George Washington Flowers Memorial Collection DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ESTABLISHED BY THE FAMILY OF COLONEL FLOWERS Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/floridarailwayna01flor THE FLORIDA - --V \ RAILWAY AN D NA VIGA TION COMPANY. COMPRISING ■" THE GULF COAST ROUTE. From the Sea to the Gulf. (CENTRAL DIVISION). THE GOLDEN FRUIT ROUTE. Through the Lake Region and the Orange Belt. (SOUTHERN DIVISION). THE TALLAHASSEE ROUTE. Through the Uplands of Florida. (WESTERN DIVISION). ISSUED BY THE * PASSENGER DEPARTMENT * OF THE FLORIDA * RAILWAY * AND * NAVIGATION * COMPANY. Illustrated and Printed for the ->!£- FLORIDA RAILWAY AND NAVI RATION COMPANY. THE * SOUTH * PUBLISHING * COMPANY, No. 85 Warren Street, New York. ORGANIZATION 3 8'5.0‘N OFFICERS: BENJ. S. HENNING, President, (35 Wall Street — Mills Building.) C. I). WILLARD, Vice-President, .... (35 Wall Street — Mills Building.) L. M. LAWSON, Treasurer, ...... (102 Broadway.) D. E. MAXWELL, General Super in ten den t , A. O. MacDONELL, General Passenger and Ticket Agent, F. B. PAPY, General Freight Agent, .... THOS. W. ROBY, Auditor, ... ... JOHN HEDGES, Cashier, W. NAYLOR THOMPSON, Paymaster, R. Y. DAHONEY, Master of Machinery, C. W. MAXWELL, Master of Transportation , C. H. MARTIN, Master of Roadway, (Cent, and So. Div.) B. M. B U R R 0 U G II S , Master of Roadway, y West. Div.) JNO. A. HENDERSON, Attorney, WALTER G. COLEMAN, General Traveling Agent., (Cor. Bay and Hogan Streets.) New \ t ork. New York New York. Febnandina, Fla. Febnandina, Fla. Febnandina,- Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Febnandina, Fla. Feenandina, Fla. Febnandina, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Febnandina, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. DIRECTORS: B. S. Henning, W. Bayard Cutting, H. L. Horton, E. N. Dickerson, D. L. Yulee, C. J. Peck, C. R. Cummings, F. W. Peck, A. D. Basnelt, C. D. Willard, 17 XT L. M. Lawson, T. C. Platt, E. H. Harriman. GENERAL OFFICES, FERNANDINA. FLA. STATE CAPITOL, TALLAHASSEE. FLORIDA— OLD AND NEW. Florida is, at once, the oldest and the newest State in the American Union — oldest in settlement and historical associations, and newest in development. Old Florida dates back to the discoveries of Cabot in the fifteenth, and Ponce de Leon and Laudon- niere in the sixteenth centuries, and em- braces its successive occupancy by the Spanish, French, English and Americans up to the time of the late civil war, during which extended period it passed through a multitude of startling and romantic vicissi- tudes of alternate prosperity and depression. The long-continued and interminable contests for the control of the country between the French and the Spanish, with their bloody history ; the efforts at settlement and development in the growth of indigo and other tropical products during the English occupation ; its later development under the more vigorous and practical Americans, with its vast plantations of cotton and sugar ; the attractiveness and healthfulness of its climate, and the discovery of its adaptability to the growth of semi-tropical fruits and all kinds of vegetables, have made for Florida a record of ever-changing exper- iences, as singular and unique as it is interesting and instructive. The planters of the early day — immigrants from the adjacent states, whose ener- gies were devoted to the production of immense crops of cotton and com — were quite contented with the careless cultivation of a few oranges, lemons, limes, etc., for home consumption, while the commercial possibilities of such crops were unthought of or disregarded ; the means of transportation were imperfect or entirely wanting, and there was apparently no outside demand for those products for which the State has since become famous. In that olden time the wealth and population of the State was chiefly concentrated in the section now known as Middle Florida, comprising the counties lying between the Georgia line and the Gulf of Mexico, and between the Apalachicola and Suwannee rivers. In no portion of the South were there at that time larger or finer cotton plantations, more luxurious homes and surroundings, or a more prosperous and con- tented people than existed in this rich region. The people lived like nabobs, and devoted themselves with equal zeal to the cultivation and handling of the great staple and the amenities of social life. Fine old mansions yet stand among the giant live 6 oaks, upon more than one of the rich plantations, untenanted and ruinous ; their silence and desolation full of pathos and eloquence, reminding the chance passer-by of the prosperity and affluence of former days. This good old time has passed away, with many of those who were its founders and devotees, but the rich lands yet remain, scarcely affected by the half century of immense yearly crops which they have produced. Methods of cultivation which have prevailed among the freedmen tenants of these lands since the war have reduced the annual product, but not the producing capacity of the lands, and when they are subjected to the better methods known and practiced by the best farmers of the North and West, their fertility and variety of products will be almost beyond the power of belief. The “ fortunes of war ” worked a disastrous change in the conditions here, as elsewhere. The slaves were suddenly converted into “ free American citizens,” and lost no time in deserting from the great army of producers to engage almost en masse in the more congenial avocation of politics ; the production of the staple crops ceased almost entirely ; the plantation was deserted for the town and the cross-roads rendezvous, and its owner was left helpless and despairing, without an income, without capital, and without credit, but with a family to be supported, and a new future to carve out for himself under the most trying, disastrous and depressing circumstances which ever befell a prosperous and happy people. Desperate efforts were made to set the wheels of agriculture in motion again, and a few individuals succeeded; but the majority