The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-11-06
BIG BARBECUE At
ORANGE SPRINGS
Yesterday Drew Thousands
to that once Famous
Resort.

Palatka was Well-nlgn deserted yes
terday.
Everybody who could get away
went to the big barbecue given by
President Sieg of the New South
Farm & Home Company, in commem-
grafton of the fifth anniversary of
the Palatka-F Florida Colony.
Orange Springs is out on the edge
of Putnam county, close to the ro-
mantle Ocklawaha river. In anti-bel-
lum days it was known far and wide
as a resort to which the rich planta-
ton owners went in all seasons for
rest and recupuration. The country
all about was a garden region, with
fields of cotton and cane, and groves
of orange trees. There were large
hotels and boarding houses and a
school for girls, with good stores and
bank
Nearby was the famous spring of
healing waters and flow of some
5000 gallons a minute. There was
bath house and the waters had cura-
tive properties for those who were at
flicted with rheumatism and like all
ments. The patients drank it and
bathed in it and found relief.
The mansions of slave owners who
lived in comfort and independence
from the labor of the boindsmen,
whose quarters and those of their
masters are now in ruins or entirely
obliterated, and the well-worn stage
Nd
growth. Survivals of rose gardens
and other Towering plants are still in
evidence asserting their right to live
and beautify the earth. The woe of
war was felt even in this SYLVAN re-
treat. The town all but disappeared.
But the springs continued to pour
forth their curative waters, the soil
was made the richer by the decay of
vegetation in the passing years, and
the rain was as generous, the sky as
blue, the winds from the seas as soft
and as benefcent and healing as in
the. preceding generations and must
continue as long as the earth stands.
Again the miracle. Chas. H. Sieg
and his New South Farm & Home
Company spied out the land and es-
tablished colony. The old stage
road is now supplanted by rail road.
1t is not a great railroad, but it is
going to be greater. Along it are
the beginnings of attractive towns
that will also be bigger. Why? Be-
cause the land is being cultivated
again, this time by free labor, by the
hand of the intelligent white owners
who are pouring in from all sections
of the country.
/ A vast improvement has taken
place in the short time in which this
/ land has been open for settlement
Homes are being built, modest struc-
lures, not stately mansions, and daily
newspapers are being read in all
these country homes, and schools and
churches are being erected, and tel
ephone lines have been erected to
communicate with Palatka and Ocala,
the two county seats, one at each end
of the company's boundary. The
waste places are being made glad.
This picnic and barbecue was given
in celebration of the placing of this
region on the map again. 1t was a
Sieg affair, big, generous and joyous.
"Open-hearted hospitality" was on
tap, and thousands of people were
present to enjoy it to the full.
Automobile loads left Palatka
through all the hours of the forenoon,
con tant stream of them. Two
trains also left this city, one at 1880
in the morning and the other at 11:30,
connecting with the train from Jack
senville. To this train by arrange
ment of Mr.. Sieg the A. c. L. coach
es from Jacksonville were switched
to the train of the Ocala Northern.
Seaboard Air Line trains were also
run to the grounds from Ocala. Oh,
it was a big affair, all right, and one
that only such a man as Chas. H.
Sieg could arrange.
The barbecue proper was magnl-
fcent success. Beef, lamb, pork, and
chicken were done to a perfect turn
by specialists from Georgia, and
there seemed to be miles of tables.
Fully two thousand people were on
the grounds. Col. Chas. H. Sieg was
master of ceremonies and he made
Fevery one feel at home. 1t was his
"At Home" to the people of the col
ony and all the adjoining counties.
Addresses were made by Col. Toom-
er and Mayor W. S. Jordan of Jack
sonville, Major Lynch of Gainesville
DR.. Weaver of Ocala, Col. S. j. Hill
burn and P. L. Sutherland of Palatka
and they seemed to know how to give
the people just enough.
Hon. w. G. Tilghman also rendered
one of his inimitable recitations.
The Lubin Moving Picture people
were on the ground with a specia'
company and took pictures that will
be shown all over the country. II
will be some picture of peace anC
plenty in Florida.