The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-27
Written for The Tribune.

tween the two cities, make the seaboard
short cut" the favorite route. The
train speeds along through the heavily
wooded country, only ten TO twenty
miles from the Atlantic, past great
phosphate beds, where negroes bend at
work, (for they are better adapted for
this labor than the poor whites), at
times along the very edge of cypress
swamps, within arms reach, il seems, of
moss hung trees and wild cane-brakes,
suggesting the solitude and luxuriance
Of an African jungle. There is no vis
BILE life except at rare intervals, lonely
negro cabin and lone negro and his
family at the cabin door. Here an un-
definabe loneliness creeps over us at
the thought of a human family living
in such place, but sure enough, here
and there stands a cabin without a
window. but with a stick chimney, near
by "a little corn field. and a tobacco
patch, and few hardy flowers TO smile
a welcome to you amid the surrounding
dreariness. There 10 nothing modern,
or made by man, in the way of CivilZa-
tion save our luxuriously appointed
train. flashing over the substantial
draw bridges, for which the 'Seaboard"
is noted.
PALM TREES.
In thrty-six miles after leaving
Savannah, we cross the Altamba river.
a broad naviGable stream. At Everett
city and also Baden, we enter groves
of palm trees. and miles and miles of
palm fans one and two feet in height,
utilized in the making of the almost in
despensible luxury,--thc palm leaf fan
novel sight. At Kingsland. we cross
| the st. Mary's river, a wide. deep
stream. From here is branch road
| leading to Fernandua, some fourteen
miles eastward to the ocean, a very
| important seaport. At juice, "a miles
| from Jacksonville, we again cross the
| noble St Mary'S and soon enter the
| Gate city" over an ann of the famous
| st. Johns, the largest river in Florida,
dotted with steamers, sailing vessels,
yachts. steam launches. AS we get the
| first glimpse Of the city, we open sash
and windows to quaff deep draughts
| of the delicious sea air, and to enjoy
| the beautiful eXpanse of river scenery
that opens up to view as the train
slackens speed on arrival
JACKSONVILLE.
| OF all the cities of Florida Jackson
vile, is by every scale Of measurement,
| the most important. 1t is from its
position the natural cntrepot of the
state. and it's metropolis i'm commerce
and industry. Jacksonville, like New
| Orleans, is built upon the splendid
curve of the mighticst river of the
state, and howcveTs the great Creole
metropolis may surpass in scope and
grandeur, the young emporium of the
"Flowery State" there is nothing in
the whole length of the Father Of
Waters to equal the broad arm at
the city's front and that long, broad
stretch of the St. Johns to Palatka,
some fifty-six miles, and the twenty
five mile sweep to the Atlantic.
Like many other cities, Jacksonsille
in it's human greed has cncroachcd
upon, and "gobblcd up" much land
from the big hearted and unsuspectine
river, Acres of piling and rubbish
have changed acres of water to land
on which warehouses now stand and
over which railroads run; while long
wharves run far out into the stream
along the entire City'S front, making
the river here narrower than at any
place between Palatka and the sea, a
distance of over eighty miles. Stil
the river here is 2400 feet or. nearly a
half mile wide-and as the city is loca
ed on curve of its wide banks-th,
water front is extensive, and the water
= view superb, which ever way you look
= The tourist standing on it's banks-oi
sailing on its broad area, can justly
feel. that he is beholding one of III,
noblcst rivers of this country and IN,
four hundred mile winding sail W
= ,and southward) To its source-th,
Everglades-as was our great privilege
is an experience, and education. anC
enjoyment long to be remembered.
\ THRIVING CITY.
1 The population of Jacksonville. eX
e ceeds 10000. many of whom are north
l erners. who have greatly added to III
material wealth and also given it al
air of enterprise and prosperity seldom
= cXcelled. 1t has growing manuractur
e ing interests as well as commercial
The city is yearly becoming more eos
mopolitan as such a place must be, tina
is the gateway" by which throng
that visit Florida every winter, ente
. the state. AS the entering point from
X the north it is the largest city on tn
n Seaboard, south Of Savannah and tn
- |
trade. and commerce. and also grea
. railway and steamship center. 1t is a
A before stated the great distributin
+ center from which hosts of traveller
+ pouring into it, go out into the mum
J. berless places of interest in every di
q rection.
), Jacksonville has enjoyed long es
h tablished popularity as tourist resor
/ | a nPnNiSinD iS fop
II comfort of visitors. Being the so-calle
It gateway of the state" it has bot
e rail and water communications wit
. all parts of the country and world.
. is the objective point of no less tha
y seven railroads and six regular steam
,e ship lines, including river and ocea
d companies. Her express and telt
D, graph lines connect with the whol
y earth. All trains arrive and depal
" from the Union Pacific depot, thu
~ avoiding transfers.
'c TRAVEL FACILITIES.
ID The three great railroads that "hone
ld comb" the Florida peninsula wit
steamer connections. to cuba and Ma.
3 sau, are the PLANT System"-ti
I'd "Flagler system" and the Sea boar
e Air Line System" All connect her
, also the clyde Line of steamships ru
A to Charleston, New York, and Bosto
a besides the Clydc's, st. Johns riv,
an steamers ascend the river To Sanfol
2O5 miles also an Independent" lii
RS runs. to Green Cove Springs and Ocl
w lawaha
!. The importance of these great trur
n, lines through the peninsula of Flori,
AS q highway of travel and traffic b.