis
satisfaction or complaint OF tedousness. Occupying
two sections Of my sleeper was family Of Cubans.
one civil engineer with whom have been acquainted
for some time. They were their way to Cuba by
way OF Tampa and Key West, the Plant system
Upon expressing surprise that they should have taken
the rail instead OF the ocean route for Havana, the
gentleman replied awe hsve come this way several
times and dc not find 1t at all tedious. On the con
trry some Of my family subject to seasickness ont
the run from Port Tampa to Havana Is not only
short one OF twenty-soven houIs, only nine hours
from Key West but the is rarely rough. In fact
there are many pleasant things about the rail route IN
addition TO tie interesting country through which we
pass There Is a vast Improvement In the time and the
-cncral comfort Of travellers. In fact the American
railroads surpass any other. and the Pennsylvania
Railroad with one the best roadbeds that was ever
laid with the best appointed cars, with the most al
tcntive employees and with rarely an accident one
feels perfectly safc or as safe as he would be any
where"
There were number Of others on their way TO
Tampa or to Havana, and there were many and some
additions made along The route. on their way 10
Florida Some were going down merely TO spend the
winter az Plants palatal hotel at Tampa or at
Faglcrs hotel palace of ST. Augustine, some other
turning to for their fruit groves and lands already
In bearing some to invest In properties and others
--geologsts and engneers-on their way TO the phos-
phats mines. If what The people OF Fiorida say'cah
be depended upon. the railroads have performed DIS
great wonders In the development OF Florida as they
have for other parts Of the country. Especially u
this said OF the IIant system OF railroads.
AS all roads lead TO Rome. so all roads IN tiorioh
lind to Jacksonville md winter visitors desrous OF
making tour Of the state usually make Jacksonvhe
their starting point 1t Is intended at least the m'ler
Is under consideration by the Pennsylvania ana inc
Savannah Florida and Western railroads. TO shorten
the time from Ncw-York to Jacksonville TO about
twentr-egbt hours. The proposed substitution OF n
dining chr Tor tho meal stations would be satisfactory
TO passengers.
The people who live in Florida the year round have
resort Mt Pablo Beach, which is TO Florida what
Manhattan Eeach is TO New York. only more oesraDie
IN n few ways 1t has q long season. from the fu'oolc
NJ February TO october. and is patronzed by CROWDS
as great MS those which go to Manhattan Beach IN
August.
met n gentleman Yesterday who seemed to be we'll
r,ormed sbout Florida and lie wasn't
seal estate boomer Spectator in phosphate
mines nor an orange Spectator. He Is an owner
., pine and fruit lands In the interior OF
he state. who came to Florida Jnst a1ter
the Civil War. lie said: mo one can
put TOO great an estimate on the benefits given TO
vrowers to move their crops quickly to the markets.
xhl,e before II was doubtful about grower geuing
bic fruit and vegetables TO market even II he grew
tbem except ut greater cost than the vaine OF the
produce About twenty-five years ago purchaser
rood bit Of property near Lccsburg, Just west OF
Sanford IN the Interior. About forty acres OF IL
yas covered with wild orange trees and conciudcd
o cut them OF and grow sugar cane. a man came
hong and took me sharply II task for destroying
.hese trees that might be made good source OF
,roft He convinced me that by budding womb
have crop of excellent oranges In three or 1our
ycars that wocld pay double what sugar cane would
took his advice. and to-day consider that am
worth abont 5000 600. and ten wears aeo wond have
sold out every thing for 5000 and thought myself
lucky. I've been looking for this benefactor OF mine
for q couple OF years. and II could ma MN "ouiu
give him ten acres Of my orange grove Pm grower
but am In sympathy with the railroads IN inc iate
decision Of the Interstate Commerce Commission that
,hcy shall reduce their freight charges on oranges
from 40 to 35 cents box from here to New-iork ana
TO refund the difference already paid. We don't get
any too much for fruit, but we arc better OH
than before ae railroads came TO MS. Then under-
stand there's question with the railroad companies
20 whom they would pay this refund to- our pine ior-
ests are q greater source CT profit than they uscd
TO be. We arc not buraing down the trees
I'm the wholesale way that used to do;
but in addition 10 saving them up for building
material which has advanced about 81 thousand II
is being used largely for making orange boxes
asked . travelling agent for four of the southern
railways whom / met at Jacksonville what effect
the decision Of the Interstate Commerce Commission
would have. lie said II that decision is enforced
II will make difference OF about $4,000 year In
The returns Of the companies. and would prove a
serious matter to them especially as 1t is struggle
TO make both ends meet now. The fact Is VIC were
charging 30 cents box freight for oranges when
the Clyde steamship line, running from Jacksonville
The Mallory, running from Fernandna and the Ocean
,nnning from savannah. and having the Savannah,
Florida and westera a. ITS railway connection to
jacksonville got together and showed how they were
losing money at 30 cents box. and then they
put mp tho rate to 40 cents box. This no more
than pavs the actual cost of carrying and handling