The Monticellonian., 1908-06-04
mate and health ?

l suOiCs oi tHC ouii UT hSHNos i'io about 45 miles from Tampa. as the crow flies. but much farther by boat. It is Io miles from Brooksville, the county seat, and 6 mile from Hudson.
 Aripeka is situated on the main land and on small island formed by Seminole Bay. and Indian creek both opening into the Gulf of Mexco. The land is high, and well drained, and the ha, bor pro. tected by A line of keys and reefs on the outside, obviating any chance of tidal waves or rolling tides and undertow.
 The land is extremely fertile, level as floor. friable. easy to cul- tivtre, retentive or fertilizers. adapt ed to all Southern crops and fruits, largely sub.irr igated, and well. drained. The soil is composed of leaf mold. shell and sand, and SO produces vegetation of marvellous growth and fruitaye.
 The development of Aripeka has been wonderful in its rapidity. Little more than } years ago, only one family lived here, surrounded by a solitude seldom surpassed Now something like Iso people constitute the furshing little colony with good homes, cultivated fields, youngorange groves coming on, an many other signal marks of pros. perity. Bridges, causeways, and good roads have been built, q nice hotel welcomes travellers. daily mail and large supply store offer necessary facilities. a splendid graded school in a commodious and we'll equipped building is the pride of the settlement. There is large Sunday school in which all denomi- nations unite, and A prayer meet ling, young peoples Union and preaching conducted in the: same harmonious way.
 The picturesque wilderness of vim es, palms, and statly trees is fast be ing cleared away, to make room for rich gardens, fruitful groves, and fine fields. producing from two to three cro ps each year. A saw-,nill converts both pines and hard wood into lumber for the use of the in- coming settlers. A cooperative cannery is projected. to open up work now in few mo nths, and q sugar-cane mill is being plan ned for in the not remote future.
 For transportation of their pro- duce direct to good market, the place has schooner lines operating between Aripeka and Tampa, but they need something more speedy than this, and the Aripeka Co.,, is now getting plans in shape to put in auxiliary power, which means big engines, in these boats, making the best and cheapest trans portations for their products.
 As to the people themselves. they have come together from most of the Southern states and some Northern. drawn largely by health consideration, though in some cases simply because it is so much easier to make a living in Flori da.
 That the new colony is composed of men, women and children above the average intelligence can be readily remarked when one goes in. to their public assemblies, their social gatherings, their Farmers Club meetings, and simular .places.
 Regarding health. which should undoubedtly be the the ::irst con- sideration in the selection of per manent home, am. convinced that Aripeka is admirably located, and the climate simply superb. No poisonous emanation arises from the ground. no miasma can come from the salt bayous and open shores No extreme variation of temperature tax the power of re- sistance. and cooling nights aud pleasant days make existence delightful. From the sea, every breeze waits salt tonic and ozone, from the hills behind floats re sinous ordors. of pine and balsm, all combining to give health to the body and pleasure to the senses. The tens brain and strained mus sles can be relaxed, exhausted or wornout tissures are renewed. Especially is this the case in re-