The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-11-24
LEON COUNTY FLORIDA,
Descriptive Of its History, Topography, eli
mate, Soil, Resources and Natural
Advantages.


west by Gadsden and Liberty counties.
1t has an area of 73O square miles of land surface
467, 200 acres.
It's population in 1890 was II 1872 and in 1900 it was
1887, Of which number 1886 whites and 1901
negroes.
At the close of the school term of 1904 there were in
the county 70 schools, OF which "a were for whites and
80 were for negroes.
Leon county is situated between 80 and 81 degrees
north latitude and SO and 81 degrees west longitude
The entire west side is bounded by the OcklockOnee
river. The southern boundary is about II miles and
the northern boundary about 30 miles from the Gulf OF
Mexico The surface gradually rises from the southern
over 2O feet above sea level About 1870 600 acres are
in actual cultivation, leaving 100000 acres avail
able for cultivation and settlement 100000 acres
Of which is improved The surface is uneven and roll
ing entirely free from rocks and bouders nterspersed
throughout with lakes and forest.
Lakes Lafayette, Jackson, Iamonia and Miccosukie
extensive bodies of water and abound in fish, and
during the winter offer fine field for snpe and duck
shooting The environment Of these lakes is varied and
beautiful The hills surround them with gently receding
curves, with boder bluffs terraces rising above
another to the height of hundred feet The
timber growths of magnolia, water oak, live oak,
hickory and wild cherry, which line the shore and
between, around and these hang the clematis,
woodbine and wild grape and muscadine vines. The
general aspect of the country has been further described
beautifully rolling forest and field, alternating
genuinely Piedmontese landscape the like of which
not be found elsewhere in the far South
SOIL.
The soil of Leon county greatly differs from that in
many other portions or the state. II Is Principally
composed of an auyium of red and chocolate-coored
cayey loans covering territory Of about 200 square
miles, and piled in a rambling outspread OF sweeping
hills and daes. 1t possesses great uniformity of texture
and lies below the surface to an average depth Of forty
five feet Sand predomnates in the component parts,
the first foot of top soil containing about thirty times as
much sand clay. The soil does not clod sunbakc.
An analysis by the State Chemist shows that the average
soil contains the three prime elements of plant food in
the following proportions: One measure of phosphOric
acid and three Of inter to each thousand
measures of soil Soda and magnesia are present in
slightly less proportions, with carbOnC acid at a rate Of
one and three-quarterS parts in thousand; To these
excellent chemical conditions may be added equabity
of temperature the prolonged period of growth and the
regularity and cOpiOusneSS Of rainfall
AS TO HEALTHFULNESS
1t is frequently asserted by ignorant people that be-
Florida is comparatively level, and extensive
swamps exist in certain localities that the country is
unhealthy and that malaria must therefore, pervade
every section of the State Good climate and good
health go hand in hand we have shown by scientific
facts that the climate is good par excellence and we will
demonstrate by records that experience has proven the
healthfulness Of Florida equally good
In the first place, it is not the fiat low country that
it is often represented to be- except in the extreme
southern portion and perhaps two localities
the coast the contrary the greater portions of the
State consist of high, rolling lands, while other portions
are composed of high hills rugged, broken and rocky,
with numerous elevations OF 400 feet above tide
water.
Malaria exists to extent in every portion Of the
world, and, of course, in country where vegetation
grows with the eXuberanc that 1t does in Florida where
the breath of rea winter is scarcely felt the presence
of malaria is to be- expected; but the diseases arising
from malaraI influences are limited to the mldest forms
of fevers and bilious complaints. There no such
uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms Of malaral
poisoning met with in Florida as manifest themselves
in various parts of the States of New York Pennsyl
vania Ohio Illinois and Indiana Bilious fever of
remtent character is the prevalent but it readily
yields to proper treatment Intermittent fcvers also
occur but rarely attended with dangerous results.
Typhoid fever, known in northery States is
totally unknown here
Consumptivcs, those suffering from chronic dis
orders of the membranes particularly of the air
passages, usually find much relief if their change has
not been too long postponed Here are vast forests of
pines breathing forth their balm till the whole amos-
phere is fragrant with it, and if there is possibility of
relief for the unfortunate victim Of consumption this,
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