struggled long and vainly against the untoward tide of misfortune and disappointment. In the meantime, occasional Northerners ventured into Florida in search of health, or from motives of curiosity; and, realizing the possibilities of the country, undertook to develop it in the right direction. Their ventures in cotton-planting, owing to ignorance of the conditions essential to success, were generally disastrous, but in other directions they accomplished a progress previously unknown. Orange and lemon groves were planted ; experiments were made in pineapple culture ; the production of vegetables for shipment North soon became a practical success, and in many respects the elements of a prosperous future for the State were apparently near at hand. But the conditions of social existence were unsatisfactory ; the proportion of Northern settlers was small, and on account of the natural, and, at that period, unrestrained, prejudice existing towards them, their situation was not comfortable, and many of them abandoned what they felt could be made a profitable and pleasant undertaking, on that account. A few -were left, however, ana, as years passed, they remained to demonstrate the fact that the growth of oranges and other semi-tropical fruits and vegetables could be made a success, and, under favorable conditions, aston- ishingly profitable. Others were attracted by the published experiences of these pioneers, and people began to flock in, submitting to the enforced social isolation, but keeping in view the brilliant promise of success. This state of things continued until the Northern element became so strong that the sense of loneliness almost entirely disappeared ; and there is no country, at this time, where enterprising Northern people are so cordially welcomed as in Florida, even in those portions which have heretofore been considered the exclusive home of the Southerner. In addition to this, the peninsular portion of the State is rapidly being opened up, presenting a virgin territory for the enterprise of Northerners in innumerable directions, and a vast tide of immigration has been steadily flowing in for the past four or five years. The problem of success in fruit and vegetable culture in Florida has been absolutely and positively solved, and the profit of their produc- tion fully and satisfactorily demonstrated. Not only the industries above mentioned, but many others auxiliary to them, have been established and brought to a flourishing and prosperous condition ; and still others, heretofore unthought of, are daily being considered, experimented upon, 7 developed and made important factors in the general growth of the material pros- perity of the State. The demand for improved and extended transportation facilities has grown with the growth of all these newly-developed industries, not only with reference to the internal needs of the State, but to a much greater extent, perhaps, with reference to complete and rapid access thereto from abroad. Among these, none are of more vital importance than the loeal railway lines, both old and new ; and at the head of the list of these stand the two great trunk routes which formed the original scheme of railway transportation inaugurated in 1855 by State laws and State aid in the shape of grants of public lands, and which bi-sect the State in opposite directions throughout its entire length and breadth, now, with their several branches and extensions, con- solidated under one management into one grand system, comprising over five hundred miles of main traek, under the name of The Florida Railway and Navigation Company. - > COURT-HOUSE, TALLAHASSEE. THE FLORIDA RAILWAY AND NAVIGATION COMPANY. On the 7th day of January, 1853, the Legislature of Florida granted a charter to the Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Eailroad Company for the construction of a road from Jacksonville to Alliaator, (now Lake City) in Columbia county ; and on the 8th of January, 1853, the Legislature granted a charter to the Florida Eailroad Com- pany, providing that its road “ shall commence in East Florida, upon some tributary of the Atlantic Ocean within the limits of the State of Florida having a sufficient outlet to the mean to. admit of the passage of sea steamers, and shall run through the eastern ana southern part of the State in the most eligible direction to some point, bay, arm or tributary of the Gulf of Mexico in South Florida south of the Suwannee river having a sufficient outlet for sea steamers.” On the same aay a charter was granted to the Pensacola and Georgia Eailroad Company to construct a railroad from Pensacola through the western and northern portion of the State, with a branch to the Georgia line. Or. the 6th of January, 1855, the State Legislature passed an act entitled, “An act to provide for and encourage a liberal system of internal improvements in this State,” commonly known as the “ Internal Improvement Act,” which contemplated in terms, as a part of the system thereby provided for, the construction of two great trunk lines of railway, viz : “ From the St. John’s river at Jacksonville to the waters of Pensacola bay, with an extension from suitable points on said line to St. Mark’s river or Crooked river at White Bluff, on Apalachicola bay, in Middle Florida, and to the waters of St. Andrew’s bay, in West Florida; and a line from Amelia Island on the Atlantic to the waters of Tampa bay in South Florida, with an extension to Cedar Key in East Florida.” On the 14th of December, 1855, the charter of the Florida Eailroad Company was amended “so that the said company shall have power to construct the railroad from Amelia Island to the waters of Tampa bay in South Florida, with an extension to Cedar Key in East Florida ” ; and on the next day, December 15th, 1855, the rights of the Pensacola and Georgia Eailroad Company were extended by amendment to the construction of its road to a junction with the road of the Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Eailroad Company at Alligator, (Lake City), and to the purchase of the old Tallahassee Eailroad, which was