Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-31

Branchvllle, Abbeyvillc oou,po, ~
and Thonotosassa and Winston anu Do ~,
Valley Railroads have been aua'" ~ Va"
system. ,, no,r,v
The Plant system now controls le ,ao9
1000 miles of railway lines ana oNor iSoV
miles Of steamship lines. The systen VI
RAILWAYS extends over the SCUM iiV'.
Charleston TO the lowest point on tne wsS0
coast of Florida, and as far west rs Mop.io
bay. The steamship lines lnciuue .no
mail route between Port Tampa, MY
West and Havana, Port Tampa ana
Mobile, Port Tampa and Jamaica tampa
and Mauatec river, Cbattahoocpco -
Boston aud Halifax and Boston' o"po
Breton and Prince Edward lslai'"'
Mr. Plant has built up most spieho'u
system OF important railways anu s'e""''
ship lines,
While other capitalists were engaged
with the West and Northwest, Mr.. Piaht
devoted his time tireess energy ana
wealth to the South, and through ms
confidence in the section he favored other
moneycd men were at last induced 10
come and invest But to him the south
owes its gratitude. II was through him
that Georgia and Florida first loomed up
investment. Through him the home,
health and pleasure seeker have come;
and through him an era Of solid prosperity
dawncd upon this portion of the south.
The trip from Savannah TO tampa was
largely made in the night, but SUNDAY
morning, Jan 18th, the members OF the
party were up bright and early for the
purpose of studying the characteristics OF
this portion of the state. Our way was
through section formerly Noted Tor It's
magnificent oranges; but alas the frost OF
last winter wrought sad havoc with this
most important industry OF sunny
| Florida On every hand we saw the
physical evidences Of its ravagcs: dead
| groves that represented years Of patient
labor, and thousands Of dollars Of outlay,
met our gaze on every hand, This Gcsola'
ton, however, was not entirely without
it's hope. From the roots of nearly all
these cid trees new shoots are springing
up, and IN two or three years Will be In
condition to bear yIt is estimated though,
that fully ten years will be required to
bring this industry back to the same
| llourishing condition it was IN before the
frost. From Savannah to Tampa We SAWS
but one orange grove where fruit WAS
| growing. This was surrounded on thrce
sides by heavy growth of timber, and
was probably further protected by bon
| fires.
| Ii was our good fortune 10 ride for
! number of miles with Col. J. Y. Gilmotc
OF Louisiana, one of the largest orange
! growers In that state Col. Gilmore came
| from the North when boy, but has
passed NEST of his l!fe Id the South. and
served with distinction in the Confederate
service. He is gentleman whom 1t is "A
pleasure to meet. At the time Of the
| frost be had six thousand orange trees in
full bearing. -Four thousand OF them
were killed by the frost. In a single
night he saw the labor of years gone. ard
sustained loss Of more than $40 00G.
| His nearest neighhor who suffered a
similar loss was SO Frustrated hy it that
no went Insane, and in ibis condition
committed suicide. Col. Gilmore how
ever accepts his losses philoSophically.
aud IS now bending every energy to re
pairing them When asked il some
orange tree could not be found that
would withstand the cold, he said that lie
thought there could he, and that this line
OF experiment would govern very matcri
ally the building up again Of the orange
industry in the South He said that an
orange tree had been imported from
Japan that appeared capable of with
standing large amount Of cold This
tree Is decdu0us sheds its leaves. much
as the apple trees of the North ro. and
Hes dormant for u portion of the year.
II natural fruit is sour and puckcrv, but
when budded from the native trees pro-
dloes fine large oraug of exceptionally
good flavor. Col Gilmore had "A number
of these trees in his groves at the time Of
the frost, and not one of them was affected
by II He is confident that about all the
new stalks planted hereafter Will be of
this variety. though wherever shoots put
up from this old roots they will doubtless
be permitted TO grow
Inc general surface of Florida, is fiat
ana swamnY, covered with heavy palm.
etto, palm. pine, aud live oak growths.
ana not specially intertstin ANY
Eastern man who imagincs he can come
mere and grow rich by farming is reckon
ing without his host
The great glory Of Florida is its
climate. and there Is no reason 10 doubt
mat 1t VIII continue in years to come to
be the popular winter resort. as Maine is
Vhe popular summer resort, of the con
lihcnt. Many times a. we have looked
away over the wide stretches of low. nat
'ahd rank with wild tanglcs of luxurian,
vegetation that render the task of suhdu
lug it for agricultural purposes IN almost
lntcrmlnablc one we have said in our
hearts with throb Of exultation
he noble Old Pine Tree State is
DlcDI good eporoh fpr ne y,
WILL RON AT HENLEY.