The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-12-27
and the expense is covered. All the |

anu the expense Is covered. All the
muck land is high enough to be above
high tide, yet low enough not to dry
out because of the twice-a-day irriga-
ton 1t gets from old ocean. The salt
water does not seem to affect the vegi-
tation. These muck lands are along
the canal for the most part, and a
greater portion of the water comes
from sweet" water streams, yet enough
works In from the ocean to make it
brackish. The tide on Biscayne Bay is
from sixteen to twenty inches; at st.
Augustine, from four to six feet.
Because of the severe frosts last win
ter In northern and western Florida,
the tide Of emigration from other
portions of Florida and from the north
ern states has turned to southeastern
Florida, south of Pierce, in Ber-
ward county, where very little damage
was done by the frost. Scarcely any
damage was done in Dade county, and
none was done south of Palm Beach.
With a mean water temperature OF 70
degrees and a mean summer tempera-
ture or 80 degrees, tropical plants, how-
ers and vegetables thrive. One Pc
culiar feature of the climate is that
frosts occur at 46 degrees. The gulf
stream passes within half mile OF the
coast along Dade county's ocean front
age. The waters Of the gulf stream at
this point have temperature OF about
SO degrees, winter aud summer. Jack
Frost is vanquished with such an i'm
mense body of warm water SO near at
hand. Vessels, in passing up the coast,
take advantage of the gulf stream,
which hasa current-as given to us-of
six miles per hour and sail with it, On
going down the coast they also take adj
vantage of it by getting in the eddy be-
tween the gulf stream and shore, fire.
quently sailing within forty rods of the
beach; yes, and even nearer. We think
we saw a full-rigged ship within twen-
ty rods of shore. 1t may have been
greater distance away than twenty
rods, but it appeared to be very near
at hand.
have full effect, and for eleven months
out Of the twelve the winds blow from
the east to the southeast, tempering the
climate so that sc degrees is high
temperature, and then the stiff salt air
breeze makes it invigorating. But that
one month with the wind from the
west, from off the Everglades, the
temperature hangs close to 80, and the
crop of mosquitoes furnished by the
hammocks of the interior are very an
noying-extremely so. Were it not for
that one month of mosquitoes and hot
weather, and the hurricanes which are
liable to occur during the spring and
fall equinox, Biscayne Bay section, or
even all of Dade county, would have
M 1,.ax ,l,oo lr hn nh
tions to her climate. Yet the hurri-
canes very seldom do any considerable
damage on shore. A 80 or 100 mile
per hour zephyr for three days is liable
to keep one hustling to keep his hair
on as it whistles through his whiskers
The new town of Linton, named after
Congressman Linton, of Saginaw, MEN,
ton of which was made in our last
letter, is situated very handsomely up
on the ocean front between Palm Beach
and Miami, about thirty miles above
the head Of Biscayne Bay. The gulf
stream passes nearer to Linton than to
any other portion of Dade county. 1t
is the only town in the county situated
upon the ocean front. Palm Beach is
upon the west side of Lake Worth,
about one and a half miles from the
ocean. Miami, Biscayne, Buena Vista,
Lemon City, Cocoanut Grove and
Cutler are upon the west side Of
Biscayne Bay, fully ten miles from the
ocean. Linton will be first fully set
tied by the Southern Florida Land
Company, of which d. Swynton, of Sag
inaw, Is secretary. Their other towns
will be commenced. A no more pleas
ant spot, a no more commanding view
of old ocean, can be found in Florida,
than 1t to be had at Linton's ocean
frontage.
The politics of Florida are in
somewhat mixed condition. Florida
Is protection state, at least the senti-
ment Of the people seems to be that
way IL we are capable Of Judging from
personal observation among Democrats
and by reading the Democratic news
papers There are no Republican news
papers in the state of any merit. The
Democratic party is divided into two
factions. One faction, which for con-
venience, we will call the Oonserv-
atives,. are mot in it" at present. This
faction Is composed Of those who are
opposed to railroads, canals, public Ina
provements, the influx Of northerners,
in fact are opposed to any marked ad-
vancement. They call themselves the
straight Outs" BY the opposing fac
ton they are called the "Strayed
Outs" They are "outs" anyway just
at present This faction Is largely
with the administration on the silver
question. They are represented by
the Florida Times-Star Of Jacksonville,
as the leading organ.
The other faction are urgent in ad-
yancing the interests of the railroads
and drainage canals, the development
of the country, are largely free silver
men, and are "agin" his nibs at
Washington. They are having their
innings and the we prefer to call them
the Liberals. With this faction the
white Republicans work in all mu-
nicipal, county, legislative, congress
sional and state matters. The negroes
vote the Republican ticket, and II
there is enough of them in any precinct
or county to cause trouble, there Is a
neglect in counting their votes. Their
votes are counted when 1t is safe to do
so. This is queer condition of pol
itics. Yet it is one that will exist in
Florida at least as long as the negro Is
not disqualified to a considerable ex-
tent by the passage Of constitutional
amendment requiring an educational
and property qualification. We will