Year: 1869

OAtiAooHNNiLLE, Ia.


March I. 1869.


My last letter left me at Savannah. on
my way to Tallahassee, the Capital of
Florida, at which place, after hard
night journey, I arrived on the morning
of March ID. Shortly after my arrival
in the city, I turned my steps in the di-
rection Of the residence of. Mrs. Webster,
where, after few minutes walk I
received most cordial welcome. It was
cheering to meet familiar face again,
being as far as | knew, the only one in
the whole South. 1t did not take long
for me to feel at home. but this is
an unnecessary remark, for the "Reed
family" is noted, for their hospitality to
all friends and acquaintances. An hours S
time passed quickly in talking about our
friends in the dear old home-the "Clip.
per City,, after which we repaired to
the Capital, wherein Webster was found
hard at work in the discharge of his very
responsible duties, as member Of Gov.
Reeds Cabinet--Surveyor General. This
was the first time that | had the pleasure
of meeting Mr.. Webster, but the cheer
ful smile with which he greeted me, made
me feel as we had been old time friends,
meeting for the first time in many years.
| am indebted to him for many favors.


Tallahassee has population of about
$500, mostly Southerners. The city is
pleasantly situated on high ground and
consequently healthy, for which, however.
it has only received credit within a year
or two past. Northern people are be-
ginning to settle in and near the city, who
no doubt viii add much towards
the development of the State. -
While there | formed the acquaintance of
two gentlemen from New York, who we're
just about purchasing two thousand acres
of land for colony that will smigrate 70
the State in the fall. Many others are
travelling in almost every part of the
State, both for pleasure and looking out
for business chances. During my stay at
Tallahassee called at the Sentinel Office,
one of the few Republican papers that
are published in the State. 1t is a
seven column paper, edited with. great
ability by Mr.. Samuel Whiting. The pa
per is doing good service in assisting to
make known to the world the many advan-
tages of the place at which it is published
and Florida in general In the office l
also had the fortune for the first time, to
see at worka colored press man. He was
printing an eight PACED book on a
small sized hand press For roller
boy he had a little darky, as black as a
stove pine. A regular devil and no mis-
take. | took particular notice of the
kind of work they performed. and found
it to be, of a good order But have not
room to wiite very extensively of each
Of the many towns that 1 already have
and am going to visit: and hence what |
do write will be more in general.


In the North and West it is generally
considered that that portion of Florida
that borders near the Atlantic coast is
about the only tract where Northern and
Western people can hve This, no doubt
is mistake. The climate, from the best
information that can be obtained, is mild
In winter and rot excessively hot in sam
mer all over. the State TIE nights are
invariably cool. The thermc .reter very
seldom falls below 25'. or rises above e5o.
This is substantiated by Gen. Lawson,
Surgeon General of the Army, in his Off
cal report on the climate ard diseases of