constructed from St. Mark’s to Tallahassee in 1833, and is now known as the St. Mark’s Branch. By an amendment to its charter passed on the 29th of July, 1868, the name of the 10 Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Eailroad Company was changed to the Florida Central Eailroad Company. An act of the Legislature passed December 13th, 1866, authorized the Pensacola and Georgia Eailroad Company to sell its branch from Live Oak to the Georgia line to the Atlantic and Gulf Eailroad Company, of Georgia. An act passed by the Legislature on the 24th of June, 1869, reciting the sale of the Pensacola and Georgia Eailroad and the Tallahassee Eailroad, incorporated a new company, composed of the purchasers, and called the Tallahassee Eailroad Company ; and on the same day the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Eailroad Company was chartered, and authorized to complete the line from Quincy to the Chattahoochee river, and through West Florida. By a resolution adopted by the stockholders on the 18th of January, 1872, the name of the Florida Eailroad Company was changed to the Atlantic, Gulf and West India Transit Company, which name was afterwards similarly changed to the Florida Transit Eailroad Company. That portion of the main line of the Florida Transit Eailroad extending from Waldo to Ocala was constructed under the name of the Peninsular Eailroad Company ; and that portion of the main line from Ocala to Wildwood and beyond, was con- structed under the name of the Tropical Florida Eailroad Company. The Leesburg and Indian Eiver Eailroad Company was organized under the general incorporation law of Florida by articles filed on the 20th of February, 1882, to build a road extending from a point on the Tropical Florida Eailroad west of Lees- burg to Leesburg, and thence to Lake Eustis and Lake Dora, and through Orange and Brevard counties to the Indian river, with branches to Lake Apopka and Lake Tohopekaliga. On the same day, February 20th, 1882, the Florida Central and Western Eailroad Company was incorporated by articles filed by Sir Edward J. Eeed and his associates, who had become the owners, by purchase, of the Florida Central and the Jackson- ville, Pensacola and Mobile railroads. On the 15th of January, 1883, by a resolution of the stockholders of the several roads, the Florida Transit Eailroad Company, the Peninsular Eailroad Company and the Tropical Florida Eailroad Company, were merged into one corporation under the name of the Florida Transit and Peninsular Eailroad Company. The Fernandina and Jacksonville Eailroad Company was organized under the general incorporation law by articles filed on the 16th of March, 1880. During the year 1883 the several roads mentioned, viz : the Florida Transit and Peninsular, the Florida Central and Western, the Fernandina and Jacksonville, and the Leesburg and Indian Eiver railroads, passed into the hands of a single company, and, since March 1st, 1884, have all been operated under one management, under the name of The Florida Eailway and Navigation Company. The Florida Eailway and Navigation Company’s system, comprising over five hundred miles of main track in actual operation, and about eight hundred miles of main track, when completed, not only gives to Florida its most extensive and impor- tant main lines of transportation, to which all other lines, operated and projected, are in effect subsidiary and tributary ; but it comprises the largest and most impor- tant portion of a system of lines which is destined to materially affect, in the near future, the entire commerce as well as the entire railway transportation system of the Union. The importance of this great trunk line through the Peninsula of Florida, as a highway of travel and traffic between all parts of the United States and the countries of Central and South America and the West India islands, is a subject which far 11 exceeds in interest the consideration of its local traffic. The completion of the road from its present terminus to Punta Rassa, on the waters of Charlotte Harbor, a dis- tance of about one hundred and fifty miles, and the establishment immediately conse- quent thereon of a daily line of first-class, fast passenger and freight steamships thence to Key West, one hundred and ten miles, and to Havana, seventy miles fur- ther, will give direct and complete daily communication between Cuba and all parts •of the Union, bringing the West Indian and South American markets as near to the •consumers of their products as they now are to England and the European continent, and making new markets in those countries for all the products of the States. The Mississippi and Ohio valleys now consume about three-fourths of all impor- tations of coffee, sugar, etc., from the ports of the Caribbean Sea and South America; and that region produces the very articles — -agricultural implements, bread-stuffs, cattle, cotton-goods, etc. — most largely exported to those countries. Official statistics show that of the total sugar consumed in the United States in 1882, about 1,750,000 hogsheads, or over 1,000,000 tons, there were imported, chiefly from Cuba, over 1,600,000 hogsheads. Of the total importations from Cuba of 678,000 tons, 442,000 tons were entered at New York, 135,000 tons at Boston, 65,000 tons at Philadelphia, and at other ports 36,000 tons ; yet of this whole amount about 400,000 tons were consumed by people living nearer to Punta Rassa than to New York, and Punta Rassa being about one thousand miles nearer to Cuba than to New York, for this population it is the most direct and economical importing point. The imports and the consumption of molasses show a similar state of facts. The importations of coffee into the United States in 1882 were 220,000 tons, equal to about 500,000,000 pounds, or ten pounds for every man, woman and child in the country, of which 400,000,000 pounds were entered at New York, and the remainder mostly at Baltimore and New Orleans. The imports from Brazil were 340,000,000 pounds, from the West Indies, Venezuela, Colombia, Central America and Mexico, 130,000,000 pounds, and from