The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-23
FLORIDA HOMES.
Interesting Letter from an Ohio Comrade
Who Has Settled There.


Interesting Letter from an Ohio Comrade
Who Has Settled There.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1have noticed
communications from comrades in the South
recouuting the numerous advantages OF their
respective localities, and have no doubt that
MANY OF your readers would be glad to know
few facts relative to this locality. Realizing
the magnitude of the contract should agree
to reply to the numerous inquiries that should
receive relative TO further description OF TINS
section of the South. shall make my state
ments plain and explicit.
Pennsylvania by birth private OF 20.
c. 18th w. Va; a resident OF Toledo, W. LOT 10
years after the close of the war; an early MEM
Der of Forsyth Post, 10; also, two years rest
dence at Donephan, Kan, preceded my Fiorida
experience.
Leaving Toledo, o., in May, 1883, 30 days
later found me in the interior OF Florida, tenn
porarily located in TavRres, where, as my re-
sources were limited. built boat and followed
the course of the 0cklawahs and st. johns
Rivers, seeking home for myself and family:
In Marion County j located homestead oil
high pine land of 100 acres but being too $50
lated on the banks of the 0ckawaha never
occupied il, Jut signed IL back to the Govern
ment. The different localities along the II.
Johns duly investigated, j finally, after SIX
months located at New Smyrna, on the Indian
River, a couple of miles south of Musquito In
lei, purchasing IL acres, at which place Sui
reside.
Space will not admit of recounting the ex-
perieBces, trials, disappointments that wife,
self and daughter of six years underwent, only
10 say that from cobbling shoes TO editing our
home paper, the New Smyrna Breeze, oil when
was the original editor, were among some OF
my earlier experiences. For comfort, health
aud happiness setting aside the luTurles ana
advantages OF our Northern home, we cannot
.1.s. o,,r I.nor
with abundance of fish. oysters and clans OF
three varieties: two kinds of crabs. green
turtle and in season nests of turtle eggs, num-
bering from 100 to $50. 0possums and raccoons
were plentiful. Bear aud deer were WITHIN
short reach of those VINO enjoyed hunting
them, and snipe, plOver and other beach olros,
as well as ducks and squirrels, rendered starva,
tioB impossible for those not too sedentary w
in their habits to procure them.
in the Fall Of the year immense schools oil
mullet made il possible for the curing OF BAR
res of sailed fish aud the garden supplied vege-
tables when irrigation was supplied. sweet
potatoes yielded abundantly, and though
isolated for the first few years, lime passed
without the severity of the Northern Winter
and its attendant consequences. Orange cui-
ture the principal occupation, and apia
culture or Bookkeeping employed others, which
i engaged in at once, having had nearly III
years experience in Ohio previously. The care
of 100 or more colonies of bees well as the
profits TO be derived from poultry, kept US busy
If money was scarce, credit was good TO those oil
industrious sbits.
Time has made changes in Is years. home.
steads are all taken up; the railway and tele-
graph at our door-tben 80 miles distant over a
detesiable road-though water communication
by ocean to Jacksonville was regular once
week. To the old soldier who is still able 10 do
| for himself, there is no better place TO my
4 IA - ~
! the remaining years of his life pleasantly and
/ comfortably. Nature provides beautifully Of
her treasures OF earth, air and water, and where
there family ties to be severed, and a
stated income, though it he small, in the way
of pension, few acres near the salt water
! will provide against want, and the ASSOCIATION
| of the comrades of the various Posts of the
! Grand Army will supply society Of kindred
| nature To those of a rowing disposition q
hOuseboat or salboat suitable for cruising viii
render time more pleasant. and the Halifax
! from Dsytona TO Jupiter Inlet. and even now
down TO Miami is. with one exception. open to
| navigation. Boats suitable can occasionally be
purchased that will accommodate from two to
four persons or If fair amount Of skill is pos
sessed suitable craft can be built for inside
passage.
To those interested, study Of the map OF
| the east coast of Florida will be interesting.
| Ii is not to be understood that this is a para
| disc, and that without money and experience
better living can be made here than else
| where. There disadvantages continually
of some kind or other. but not of serious ma
| ture. Labor is supplied by the colored brother
al from 81 per day to SO per month. The
insect pests are annoying in the Summer sea-
son. though not uncomfortable compared to Win
| ter's cold. Society is good, though people are
| in measure isolated by reason OF sand roads,
though along the river communication is easy.
] have known families 10 settle in an M
healthy location away from salt water, and
become dissatisfied, pull up, and leave at a
loss. Three to FIVE acres of land, properly To-
Gated, will be sufficient for any family, if they
manage properly. From my experience and
that of Others, the annoyance of Inusketoes on
the coast during the few months OF Summer is
far less than that of the inconvenience of the
interior, with its liability TO malarious diseases
and the absence of the invigorating sea breeze
Should this meet the eye of any member OF
Co. &, 18th W. Va, / should be pleased to hear
from him.-JoHN Y. DETwILER, Commander
Budd- Mather Post, 8, Department of Florida,
New Smyrna, Fla.