The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-18
FLORIDA Hns Snn,e nrnuhachs.

EDITOR NATIoSAL TRIBUNE: i noticed
communication in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
frcm the Indian River, Florida, which needs TO
be taken with little caution. / advise COM
radcs TO Investigate carefully before making a
move 10 that country with the idea of finding
everything lovely and getting rich SO easily.
know something about Florida. and paid for
my information in good monOy, which / shall
never see again. While i dislike TO interfere
with another's business or spoil n good real
estate advertisement 50 deity concealed in the
guise OF 4 communication, yet feel that your
readers ought not 10 be mislei by one-sidcG in-
formations.
Tic profits OF orange culture figures out
beautifully on paper, bat the figures are mostly
derived from a time when oranges were much
higher than now. Tho expense is lightly
passed over when talking about the business,
but you find il a very stubborn fact when you
get into the business. One might as we'll put
pig in a pen and expect it to make hog
without food or care, as TO expect an orange
tree to thrive without being fed aud cultivated
diligently. Fertilizer, tons Of it, costing hun
dTcds Of dollars, must 10 bought and the
amount OF hard work necessary 10 raise crop
OF oranges aud get them TO market in good
shape is beyond belief to one who has never
tried il.
Comrade Hart says the crop is sure every
ycar-doesn't fail like Northern apples Well,
4
and innOcently repeated it 10 my Northern
friends, some Of whom were led to invest
through my representation. Having owned a
bearing grove for nearly decade, and had my
account balance on tho wrong side several
years on account Of crop failures, know it IS
lie. j do not suppose your correspondent in
tended 10 misrepresent, but he hasn't been
there long enough. / talked that way for
several years, before got az the actual facts,
but at the end Of eight years knew more.
As for the Indian River country, there are
parts OF the State much moro desirable for a
permanent residencB. 1t is a good region for
orange culture, and the Winter climate Is
lovely. The Summers would be all right too,
IL il were not FOR the internal insects To DO
shut mp close in hot weather every opening
covered with scrceu5-ROt common musketo
netting, but cheesoelOth--to keep out the terri
ble sand flies, as well as other blOOdthirsty
"varmints," doesn't give one much chance To
enjoy the ocean breeZes, etc. Your corre-
spondent Acknowledges that he is sitting with
doors and windows well screened aud says the
cool September rains have siiencGd those that
were buzziug and biting" But what about
tho three months thaLc0me before September?
IL you had seen men come up out of that
region 10 the more babitAble parts Of the State,
covered from head 20 foot with scabs and sores.
aud hear them swear that they wouldn't spend
another Summer there for all the orange groves
in Florida, you would be prepared TO appreciate
the remark Of a suffering SOutherner OF Cen
tral Florida: IL ] &C came to a c-c-crossroads,
one l.l-leadinE TO the Indian R.r-Tiver, and the
other tito h-h--, I'd t-t-take the one lead
ing 10 h-h-h-"
do not mean 20 condemn Florida indiscrimi-
natcy. IL has its good and bad features, and
differs greatly in different parts. Certain To-
calities are very sicl.ly, others very healthy.
Those suffering from throat or lung diseases
will be greatly benefited, and probably cured,
If they stay long enough. by going to the high
pine lands OF the interior. Keep away from
the dampness and malaria OF the coast. the st.
Johns River. aud other large rivers and lakes
In the pincy woods" fevers aud insects are
less troublesome, aud one may lead healthy,
pleasant, aud lazy life. But let no one go TO
Florida 10 get rich. Ii is very hard country
to make q living in. The soil is very poor
and that makes everything poor.-EX- FLORID-