Java and the East, 30,000,000 pounds. From the foregoing facts it seems manifest that a line of transportation reaching almost directly into the heart of the region producing and exporting into the United States these vast quantities of staple products, and taking from the United States an equally large volume of our products and manufactures, should become, when per- manently established, one of the most important of the world’s great commercial ‘highways. That “ railway connection with the West Indies and South America is the greatest necessity of the present age, and there will be no rest until this want is sup- plied,” has been well said by one of the most valuable railway authorities in the Union ( Railway Age, Sept., 1883). It is to satisfy this want, by the completion of its line to Punta Rassa, by the perfecting of its connections northward and northwest- ward, and by the establishment of daily steamship service from its southern terminus to Cuba and South American ports, thus developing a highway of commercial value not less important to the interests of the whole country than the trans-continental railroads of the far West, that the Florida Railway and Navigation Company is now bending every energy. The extension of the system to Tampa and Charlotte Harbor, now being rapidly •completed, will enable it to control the trade of a region which is conceded by all reliable authorities to be the most desirable in the Union for the production of sugar. In all the peninsular portion of Florida the sugar-cane grows with great luxuriance, “ rattooning ” for some six or eight years in succession, whereas in Louisiana it requires to be replanted every three or four years. It grows in South Florida to the height of ten to fifteen feet, while in Louisiana it is much smaller. In Florida, too, at can be left in the field to ripen fully, without fear of the frosts which in Louisiana often cause it to be gathered in an unmatured state. 12 The transportation of the orange crop of the State is an important and interesting feature of the business of the Central and Southern divisions of the road, which extend through the very heart of the orange region. This industry, although yet in its infancy, presents already some remarkably suggestive facts. The entire crop of the State a few years ago was scarcely worthy of mention from a commercial point of view ; but the increase has been so rapid as to give, in 1881, a total crop of about forty-six millions, increasing to a crop of above fifty millions in 1883. Notwithstanding this astonishing progress, the future has in store for this industry still more notice- able results, for which there is ample room, the demand being constantly and rapidly increasing, and the total annual consumption of this country being now about eight hundred millions, of which more than fifteen-sixteenths are imported from abroad. The business of forwarding early vegetables produced for shipment to Northern markets also forms no inconsiderable portion of the traffic of the system of roads now controlled by the Florida Railway and Navigation Company. Beginning with the first products of the lower peninsula, and ending with the latest shipments of potatoes from Middle Florida, the entire season is one prolonged period of labor, expense, anxiety and activity for the entire corps of officials and employees, the exceedingly perishable nature of these products, and the consequent necessity of rap- idly pushing them forward to their destination, involving the most prompt and uner- ring methods, and the constant and watchful care of every one connected with their transportation. The volume of these, as well as of other products requiring the services of the several lines to transport them to market, can be estimated at a glance by referring to a very carefully prepared table showing actual shipments for a single year from each of the several stations, which will be found in another place in this pamphlet. Besides the unparalleled advantages of safety, speed and comfort offered to the entire volume of passenger travel between all parts of the United States and the West Indian, Central and South American ports by the completion of the peninsular line of the Florida Railway and Navigation Company’s road to Punta Rassa, and a daily steamship service thence to those ports, the already completed lines and their unex- ceptionably favorable connections northward and westward enable the Company to offer to the people who, in already vast and annually increasing numbers seek the matchless climate of Florida for relief from the cold, discomfort and danger of the Northern winters, a means of transportation to and through the entire length and breadth of the great winter sanitarium of Florida, unequaled by those presented by any other line or lines. Travelers coming to Florida from any of the Eastern or Middle States, by secur- ing tickets which will bring them over any of the Georgia roads or Atlantic coast lines leading to Savannah, will connect at that place directly with trains on the short line of road (the City and Suburban Railroad), now controlled by this Company, leading from Savannah to Montgomery on the sea shore, about twelve miles from Savannah, whence the elegant steamers of the DeBary-Baya Merchants’ Line, completing what is known as the “ Montgomery Route,” will transport them directly and rapidly by the safe and picturesque “ Inland Route,” between the noted “ Sea Islands ” and the main land, past the famous and interesting ruins of “ Dungeness, ’ on Cumberland Island, to Fernandina, the initial point of all the Company's lines leading all over the State, in every direction. Those coming from any of the Western or Southwestern States, by securing tickets which will bring them over the Illinois Central, Mobile and Ohio, or Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company’s lines and their connections, via New Orleans, Mobile or Montgomery, Ala., to Pensacola, will there connect with solid through trains, with Pullman Palace Sleeping-cars attached, which will take them through West Florida, over the new Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, and 13 through Middle Florida, on the track of the Western Division, (F. R. & N. Co.), by davliaht, thus enabling them to enjoy the novel, and heretofore unusual experience of seeing the beauties of the wonderful “ Hill Country ” of Florida. Travelers desiring o first visit the Great Exposition at New Orleans and then return to their homes by way of Florida, or to go thence on the excursion trains which will be run during the period covered by the Exposition, will positively find no other route open to them by which they can go direct to and through the entire State, than by the through trains over the Pensacola and Atlantic and Florida Railway and Navigation Company s roads, to which will be attached through Pullman Palace Sleeping-cars from New Orleans to Jacksonville. THE FLORIDA RAILWAY AND NAVIGATION COMPANY. SCHEDULE OF STATIONS AND DISTANCES. CENTRAL DIVISION. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. Fernandina, — — Starke, 2 73 Hart’s Road Junction. 11 u Thurston, 4 77 Italia, 7 18 Waldo, 7 84 Callahan, 9 27 Fairbanks, . 6 h 90£ Dutton, 9 36 Gainesville, 7J 98 Brandy Branch, . 5 41 Arredondo, . 6 104 Baldwin, . 6 47 Palmer, . 4 108 Maxville, 8 55 Archer, 5 113 Highland, e 01 Bronson, . 9 122 Lawtey, 5 66 Otter Creek, 12 134 Burrin, n 67* Rosewood, 11 145 Temple, 3 2 71 Cedar Key, . 10 155 JACKSONVILLE BRANCH. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. Fernandina, — — Duval, ii 22 Hart’s Road Junction, u u Jacksonville. u 33 SOUTHERN DIVISION. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. STATION. DISTANCE. MIXES. Waldo (from Fernandina), — 84 Silver Spring Junction, 9 130 Dixie, 8 92 Ocala, 4 134 Hawthorne, . 6 98 Lake Weir, . 16 150 Lochloosa, 6 104 Oxford, 6i 156£ Orange Lake, 8 112 Wildwood, . 3 i 160 Sparr, 5 117 Pana'sofkee, 8 168 Anthony, 4 121 Withlacooch.ee River, 21 189 LEESBURG BRANCH. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. Wildwood (from Fernandina), 160 Leesburg, 2£ 172 Montclair, 9i 169£ Tavares, 10 182 15 WESTERN DIVISION. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. Chattahoochee River, . — Ellaville, . 8 114 River Junction, . 2 2 Live Oak, 13 127 Chattahoochee, 1 3 Houston, 6 133 Mt. Pleasant, 8 11 Welborn, 5 138 Quincy, . 9 20 Dowling’s Junction, 4 142 Midway, 12 32 Lake City, . 8 150 Tallahassee, 12 44 Mt. Carrie, 7 157 Chaires, 12 56 Olustee, 5 162 Lloyd, 6 62 Sanderson, 10 172 Pinhook, 7 69 Taliaferro’s Junction, 2 174 Drifton, . 2 71 Glen St. Mary, 5 179 (Monticello, 4) — — Darbyville, . 2 181 Aucilla, 7 78 Baldwin, . 9 190 Greenville, . 7 85 Clark’s Junction, 2 192 Madison, . 14 99 White House, . 6 198 West Farm, 5 104 Way cross Junction, 10 208 Lee, 2 106 Jacksonville, . 1 209 ST. mark’s 1 BRANCH. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. STATION. DISTANCE. MILES. Tallahassee, — — Wakulla, . 6 16 Belair, 4 4 St. Mark’s, . 5 21 Ferrell, 6 10 Mouth St. Mark’s River, — 8 LOCATION AND MILEAGE. Central Division : Passes through the counties of Nassau, Duval, Clay, Brad- ford, Alachua and Levy. Southern Division : Passes through the counties of Alachua, Marion, Sumter and Hernando, and is now being extended into Polk and Hillsborough. Western Division : Passes through the counties of Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, Columbia, Baker and Duval. St. Mark’s Branch: Passes through the counties of Leon and Wakulla. Leesburg Branch : Passes through the county of Sumter, and is now being extended into Orange. Jacksonville Branch : Passes through the counties of Nassau and Duval. Monticello Branch: Passes through Jefferson county. miles. Central Division, Fernandina to Cedar Key, 155 Southern Division, Waldo to Withlacoochee River 105 Leesburg Branch, Wildwood to Tavares, 22 Western Division, Chattahoochee River to Jacksonville, ..... 209 Jacksonville Branch, Fernandina (Hart’s Road Junction) to Jacksonville, . . 22 St. Mark’s Branch, Tallahassee to St. Mark’s, 21 Monticello Branch, Drifton to Monticello, 4 Total mileage, main track, 538 COUNTY SEATor MAMMOTH TREE AT RELEE VIEW. — SEE PAGES XXV AND XXVI. CENTRAL DIVISION. FERNANDINA, “ the Newport of the South,” as it has been justly named, is the initial point and general headquarters of the Florida Railway and Navigation Com- pany’s railway system. Its happily-bestowed cognomen had its origin in the prox- imity of the city to the magnificent ocean beach, known as Amelia Beach, to which reference will be made further on in these pages. The city itself is of no insignificant importance, and has frequently been called the “ Gate City of Florida,” from the fact of its possession of the largest and deepest harbor on the eastern coast of the State. It is beautifully located in a sheltered situation on the west side of Amelia Island, the northern extremity of which guards the entrance to Cumberland Sound and the exten- sive land-locked harbor, into which open the St. Mary’s river, and Amelia river from. Nassau inlet, the former from the west, and the latter from the southeast. The harbor of Fernandina is one of the finest and most commodious on the Atlan- tic coast. “ It is similar to Charleston and Savannah in having a bar at its entrance ; and in respect to the draft which can be carried to its wharves, the three cities are about on a par. But Fernandina excels the others in the fact that the wharfing shore is only about three miles from the sea buoy or open ocean. After crossing the bar, there is a broad way of from twenty-five to sixty feet depth, at low water, to the anchorage in the harbor. The inner basins which form the harbor are closely land- locked, of unlimited capacity, of a general depth of thirty to forty feet at low water, good holding ground of stiff, blue clay, and lined by extensive shore for wharves. The water obtainable here for ships’ supply is reputed to keep better on voyages than any other in the South.” — (From an Address by Hon. D. L. Yulee, delivered to the Fernandina Board of Trade, Jan. 26, 1880.) “ Inside of the bar there is an unlimited extent of deep-water accommodation, and also the protection