The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-02-07
(From Thursdays Daily.)
FROM SUNNY FLORIDA
LEONARD LEE WRITES OF IT'S
ATTRACTIONS.
AND TELLS OF THE LATE FREEZE
AndD: It's Effect Upon The Fruit Crop
Mzza .other Items.of Interest Prom zSsazss>
The ESouthland.-Meets
Old Friends.

north, and even from Kenosha county,
/ it might seem superhuous to write any
thing on the subject, but it will be
borne in mind that those who stay at
home and brave northern winter and
4 founder in the snow constitute the ma
iority. Probably one in one hundred
will be a liberal estimate Of those who
visit winter resorts, and, of those who
stay at home, there are numerous
school children who may be interested
/ in reading of what they cannot see.
Jacksonville is the largest city of the
state, with population Of 10000, one
half Of whom are colored. and may be
considered the gateway Of the state,
and the great distributing point, and
from this city tourists radiate to various
localities.
A trip on the st. Johns river is what
tourists expect to take. Twenty eight
miles up the river we pass the former
winter home Of Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe, located on the east bank, a
charming retreat, and Palatka is
reached after pleasant trip Of seventy
five miles. This is an enterprising town
of 1000, with Hotel Putnam occupying
an entire block, with capacity for 500
guests at 81 per day and up. Other and
cheaper hotels are numerous.
1t was while spending week here
that the great freeze-up of the state
occurred. 1t was conjectured at the
time that cold wave was sweeping
over the north, and subsequent news
paper accounts verified the fact, and
Florida was swept by the outer edge
of the blizzard. On the morning of the
28th of December the mercury stood at
$50, and on the following morning at
! $50. Ice in the swamps was formed
three fourths of an inch in thickness.
| Oranges and lemons were frozen solid
on the trees. Most of the young trees
were killed and large trees were much
| injured. Though not in the bearing
season for bananas, cocoanuts and
pineapples, the plants were nearly
ruined, and other fruits shared the
same fate. Other vegetation and gar
den products were utterly ruined. 1t is
generally thought that many Of the
fruit trees and banana and pineapple
plants will recover, but it will require
two years to mature again. Orange
trees already are putting out their
leaves, but will be late, and it is sug-
gested that contemplated early mar
riages should be delayed till orange
blossoms appear.
Such degree of cold is seldom re-
corded in the state, and not since Jan
uary, 1886, has anything appropriated
to it, consequently, tourists do not see
the state in it's best winter garb. The
climate, however, is delightful, the
temperature ranging at various times
from $50 to 500, and on one day in
January the mercury climbed up to
$50 for q few hOurs-a temperature
which thaWed out a few mosquitoes
The loss on oranges in the state is
variously estimated from 100000 to
100000 boxes. Ca box contains two
cubic feet-about one and tWO-fifths
bushels) Thousands Of fruit growers
lose their entire crop and will not ship
single box. 1t is a sad sight to see so
much fruit utterly ruined; yet, in APP
pearance, as fair looking as ever. At
Palatka several car loads in bulk,
which were frozen in the cars, were
| dumped into the ditch. Many car
loads are being shipped as damaged
fruit and sold for such prices as can be
obtained, and to the casual observer
the difference will be little noticed for
immediate use, but they will not keep.
| Thousands of boxes have been sold at
ten cents per box taken on the trees or
on the ground, which is literally yellow
with them. But small part, how
ever, are sold even at such figures.
Thousands are crushed under the
wheels in the groves, or in the streets,
and little darkies snOaCbaU aCith them !,
AS the orange crop was the principal
one relied upon, the loss to the state is
immense.
Various parts of the state were tray-
ersed, en- route from Palatka to Geor-
giana. At Leishing an enterprising
town, the mayor was found to be a
namesake, a native of North Carolina
and an Confederate soldier. An
invitation to dine with him was ac-
cepted, and couple of hours were
pleasantly spent with the hospitable
MAYOR and his amiable lady.
At Okahumpka resides a former
Somers boy-Henry B. Marsh-whose
genial hospitality and that of his fam
lily, was enjoyed couple of days. He
! is extensively engaged in fruit growing
and also in packing and shipping for
others. He is we'll situated and it was
q genuine, good old-fashioned western
pioneer hospitality which was enjoyed
in his family. The twenty-five to
thirty years which had passed since
we had met had frosted his locks a
trifle but his hospitality was none the