The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-31
DOWN IN FLORIDA.
Frequent Winter Rains and Fine
CrOps-New improvements and FUi-
ture PrOsperity.


Maitland. Fla. Dec. SO.-Having just re-
turned from trip to Tampa over the
Plant system, your correspondent is pre-
pared to state that no previous winter has
ever seen the fields and gardens in such
fine condition. The rainy season appears
TO have been prolonged to an indefinite
period, and we are still having refreshing
light, steady rains. mostly at night and
running into the next day. This is much
better than the usual frequent and heavy
showers accompanied by strong winds. The
present season has been most excellent
one for truck farmers, and their crops are
now in fine condition.
Visitors to florida are surprised at the
large amount of land that has been and
is now being put into cultivation. Before
the freeze they saw little else than orange
groves, peach or pear orchards, and fruit
and flower gardens. Now, on every side,
as they go down the Plant system from
Sanford to Tampa, they see broad fields
of early or late vegetables and other crops
in a thrifty condition. Everywhere along
fhe line new land is being broken up and
put into excellent shape for the successful
cultivation of desirable crops
Around Orlando ! noticed that the pine
apple craze was spreading, and many i'm
mense pineries, as we'll as pineapple plan
les cover several acres and arc entirely
enclosed by narrow stats. to protect the
plants from too much sun and frost.
Further from the line especially below
Barlow junction, the early vegetable
farms show up and attract universal at
tention and favorable comment. Below
Lakeland, which is now a big strawberry
shipping point. the strawberry fields tell
of early berries here in December and jan
uary for shipment to the north.
AS the train neaTs Tampa old visitors
to Florida are struck with the steady out
ward growth of Yhor City and it's several
suburbs The land is low and fiat and
for years had been aedreary waste, as it
is unsuited to orange culture. But since
the freeze there has been constant out
ward movement over this neglected terri
tory, and to-day for miles can be seen
some of the handsomest and most thrifty
vegetable farms in the south. New resi-
dences are going UP, new settlers locating
there and on all sides are substantial evil
dences of a desirable future prosperity.
The Plant system seems to have full
confidence in the continued growth of the
country along the line from Sanford to
Tampa, as new improvements can be seen
at many points on the road. At klsslm-
NEE the Tropical hotel and grounds have
been greatly improved under the Plant
system purchase and it is now the Hotel
Kissimmee. At Barlow Junction and
Lakeland the new improvements look to
a future increase in both passenger and
freight traffic. Plant City seemed to be
moving ahead, and at Dover a handsome
new depot has been erected About Tam
pa the Cuban war has held back many
projected Improvements Of private par
ties, but the Plant system has gone ahead
with it's work all the same, and the ele-
CANT casino and handsome exposition
building on the Tampa Bay hotel grounds
are a striking evidence that President
Plant has an abiding faith in South Flor
idas future steady development in all
that goes to ensure substantial prosperity.
At nearly every station our train took
on confederate veterans going to Tampa, to
hear Gen. Gordon's famous lecture on
THE Last Days of the Confederacy."
From their talk 1t was easy to learn that
most of them were Georgians, who have
come to Florida since the war, and their
personal appearance indicated that they
were among the prosperous people of their
adopted state. OF their old war comman-
der to speak with pride and tender re-
gard, and seemed to feel profoundly CRATE
full to Col. b. w. Wrenn for bringing Gen.
Gordon to Tampa. When they reached
that city they found hundreds of other
Georgia veterans, conspicuous among
whom was Judge NJ. l.. Mershon, former
ly of Brunswick, who was especially ac-
tive at the reunion and lecture as chair
man of the committee. The general was
surprised as well as gratified to find so
many of the Georgia ex-confederates here
in Florida.
OF the lecture at the Casino, l need not
say more than the large audience was
given treat such as no other lecturer
could have offered them, and their hearty
and continued applause indicated their APP
probation of his mastery effort, a rare
combination of pathos and patriotism, hui
NOR and tender sentiment, which made
his war experiences less grim and painful.
Not only the old confederates, but the
boys in blue" were charmed and enthus-
ed by the lofty patriotism and sublime elo-
quence Of the general, and at his grand re-
ception in the spacious rotunda of the
Tampa Bay hotel headed by Department
Commander l.. Y. Jenness and other de-
partment officers. the Grand Army boys
gave him a cordial handshake and a
hearty, sincere commentator of his SUI
perb lecture. 1t was an inspiring scene
and one that touched the Utmost recesses
of the Gallant Gordons" heart
--S-e-s--
THE NEWS nnUGU