of smooth water before reaching the land-locked basins. The, anchorage in Amelia river possesses the quiet and safety of an enclosed dock, and repairs of all kinds may be carried on without the fear of accident arising from the motion of the water.” “We are careful to avoid making tnis communication unnecessarily long by entering upon a comparison of Fernandina with other places in the same region of coast — such as Brunswick, for example, which is now connected by railroad with Savannah, and being more in the interior, is less healthy ; or St. John’s entrance, * * * which has an insuperable objection in its bar ; but we take pains to say that such comparisons have formed a large part of our study of the whole subject. We have not spoken of the peculiar advantages of Fernandina as a depot and naval station without attaching a meaning to the word.” — (From the Report of Admiral S. F. Dupont, U. S. N., General J. G. Barnard, U. S. Engineers, Professor A. D. Bache, Supt. U. S. Coast Survey, and Com- 20 rnodore C. H. Davis, U. S. N., made to the Secretary of the Navy in 1861, referred to in the Address above mentioned.) The natural advantages of Feraandina as a seaport and a centre of trade have not been heretofore utilized as they deserve. The ravages of war fell with peculiar force upon the city, paralyzing its industries and complicating the titles to property by reason of sales made under the U. S. direct tax laws. These were followed by the greater misfortune of epidemic disease happening at a time when its resources were unequal to the demand for adequate sanitary regulations and precautions. All these disasters and hindrances have now happily passed away, and the staunch little “ Island City,” as it is fondly called by those who know and love it, is rising from the prostration caused by its many misfortunes, and is rapidly putting on the appearance of a veritable metropolis. The facilities afforded by Fernandina for the profitable and successful prosecution of an extensive wholesale trade with the entire peninsular portion of the State, as well as with a considerable section of Middle Florida, are unsurpassed by those of any port or city in the State. The splendid harbor admits vessels drawing seventeen and a half feet of water at high tide (with an excellent prospect of increase to twenty- six or twenty-seven feet by Government appropriations) ; and the depth of water in the harbor enables cargoes to be loaded and unloaded directly at the wharves. A line of first-class steamships (the Mallory Line) plies regularly between this port and New York, another line has just been established to Boston, and another to Baltimore, and a direct line of ocean steamers to and from Liverpool visits its wharves at stated intervals. Freights, therefore, both from Europe and the upper Atlantic coast ports, are more than two-thirds lower than freights by rail, and the Florida Railway and Navigation Company’s lines of railroad give direct and constant access to and from all the interior towns and cities of the State. A recent fire destroyed a number of the older buildings in the principal business portion of the city, which have been promptly replaced by handsome and commodious brick structures, whose appearance and accommodations for the purposes of modem trade would do credit to any of our largest cities ; and when the superior advantages of Fernandina as a great central entrepot for the bulk of the trade of East and South Florida shall be known and prop- erly appreciated, the entire harbor frontage and the two or three tiers of blocks extending its whole length, which have been reserved for business purposes, will become one great mass of brick warehouses, out of whose capacious depths will pour a never-ending stream of merchandise to supply the growing wants of the vast and constantly increasing population of the interior. Throughout that portion of the city devoted to private residences may be found some of the handsomest and cosiest homes in all Florida, representations of some of which are given among our illustrations. The gently-sloping eminence upon which this portion of the city is built affords facilities for ample drainage, which has been thoroughly effected by a system of sewerage of which many larger cities might well be proud. The atmosphere, laden with the perfume of the sea and the exhalations from the vast pine forests near at hand, is pure and healthful ; and the ocean tides, sweeping over the salt-marshes, leave no stagnant fresh-water pools to breed malaria. The soil of the island is light and sandy, with an admixture of comminuted shell, making it in many localities exceedingly productive, as is amply evidenced by the luxuriant growth of the orange groves and shade-trees of various kinds, including the stately palm, and the wonderful products of the numerous vegetable-gardens and tlower-yards which abound in and about the city. Amelia Island and its vicinity abound with places of historical and romantic in- terest. The island is formed by the surrounding waters of the Atlantic, Cumberland Sound, the St. Mary’s and Amelia rivers and Nassau inlet, and is about twenty-two 21 miles in length, with an average breadth of two miles. It was known in the time of the aborigines as Guale, and was the seat of government of a powerful chief, who has been described by Laudonniere as a person of remarkably commanding presence and noble mien. His sceptre was broken and his savage court dispersed under the oft- disputed reigns of the Spanish and English colonists. General Oglethorpe, whose headquarters were at Savannah, claimed the territory along the coast as far south as Fort George Island, at the mouth of the St. -John’s river, while the Spaniards claimed as far north as the Savannah river. A small fort was built at a very early day by the Spaniards near the spot where now stands the old town of Femandina, about a mile north of the present modem city, which was occupied and garrisoned up to the time RESIDENCE AT FEENANDINA. of the cession of Florida to the English in 1763. The spot where it stood, as well as the quaint old