Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-03-23
AMONG FLORIDA ORANGE GROVES

Notes from the backbone of the South
ern Peninsula---Florida Fruits and
Vegetables---A state in Process OF De
velopment.
ORLANDO, FLA, March ID, 1894
Editor Of The PhGnir The arrival
this morning of your issue of the 9th, bear
ing tidings from the hills of Vermont, sug-
gests the thought that you might welcome
message from this land of flowers. Or
lando is on the backbone of the southern
peninsula. 1t is 112 feet above sea level,
the highest point in southern Florida be-
ing at Lakeland, go miles southwest from
this place, where the sand hills reach the
towering elevation of 216 feet above the
ocean. After travelling $50 miles south
ward from Jacksonville through cypress
swamps and pine forests, passing only
three towns of any note-Palatka, San
ford and Winter Park-it is a great relief
to be set down in town like this. Orlan-
do is the shire town of Orange county.
1t has one of the finest court houses in the
state, surmounted by lofty tower, which
is the favorte perch of the writer when
the sun pours down too hot in the middle
of the day. From this point we can sur
vey the country for miles around. In the
foreground are the buildings of the town,
and beyond numerous lakes, while in the
distance the pine forests extend to the ho-
rizon in every direction. Hon. John G..
Sinclair, formerly of New Hampshire, was
one of the first settlers, coming here some
Is years ago to engage in the manufacture
of starch from the casava plant. The in
dustry fourished for time, but when it
was found that oranges could be grown
successfully in this locality casava was
soon neglected and the starch business was
abandoned.
The natives of this county subsist chief
ly on oranges and "sick Yankees" the
latter being considered by far the best pay
ing crop. Some men grow rich and others
poor in the orange industry, as in any
other. Florida fruits and vegetables are
pushing their way into all the markets of
the United States. Hundreds of bushels
of Strawberries are now being shipped dali
ly by express, packed on ice, for the north
ern markets. Above a fine lot of cab
bages, tomatoes, turnips, celery etc, ex-
hibited at the Orlando fair | saw this in
scription: thousands of vegetables like
these going to waste for the want of fair
transportation rates" But that is an
idle complaint. A man might as well
sit on the bank of the West river and
mourn because thousands of tons of ice
are melting away for want of cheap trans
portation to this state.
Five miles north of Orlando is Winter
Park, where, beside the beautiful Lake
Virginia, is Rollins college, an institution
of learning that is held in high esteem. A
new president, one of the Farchld fam
lily, has recently been installed over the
college, and it is said to be in prosperous
condition. This whole state of Florida is
undeveloped as yet, but it is making rapid
strides in improvement. The climate is
unsurpassed for people who require a
warm, mild atmosphere. The condition of
the peoples improving each year. Churches
and schoolhouses are being built, and all
the appliances of modern convenience are
springing up on every hand. People from
all parts of the country meet here on a
level. The black man lines himself up
alongside his fellows and everybody seems
contented. One of the finest groves in
this county is owned and operated by ma
tive Vermonter Oranges do not grow
spontaneously and it is said here that a
man who can get living at the business
in this state for ten years need not fear to
go anywhere.
| like Florida very much Still it is a
comfort to know that have in my pocket
pass good for the return trip to the
green hills of Vermont. S.B.