Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-21
A TRIP TO FLORIDA.
THE LAND OF FLOWERS AS VIEWED
THROUGH RICHMOND SPECTACLES.
Scenes Along the Route -JscksonvtIIe-A
Trip Up the st. Johns River-sanford
aud Orlando.
(correanondenca Of the pIspateh)


Correspondence Of the Dlspatch)
ORLANDO. FLA, January 15.-Ieaving
Richmond at 7:35 i. VI. on the ele-
gantly-equipped fast express or the Az
lantic- Coast Line. 1 was rapidly huF-
rIcd southwark, but did not see anythihs
Of the country tiH l arrived at Charles
ton. next morning at go. Here the
change Is made from eastern to cent'a'
time. and l set my watch back an hour,
and LETT Charleston at 5:57 a. VI.
The ride from here 10 Savannah IL fuii
Of interest to one making the trip for the
first time. Everything possesses the
charm Of novelty though the country Is
very fat, and seems quiet and deserted
looking. On either side OF the road are
tall pines. and live oaks and cypress trees.
hanging full Of Spanish moss. This Span
ism moss is a peculiar plant having no
root whatever I'm the soil, and feeding en-
tirely upon the air, while IL gives a weird
and ghostiy look TO every tree 10 which
IL attaches itself. There are also many
Black Jack" variety, said 10 enake the
finest lrewood in the world. The road
crosses marsh after marsh. cut up by
small streams Of black-looking water
Uhis IS the coast" line you know, and
now and then a rice-iield, and cabin
or two, very rickcty and sQualld-look-
ing.
At Savannah / got breakfast. and left
there promptly 4 S:33 \. NJ. ] am now
travelling through Georgia" and the pine
trees tower on every side. Nearly every
tree Is barked TO height OF about six
feet, and from the trunk the turpentine
f. oozing. The same quiet seems TO pre-
vail here too, the only signs Of life being
now and then an oX-team hauling 81
Cautic pine los. which Is balanced IN some
way beneath an axle mounted on two
enormous high wheels. SO that the smaller
end OF the log just touches the ground
hind. This Is pulled by "A team OF eight
oxen, two abreast, and the driver walk
ing.
DOWN - GEORGIA.
Al. here are three darkeys coming down
path through the pines. They are bare
footed and Coatless, and one Of them is
armed with a banjo. and is singing. and
al three look the typical southern negro;
but the pleasure OF this scene Is dissi-
patcd ~ the next onc-a few old worm
out buggics halted at a crossing, waiting
for the train - pass and In the lead an
autiquatcd Jersey" wagon. with little
white coffin I'm It. gladly turn from this
10 sec my first cottOn-leld. and though
late In the season, there were several
women and children picking cotton in
90. The land ! am travelling through tor
over, for there is but one railroad cut
l.. mi al d.
very poor and the palmetto plant or
saw palmetto, ahounds everywhere. Yet
] saw cornfeIds that our joyial conductor
told mo would produce fifty bushels Of
corn 70 tie acre with proper ferJllizing.
and also had several fine pear orchards
pointed out along the road.
TO one fresh from the ereen-clad noun
tains Of old Virginia, and used to seeing
fat cattle the absence Of grass IS pecu-
LARRY noticeable. while the cattle and
hogs are "rUnty" and very scraWny-
looking. The hog especially looks woe
beg0ue and fOrsaken, being not only
"razor-backed," but razor-bellled as well.
He looks Is If be never received a square
meal and does not begin TO compare in
size or shape docking just Ike a broncho
pony IN the act OF bucking) with his
virginia cousin, who IS a gentleman to
him.
Jesup is the first place Of any impor-
lance that | pass. and then at II a. VI.
Waycr0ss IS reached. This IL a thriving
and busting railroad town, and has
block Of fine stores and several hotels
I'm plain view from the depot. Then
little after noon l cross the st. Mary's
river, and am at last upon the soil Of
Florida.
The engine whistles. and am at Gala
han, whore / am greeted with the sight
OF the FIRST orange trees, there being Il
row Of them in front OF the -. Johns
House at the depot in fun bearing. with
their yellow fruit elstcning IN tho sun.
4 short ride now lands ne in Jacksonville
at 1I5 L. NJ. on time, and l have left
dear old Richmond 100 miles behind me.
JACKSONVILLE.
Locally written, "Javyillc." IS on the
north bank Of the ST. Johns river. twenty
five miles from the Atlantic coast. II has
resident population OF about 2j.-' thaif
negro ana is the largest and most wide
awake city Of Florida. II IS also the
great entry port of the State as through
her gates pOurs the vast Tide Of tourist
and invalid travel; and. coming or going.
nearly every one stops over here for a
Jew days. and hence she has Iuanv r3c
hotels-the 81. James. Windsor. Everett.
Carleton. and The Thc.de taking tie
lead The travel at this time OF the year
is enormous, there being no less than
nfty-cight passenger trains arriving ami
lcaNiu- daily, which beats tas record Of
any Previous year. besides the numerous
Steamship lines which ply To ami from
this port.
Iho city Is very fat. anl the p1ycmc.ts
are OF brick or cement. wnil. the
centre of The streets are paved wi,h
rouLi wooden cypress blocks about s.N
inches IA diameter. Along the residence
streets between the pavement ami the
driveway IS "a space about six feet VIDE
which is set out with orange-trres Of
the sour variety, live-oaks, The Spanish
hayonct. oleandors. ana other tropical
shrubs. The only places of interest are
the geological gardens water and Eas-
works At the end oc Main street which
IS cross-street here, bat has the electric
cars on IL, the others only having The
muic-cars. The Grinking-water f. clear
and sparkling. and is considered very
pure. II comes from srtosln wells about
1850 feet deep. and Is q strong sulphur
water. but it Is filtered az tne works
and has little or no Cdor. IL Is very
5000 for dyspepsia.
PUBLIC BUILDING
There f. a fine governments building
here costing 100000 in process OF con-
structlon and nearly completed. 1t is
built entirely OF white marble from
Georgia, and Is one OF The few marble
buildings IN the South. The city Is woe
fully deficient IN public parks. having
only one about an acre IN extent IN front
Of the St James Hotel. IL has neat
fountain and is fun Of tropical plants
and flowers, but needs more seats The
city also boasts several fine churches.
Prices here compare favorably with
northern cities. oysters are plentiful
and come from Tampa and Cedar Keys,
but they lack the size and favor of our
Chesapeake Bay oysters. The latter are
shipped here though by express. There
IS an ice-factory here and ice 10 only half
IL cent pound.
Jacksonville Is all acOg just at present
over the prospect of having the Corbett-
Mitchell prize fight take place there ana
the majority OF the people are eager for
1t to occur. The city Is rapidly getting
in shape for its annual influx of winter
tourists. and just II present Is fine
place for tramps. As soon as one hits
the town he is sent TO Jail for thirty
days and put 10 work cleaning up the
streets.
An odd sight here is the little carts
not much larger than n dry-goods box.