Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-04-20
FLORIDA LETTER
Interesting Contribution from
Sunny South
PENSACOLA, Fla, April ID.

PENSACOLA, FLA, April 10.
DEAR GAZETTE The weather
here now is ideal and / am living
amongst roses of all sorts, sizes
and colors. There seems to be
much more attention given to
flowers in this city now than was
the case at the times of former
visits. The same may also be said
os vegetables. Many are fndine
out that much more can be accom-
plished in that line than has ever
been attempted owing to the
barrenness of the soil on the coast.
1t has to be done by the use of
fertilizer.
But little effort is made here to
raise semi-tropical fruits, as the
winters are, occasionally, too cold
for it. Hundreds of acres along
the line of railroad between this
place and the Alabama line were
planted out in pear trees a few
years ago, but the "scab" has
blasted all the hopes of the plant
ers. Peaches do well in this
locality and they are now about
the SIZE of our ordinary damsons.
Japan plums are as large as the
smooth bark hickory nut with US.
Right much attention is given to
pecans, little off from the city,
and they are now about quarter
size. Not much effort IS made to
raise figs, butt see some in the city
doing well. We have Strawberries
On the market at % cents per
quart. Oranges and bananas are
used very freely, but are shipped
from points much farther South
and cost very near as much as In
Lexington.
1t is interesting to one like my
self not accustomed to such things,
to watch the workings or those
engaged in the fish trade. There
are scores of vessels that go Out
on the Gulf to what is know as
the snapper banks" and aftel
being out several days according
to the manner of success, return
with their loads of red snapper'
weighing from 10 to 20 pounds
They 90 out with tons OF ice ant
as soon as caught the fiji are pu
on it. After they are brought il
they are prepared for shipping by
removing the inner parts and tht
heads and then re-packed II
broken ice in tubs prepared TO
the purpose. Hundreds OF mel
depend entirely upon this industr,
for their living and the support Q
their families. The principa
catchings in the Bay are the Span
ish mackerel and salt mullet
There are, however, many other
of less value. All these are caugh
by kind of drop net. 1t cause
, a smile when 1 compare this wit
, Scott, Charlie, Bud, Will, Tom
. Hube, Sam, Orville and other
spending day fishing in sout
River and then having news
paper article to tell of their goo
, luck in catching most half bush'
, of fish-fne ones, measuring frol
5 to 10 inches.
0 / recently had the pleasure OF
= trip nine miles down the Bay t
, the navy yard, where l saw tn
:. Cruiser Nashville in the dry doc
: for repairs. This boat has on
/ the gun that did the first firing
the Cuban War. The navy var
has in the inclosure 81 acres, thr'
sides of which are protected by
q brick wall ~ feet high and
a inches thick, the Bay protectlr
5 the other side. Space VIII n
0 allow a description of what
d there to be seen that might pro-
Y quite Interesting to some of yo'
It readers.
s The war vessels are still taki'
l. their turn in target practice
y the Gulf and, after this, come IN
= the Bay and anchor. Uncle Sam
v bows are in the city to the numb
y of probably thousand per da
f which means to the trade maj
n thousands of dollars each day.
.e should have said in the prop
n place that the practice with the l
inch guns is done to the tune
$500 a shot.
There is now lively time
10 this State in the political cirt
If and candidates are working Ii
lie bees for the nominations to ia
ID place at the primaries to be he
J. soon. The ticket will eXte
er from Governor down to constal
and there will be in the city nc
~ than one hundred positions to
filled.
n Northern tourists are leavi
n this Southland much earlier tn
IS is usual. This may be acco unit
d. for by the early setting in of W
IL ter up North, which forced ma
I'd here earlier than usual. This il
c. delightful climate l.. the whit
and many health-seekers visit n
w