town, are visited with interest by curious strangers. About the year 1770 the Countess of'Egmont, an English noblewoman, established a great indigo plantation on the island, the buildings of which were situated on the highest point of land, near the site of the present light-house, and the indigo-works on a spot near where now stands the Egmont Hotel, named, of course, after the Countess, a fine portrait of whom hangs in its parlor. Some two or three miles from the city, at the northern extremity of the island, stands old Fort Clinch, whose massive guns still frown from the parapet, while its casemates are piled with the antiquated and appar- ently useless impedimenta of warfare. Eight miles from Femandina, by water, on Cumberland Island, is the famous estate of Dungeness, several thousand acres in extent, bestowed by the State of Georgia upon General Nathaniel Greene, and belonging for many years to his descendants. The massive ruins of the stately old mansion kept watch and ward, until within the past few months, over the smouldering remnants and historic mem- ories of the place. Broad avenues, bounded by plantations of ancient orange and olive trees and bordered by giant oaks, stretch grandly away on either side of the 22 homestead, while the half wild remnants of a once flourishing and extensive botanical garden give evidence of the fonner luxuriant surroundings. The old family burying- ground, with its ancient tombs (one of which covers the mortal part of the renowned soldier known to fame and the history of his country as “ Light-Horse Harry” Lee), is located in a grovo not far from the mansion. Many other objects and places of interest abound on the island, and its recent purchase by Mr. Thomas M. Carnegie, a wealthy Scotsman, who is restoring and rebuilding the old mansion and rehabilitat- ing the entire estate, will be the means of preserving the mementoes and memories and traditions of this historic ground. Fernandina possesses a number of handsome church edifices, prominent among which are the Presbyterian, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Michael’s (connected with which is a convent and young ladies’ school under the management of the Sisters of St. Joseph), and the beautiful new Episcopal Church of St. Peter’s. There is also a convenient and commodious public hall. The Florida Mirror , one of the leading journals of the State, is published here. Connected with its publication office is a thoroughly equipped job office, where much of the printing of the Railway Company is done. Half a mile south of the city are the principal car-shops of the Company, where have been executed some of the best specimens of railroad work to be found in the South, among which may be mentioned a complete locomotive engine, one of the best on the road, and the only one ever constructed in Florida. One of the chief attractions of Fernandina is the Amelia Beach, a noble stretch of smooth, shining sand, sloping gently from the foot of the great “ sand-dune ’ which lies along the outer edge of the island far out under the shallow waters of the Atlantic, and extending from one end of the island to the other, a distance of over twenty miles. The surface of the sand at the edge of the water is as hard as a floor, forming a magnificent drive, and a firm, hard shell-road extends from the city to the beach, a distance of nearly two miles. Near where the shell-road joins the beach are a number of cottages belonging to citizens, and a large and comfortable hotel, the “ Strathmore,” whose broad verandas, comfortable rooms and well-supplied tables welcome ci'owds upon crowds of summer guests, year after year. Mr. and Mrs. John B. Hopkins, of Tallahassee, have presided over its hospitalities during the season of 1884, and the house has been overrun with guests during the entire summer. A branch track from the city to the beach is in contemplation, which will render the facilities for reaching this notable resort perfect. The surf-bathing on the beach, which of course is the chief attraction, is said to be safer and more enjoyable — especi- ally for ladies and children — than at any of the famous resorts of the northern Atlantic coast. The general offices of the Company are situated at present in a building con- structed for the accommodation of the general offices of the old Transit Railroad; but it is in contemplation to erect a new building at the foot of Centre street (the principal business street), which will eontain ample room for the transaction of the large business of the Company, besides handsome and commodious accommodations for passengers. A complete telegraph and telephone service are among the conveniences employed for the transaction of business by the Company and the citizens. There are three good livery stables to supply visitors with conveyances of all kinds, and the harbor is full of sail and row-boats of all shapes and styles and sizes. Fishing in the harbor and adjacent rivers is unsurpassed, and there are quantities of game of several kinds on the island. Hotels: The Egmont is one of the most complete hotels in the South. First- class in every appointment, with service of gas and water throughout, bath-rooms on. 23 ■every floor, a billiard-room for the free use of its guests, costly fumituro, a charming flower-garden and park of palmetto trees attached, occupying one of the most elevated situations in the city, and with a cuisine equal to the best in the country, it presents attractions which are found in but few other places in the South. The Mansion House is down-town, nearer to the depot and wharves, and is roomy, comfortable and well- managed. The Lucy Cottage, on one of the quietest and pleasantest residence streets, is a retreat in active demand among those who know of its superior attractions. RESIDENCE OF HON. S. A. SWANN, FERNANDINA. HABT’S KOAD JUNCTION, Nassau county, is in the midst of a pine forest, in- 11 miles from Femandina, tcrspersed with ridges of fertile soil ; and is the point where 1** “ “ Cedar Key, the new short line of the Jacksonville Branch diverges from the main line. ITALIA, a