Morning journal and courier., 1893-01-17
DOWN IN FLORIDA.

Travel Setting In HafueT 1nan Usual-Rock Ledge and Its Attrac- River Pictures.
 The New Haven winter colony at Rock Ledge, Fla, Is fourishing. Travel to the land of flowers has set in earlier this sea- son, owing, no doubt, to the frigid wealth or we have been experiencing up north here right along since before Christmas. New Haveners are numerous at Rock Ledge, and more are preparing for so- journ there. A Jacksonville, Fla, paper has the following, which will be read with interest by the many New Haveners to whom Rock Ledge and the beautiful h. dian river are familiar sights and who have friends there or friends who are go- ing there this season:
 One may read the beautifully worded pen pictures-or the Song of the Indian come to see 1t with your own eyes you realize that all has not been told. There is weirdness and novelty in the scenery that cannot be fully described. The Hud- son has her own beautiful landscapes and mountains peculiar to herself. Colo rado, with her grand canons, gorges and cliffs, and the Columbia, wind ing her way from the mountains to the sea, through rocky gorges and beau ttful valleys, commanding the admiration and praise of poets and scribes the world over, and also the St. Lawrence with her thousand islands. The Niagara, with her grand cataracts and falls. All these have been written, sung and praised the world round, each having their own peculiar features and beauties, and yet tthey all have some features common to all. But the h. dian river is unique; it has nothing in com mon with any other. It is the only river of the kind in the world. It has it's own climate, it's own banks, its own trees and foliage. on it's banks, its own fruits, it's own flowers, it's own breezss, it's own sun shine, peculiar and different from all others.
 It les parallel with the Atlantic coast for distance of over sixty-fve miles, sepa- rated by narrow strip of land. A sheet of pure salt water, fed by several inlets, ranging in width from one to five miles wide It :s by far the finest river for fish, ing, yachting and pleasure riding to be found on the continent
 Rock Ledge is located on the banks of this remarkable river, one hundred and seven
 
 twenty five miles below Huntsville, in tn. midst of the finest and most productive orange groves in the world, the shipm-nts from this point last year being 150 .00{ boxes. l was informed, by reliable author ity, that this years crop would be fully 2OO, ,00O boxes. Pinespples, eocoanuts lemons and other semi tropical fruits art grown, but not so abundantly as thu orange. The town has three frst-olas hotels, the New kockledge, the Plaza ant the Indian River, and many beautiful nev cottages of Eaodern style, and one goot general store. Daily mail served and tele graph communication. The people ar nearly all wealthy northern people, wh, have purchased and improved beautifu lands.
 Below are the names of a few of tn prominent men who have contributed largely to the fame of the Indian River an, Rock Ledge.
 MT. H. P. Shares came here six year | ago. He owns large orange grove, own and conducts large store, built and own l the new Rock Ledge house.
 Senator Gardner Hardee settled her twenty years ago. He has been pionee in the development of the Indian rive country. The senator has one of the fines groves in Florida, and will have 1000 boxes for shipment this season.
 Other prominent gentlemen who hay permanent homes here and large grove are MT. Gingross, Captain May, H. D. Wi Hams, Major Magruder, who was one ( the first settlers.
 Some of the prominent gentlemen wh have large interests and spend the wintt here are MT. Clayton Carney, manufa. turer, from Indianapolis, Ind; Lew | n fnnpaotia1t IT. win of Connecticut, who has large pin apple interests.
 As winter resort no more desired nt prettier place can be found in Florida tha Rock Ledge. Indeed, for restfulness au pleasure doubt if it has an equal. It a paradise for fishing and hunting an pleasure seeking of every description Steam launches and sailing craft are hel to meet the wants of all at moderate price To-day party of gentlemen and ladies @, fitting out craft for 8 months cruis down the river.
 The new Rock Ledge hotel is now opel It is very handsome and most central ar convenient Messrs. T. Treadway ar James H, Punderson, proprietors of u Stockbridge house. Stockbridge, Mas. are making many Improvements in u way of bath rooms, walks and other GO, I 'AShoeSJ 0NdAbS lO bu6 plod ure and comfort of their guests. Plszz extend all around the front, supplied wit cosy arn chsirs, facing ard in fair view the river, with large grounds beautiful laid cut, shaded with live oak, palm an orange trees loaded with fruit, and man other tropical plants and flowers in pr, fusion make the view exceptionally fine.
 The dining room of the New Rock Ledf is cozy and ample, large, roomy table everything neat as pin, and nowhere, i many day, in either north or south, hay l sat down to more palstable meal IT table is supplied fresh every day from tt large vegetable and fruit farm of NJ Shares, near by.
 Messrs. Treadway and Punderson al experienced hotel men and very plessa, gentlemen. and know how to cater to tf wants of refined people. All of their bel were brought with them from the nortl They already have many of their ol friends and guests who have conc to spen the winter with them.
 | Rock Ledge can be reached by the Jacl sonville, Tampa and Key West railroad Titusville, and from there down the riv. twenty five miles. or by the Jacksonvill St. Augustine and Indian River railroa. which will be completed to Rock Ledge | January, 1893