The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-02-06
FROM THE SOUTH.
PALM BEACH, Jan, %. 96.

l. ue east coast Oh IOTlua Is the pleas
ATTEST part of the state and the most
productive as well, il the term can with
propriety be applied TO any section of
the state. The railroad skirts the western
bank, or shore rather, OF the Indian river.
broad stream with frequent openings
into the ocean through the narrow tongue
of land which prevents the Indian river
from losing its identity in the broad
bosom OF the ocean. The Indian river is
the paradise of fowl which skim along its
surface or wade in its shallow stretches
The character of the vegetation changes
after ST. Augustine Is passed. 1t be-
comes more pronounced in its tropical
features. The multi-form palm adds to
It's varieties. The cOcoanut claims pre-
cedence over the palmetto, and pineapple
plantations dot the slopes. Orange or
chards become more frequent. The
lemon, the banyan and pawpaw attract
attention and even the palm known as
the travellers tree may be seen. Though
bananas do not grow IN abundance, plan
tations are TO be found here. The pine
apple needs only sand and protection
from frost. Florida provides the first
requisite IN unstinted measure and the
second with but rare exceptions.
Frost did almost incalculable damage
to the fruit industry in this state last
February. Everywhere one sees the
bare bolls OF orange trees. But few
oranges are raised 10 the state this year.
The encouragement to the people is
more serious than the loss from a bust
ness standpoint. There seems to be no
power of Immediate lecuperation. 1t is
only within a comparatively recent time
that the people of Eastern Florida relied
for the means Of livelihood. They adopt
ed in large measure the system of the
abOrigines, -fished, hunted and stretched
out their hands for the fruits which
nature furnished. Even now sick Yam
KEGS" are relied upon to a much larger
extent than honest toll. The cultivation
of the pineapple gives promise of pros
perity if it be prosecuted with industry
which seems to be asking more than the
gods are disposed to grant.
The cultivated spots in Florida are
just about sufficient TO spare it from the
undesirable classification of waste and
barren place. Climate makes up for the
Deficiencies of the soil. If white sand
can be made to yield the luscious pine
apple, all that is needed is industry TO
make Florida what 1t is IN imagination,
productive and blooming. There are
| tongues of land amid the wastes of pine
| barrens known as hammocks. These are
| readily recognized by the native growth
OF 1--we oak and jungle of underbrusb.
These contain mari deposits and are
highly productive. A few acres of such
land make its owners comfortably we'll
| off. But it takes money to buy such
land. Florida generally Is aptly described
by man from the "wlld and woody
west, whose language was not as choice
as his thought was accurate. The air
| here, he said "is worth $1,000 per acre
| but the land is not worth a continental
d
The route we took to Palm Beach is
not far from the eastern limits of the
| Everglades. Tho marsh stretches are
| the tentacles thrown out by this royal
| swamp. The people say they dc not
| breed malaria. They certainly do not
during tins delightful season when the
suns rays beat down with the gentle
| fervor of our most pleasant indian sum
| mer days, while the healing ocean winds
| have lost their harshness by contact with
| the Gulf Stream. The odor of vegetation
| would be heavy If it were not dissipated
| by the oceans breath and thus sweeten-
| ed by the dIlutIon. One is not ANNOYED
| by insects in the winter time. 1t is other.
wise in the summer. One can easily
| gather this from the reluctant admission
| OF those interested in having 1t appear
! that FLORIDA is a paradise In the n
terror, what is known as the freshwater
lake region, the back bone of the state,
| am assured insects are not troublesome
and that summer heat Is not excessive.
On the coast the summers are not
severe, if one can properly use a quail
fying word in this connection which with
us has reference to the opposite condition
Of temperature. Winter weather is
certainly bamly here. | bathed in the
surf yesterday. Its temperature was de-
llghtful and would have made Henry
Iiinrichs' voice heard in the land with
manifestations of vociferous delight.
This letter Is written while the train is
speeding northward from Palm Beach,
with the window near by which [ sit
wide open. Indeed one cannot speak too
highly of the Florida climate.
Palm Beach is not far from the south
ern extremity of Florida. 1t is located
on Lake Worth, which is really an arm
OF the sea. The hotel at this place is one
of the many palaces built by the multi
millionaire, Flageler. 1t is a beautiful
place, the hotel being within a grove of
cocoanut trees. Beautiful villas are built
along the shores of the lake and care has
resulted in beautiful lawns upon which
are profession of tropical plants No
plant known to the torred zone is missing.
La the rear of the villas are orchards and
back of these the native iungles which
extend close to the beach upon which
thn lraal-