Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-03-11
Florida Letter.
Gaseffe CoveSbondence.


GAINESVILLE, FLA, Mar. 4
On arriving at this place | found
the Gainesville that was so wei
known to me twenty-five years age
had become almost entirely a thing
of the past and that new, modern
and beautiful city of six Thousand
inhabitants stan's in its stead.
The Presbyterians, Methodists and
Baptists are now worshiping in
large, beautifully constructed brick
churches instead of the unbecoming
wooden structures of yore and the
Episcopalians are arranging for the
same.
The court house is q very large,
well arranged brick buildii < that
would do credit to city of ten
times the size of this, no matter
where situated. 1t cost about one
hundred thousand dollars.
The East Florida Seminary" is in
quite n healthy condition, having in
attendance two hundred students,
one hundred and ten of whom are
soldier boys who, in addition to the
regular and thorough courses, are
taking on a complete military train
ing. This is State school and is
being Instrumental in great good.
The buildings are large and well
arranged, including commodious
barracks for the boys in grey.
The public school building is built
of brick, not only the largest but the
best arranged and most beautifully
constructed within my knowledge,
having a large, we'll fitted room for
each of the seven grades and an
auditorium with seating capacity
of seven hundred and fifty. They
now have in regular attendance four
bundled and fifty-fve scholars. The
people seem quite proud of it and
speak in the highest terms of the
management.
The city has fine water supply,
forced from spring two miles off by
engines which give force sufficient 10
throw large stream to the tops Of
the highest buildings. There il n
fire company that is said
to be very efficient.
This is said to be the best farming
section of the State. A practical |
iarmer. near here, who, by the way,
is from Rockbridge, tells me that he
raises as much as thirty to forty
bushels Of oats to the acre and from
twenty-five to thirty-five bushels of
,orn. He made last year fifty tons
IF hay from native gra IS which grew
on the ground from
which he cut a crop of oats Nothing
lone but the ploughing and harrow
ng of the land after taking off the
BATS. He sold at ten dollars per ton
lere.
The best oranges in the world could
De raised here were it not for an
occasional cold snap that sets back
he trees. In consequence of this the
range has been abandoned, which
Gems pity when the soil is so well
dapted to its rapid growth. Some
ow say that the failure i'm that 7
esrect, though many thousands :
'ere spent in the effort, has proven ]
ute an advantage, as so many are
ow putting forth every energy in
aisng vegetables for market, which
proving very remunerative. do
OF dare to say it Tut think "sour
rapes." A great deal of cotton is
till being raised in this section.
A quarter OF IA century has gone
ITO the past since my residence here,
nd the most of my friends and
ssociates of that day are gone into
ne world beyond. have met only +,
whom | then knew. s
Today ends my visit here and l
i'll retrace my steps to Pensacola,
hence, after u few weeks stay, |
tpect to wend my way back to the
EST place OF all-dear old Rock p
ridge. SENEx.