The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-31
WHEN TO GO TO FLORIDA
DIR. w. 4. FLETCHER SAYS SUMNER
is THE BEST TINE FOR INVALIDs.
More Tonic I'm the Air Than in Winter
The Orange and Other Indus
tries Show Much Promise.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
ORLANDO Fla, March 2S-We left In
diana polls on the 18th of March for
Florida. En- route we had a view rarely
beheld by the traveller and that was mag
njficent winter scenery through the hills
of Kentucky, the mountains of Tennessee.
and even to Atlanta, Ga. Sunday morning
brought us to Orlando, Orange county,
Florida, in time to behold a beautiful sun
rise over the numerous clear and crystal
lakes; by o'clock we were at "Cooter
Coce Camp" where the youngsters, instead
of staying in to help prepare the breakfast.
broke for the woods and fields to return
with arms full of the great variety of wild
flowers. The orange trees were in full
blossom and the air balmy some
rare day in June at home
L was astonished to find that so many
invaids whom | had left i'm and about
Orlando last December. had either gone
North or were preparing to do so. Ger
tainly nothing could be more injurious to
them than the change at this season. From
personal observation OF twenty-five years
1 have concluded that invalids derive
greater benefit from residing i'm Florida
during the months from March to Deem
Der than during the so-called winter
son. March. April and May are delight
full here; it is then that the amount of
ozone is increased tenfold; 1t is then the
sun. air, and increased vegetation give
newed vitality to animal nature, and an in
valid gets twice as much tonic in each
breath in the winter months. Deem
Der and to the last of February are the
worst.
/ spent last August here and the heat
was at time greater than at home. and
beside. we had twice daily a sea breeze,
and usually an evening shower Were |
an invalid. and could afford it, / would
spend the winter i'm a first-class hotel i'm
Boston. New York or Philadelphia. but
would seek the piny woods. silvery lakes
and sparkling streams of Florida during
the spring and summer months.
There is perhaps no State or Territory
in the Union that presents greater attrac-
tions to the sportsman than Florida. Bear.
deer, wild turkey, quail and duck are
abundant, and for fish, either on the
coast or inland. nothing could excel. Ii
is the home of the bass-here called trout
and almost every little lake and river
abounds with them.
SOME BIG FISH
Last Sunday my near neighbor, a colored
man, and his son came walking up the road
toward me with what at first supposed a
monster catfish. They had a pole through
the gills and mouth. each holding one end
of the pole. When they came closer 1 be-
held black bass with a mouth that resem-
bled the fiared end of the big trombone
in the orchestra. The fish measured three
feet three inches from snout to fork of
tail, and weighed nineteen pounds IL was
claimed to weigh twenty. but my eyes did
not deceive melt was nineteen pounds no
more and no less. Well. that fish was not
caught on a silk line with four-ounce
rod and fly. He just caught himself. He
was evidently in full chase of minnows and
got excited. and, being under full headway,
jumped over a mass of lily pads and saw
grass. clear little sandbar into a
pool not more than six feet long and eight
inches deep. and was found by a little col
ored boy on his way home from Sunday
school. The boy could not take the fish
out alone because of the showers of water
splashed about One of my neighbors. Mr..
Miner Berry. took, last Friday afternoon,
twenty-six bass out of a lake not more
than half mile from where 1 am now
writing. using a fly and light steel rod.
The largest weighed six and three-quarter
pounds. most of them one and a half to
two pounds The latter-weight fsh L re-
gard as prime for the table.
There has been a general cry in the North
| about the total destruction of orange Gull
| ture In Florida. That Is all nonsense.
There were thousands of boxes of fine
| oranges shipped last year. and more grape
| fruit-which is becoming more sought for
| than the orange-and pineapples I'm num-
| Der size and flavor unlike any ever before
| known i'm our markets. Before the freeze
| of 1898 Florida shipped six hundred thou
sand boxes of oranges. This year there will
| be from one-half TO two-thirds that num-
| Der for the market. From the freeze Flor
| ida learned a lesson, and that not TO
| depend on one crop. Attention Is nov
| turned to raising cassava and velvet beans.
which are converted into beef and pork and
| finally fertilizer In two years Florida will
| not depend. as now. entirely on the North
| for beef mutton and pork.
One thing have noticed as an indication
| of Fiorida's picking up Is the number of
abandoned places that are being bought
| up. Prices I'm real estate have advanced
| materially during the past two years
The summer season along the gulf shore
| or the Atlantic coast-where good and In
| expensive hotels are open during the whole
| year-is the most delightful resort for in
| vaids or sportsmen. and ! predict that
| within ten years more people viii visit
/ these places In summer than In winter.
DIR. w. B. FLETCHER.