The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-10
FLORIDA'S RICHEST SECTION.
THE MANATEE COUNTRY THE GAR
DEN SPOT OF THE STATE.

Magnificent Fields of Vegetables.
superb Orange and Lemon Groves.
Men Who Have Become wealthy
in "A Few Years-A Locality That is
Not Visited by Frcst.
Palmetto. Fla. April 9.-The Manatee riv-
er section is just now attracting a great
deal of attention from the fact that here
the orange groves escaped serious dam
age by the great freeze of December 1894.
This favored region is now in the midst
of a season of great prosperity. 1t is
widely known as the finest vegetable pro-
ducing section in the state, and the fame
Of the beautiful Manatee river is rapidly
spreading over the entire country. 1 spent
several days on the river. and, although
had heard almost fabulous stories of
the beauty and fertility of this region,
the half had not been told" All kinds
and varieties of tropical fruits grow in
luxuriance, and yield their fortunate own
ers rich harvest. For miles l Travelled
through magnificent orange groves and
vegetable farms that were a revelation, a
surprise and a pleasure. The orange, lem
on and grape fruit grows to perfection, and
is yielding fortunes to their owners. In
this section are men who, a few years
ago, were without a dollar in the world,
are now wealthy. The fortunes that have
been made in the fruit and vegetable
business here almost equal the sudden rise
from poverty TO wealth that were COM
mon years ago among the gold fields in
the far west. Manatee river grape fruit
brought SIS a box last winter, and lemons
from 81 to $40 a box, while oranges sold
for $3.50 TO So a box on the trees. The soil
is rich, and practically inexhaustible.
Vast fields of cabbage, tomatoes, beans,
potatoes and many other vegetables are to
be seen on every hand. The shipping sea-
son is at hand and every one is busy. Buy
erS for northern commission houses are
plentiful and the growers are getting good
prices right at home. Cabbages are selling
for 81 per crate in the field, and are yield
ing the farmers from $500 to $3.50 per acre.
Beans are selling for $500 a crate at the
wharf and potatoes at from 81 to IS per bar
rel. The bulk of the Manatee vegetables
go west to st. Louis, Chicago and Cincin-
natl. At this place are the large groves
of the Manatee Lemon Company that has
nearly 200 acres in lemons. The trees in
1894 were young and tender and the severe
freeze of that year killed a great many of
the young buds, but they are being rebuild
died. and will, in a very short time, be back
again where they were before the freeze.
| This company with abundant capital has
done great deal towards developing this
section. The groves are now mass of
bloom and young fruit giving promise OF
a heavy crop next winter. / saw large
lemon trees that escaped without serious
injury the freeze and are now laden with
the young fruit as large s hickory nuts.
The virgin forest here Is largely the cab
bage palm. 1t Is necessary to destroy a
great many of them in clearing the land,
but enough are left to afford great protec-
ton from frost and gives the country a
pleasant appearance.
Long before the late war the richness of
this section was well known as IS attested
by the fact that the Patton's large sugar
planters were extensively engaged in
growing sugar cane between this place
and Ellenton, three miles farther up the
river. The land that was long ago SUI
gar plantation is to-day again covered
with a heavy growth of forest timber
The cabbage palm has grown up so dense
as to make it rather difficult to penetrate.
l visited the ruins of the large sugar
works which were destroyed during the
war.
The large stately residence of the
wealthy owners of this vast property
stands intact overlooking the river In
the general destruction of property it was
out in the dense forest, towering high
above all the surrounding timber, stands
the chimney to a large furnace which sup
piled heat to a dryer for the sugar. On the
smooth surface are scores of names writ
ten by visitors to this interesting spot.
At this place the river is one and a quar-
ter miles wide. Just opposite, on the
high bluff, is Braidentown, and two miles
below is Manatee. Both are thriving
places. The steamers Manatee and Tar
pom run daily between the river and Tam
pa, and are now doing a heavy business,
carrying vegetables. The public spirited
citizens of this place, Palmetto, are hav-
which will be a great Improvement to the
town. The reliable Savannah Morning
News is a favorite here, and is spoken
of as the best newspaper in the south.