flag station, also in Nassau county, is the seat of a flourishing lumber 7 ms. from Hart’s lioad Jc., and brick-making business conducted by Mr. Wm. MacWil- 18 “ “ Fernandina, liams. It lias a post-office, and is in the heart of pine 137 “ " — Cedar Key. forests rife with undeveloped wealth. CALLAHAN, in Nassau county, is a telegraph station and the crossing-place of 9 miles from Italia, the East Florida Eailroad, (Waycross), extending from Jack- 27 “ “ Fernandina, sonville to Waycross and Savannah, Georgia. The country Cedar Key. aHout Callahan is undulating and well settled, and the soil 128 is good, as is evidenced by some of the finest crops of corn, vegetables, etc., to be seen in the State. The lumber interest is a flourishing industry, and the place is one ■of some commercial importance. Here vast quantities of the products of the penin- sula destined by the all-rail routes to Northern markets are transferred from the Elorida Eailway and Navigation Company’s tracks to the “Waycross” road; and in the season of winter travel the vicinity of the depot, with hundreds of passengers with their luggage in process of transfer to and from the several trains, make up a lively daily scene of activity and apparent confusion. 24 DUTTON is an important shipping and manufacturing point for lumber, turpen- 10 miles from Callahan, tine and resin. The elevation here is forty-five feet above 37 " “ Fernandina, the sea level, and the surrounding lands are generally of a 418 “ “ Cedar Key, productive character, having a sub-soil of clay which adds to their fertility. Dutton is a flag station, and is in Nassau county. BRANDY BRANCH, also in Nassau county, is in most respects similar to Dut- 4 miles from Dutton. ' ton, the manufacture of turpentine, resin and lumber being- 41 “ “ Fernandina. the chief industries. The neat farms and fine crops which m “ *' Cedar Kpv. ma y ] je seen hereabouts give evidence of the fertility of the soil. BALDWIN, in Duval county, is one of the most important railroad centres in the 6 m. irom Brandy Branch, State. Here the track of the Central Division crosses, al- 47 “ “ Fernandina, most at right angles, the track of the Western Division ex- 108 “ “ cedar Key. tending from the Chattahoochee river to Jacksonville. Trains over both Divisions make close connections at Baldwin in every direction, four trains leaving the station twice each day. The environment of Baldwin is low, flat and un- inviting, yet the elevation is forty-seven feet above the sea, and the place, surrounded, as it is, by almost interminable pine forests, is reputed to be as healthy as any in the State, and by no means an unpleasant place of residence. At no distant day there will doubtless be here a mammoth hotel for the accommodation of the traveling pub- lic, and the traveler can now find comfortable quarters and excellent fare. MAXYILLE, Duval county, is a flag station, and the site of extensive lumber 8 miles from Baldwin, 7 mills and turpentine works. It is fifty-seven feet above the 55 “ “ Fernandina, sea, and is surrounded by some of the finest timber lands in “2 " “ Cedar Key. the State. HIGHLAND, in Clay county, is a telegraph station, and is the highest point on 7 miles from Maxvilie, the line, being two hundred and ten feet above tide-water, on 62 “ “ Fernandina, a ridge from which the surface-waters flow eastward into the 12 — “ " Cedar Key, st. John’s river, and westward into the Gulf of Mexico. Its. elevated position and healthful surroundings have attracted a considerable popula- tion, and it is a fast-growing and prosperous village. LAWTEY, Bradford county, is a charming village, chiefly settled by Northern 4 miles from Highland, people, whose tasteful residences, thrifty orange groves and 66 “ “ Fernandina, well-cultivated vegetable farms are a pleasure to behold. 12 '1 Cedar Key. Many winter visitors find here all the enjoyments of a Flor- ida sojourn, including excellent shooting. The altitude is one hundred and forty feet, and the neighboring pine forests give an exhilarating tone to the constant breezes from gulf and sea. Considerable quantities of oranges and vegetables are shipped from here. BURRIN, a flag station, is in Bradford county, where there are extensive saw- l% miles from Lawtey, mills and turpentine stills. The country is rolling and the 67 K “ “ Fernandina, soil fertile far beyond the extent indicated by its appearance. 87^ “ “ Cedar Key. Some of the finest orange trees on the line can be seen here, and the shipments of vegetables are large TEMPLE, also a flag station, in Bradford county, is similar to Burrin. A large 3'A miles from Burrin, vegetable and orange crate manufactory is in operation here, 72 “ “ Fernandina, in connection with Temple’s mills. The proprietor, Capt. S. 88 “ “ cedar Key, j Temple, is one of Bradford county's most substantial and public-spirited citizens, and has established a tram-road to Kingsley, six miles distant, one of the most attractive and prosperous places in this region. It is ten miles from Middleburg, the head of navigation for steamboats on Black creek, a tributary of the St. John’s river, and is situated on the shore of Kingsley Lake, a beautiful sheet of clear 25 water, almost perfectly circular and about two miles in diameter, whose surface is some ninety feet above tide-water, giving on its outlet to Black creek a magnificent water-power. The lake is surrounded by high, wooded banks, and the vicinity is set- tled by a colony of enterprising Northern people. Hunting, fishing, boating, etc., are among the amusements enjoyed by many winter visitors, who find pleasant quarters in private families. ALACHUA SINK. STARKE, a telegraph station in Bradford county, is a thriving and prosperous X mile from Temple, town of about eight hundred inhabitants, delightfully situ- 73 " " Fernandlna, ated “ among the pines,” and surrounded by a rich farming Cedar Key, country. There are a number of pretty lakes in its vicinity. The soil is a rich, dark loam, unsurpassed for orange and vegetable culture, and its advantages have attracted the attention of a number of capitalists who claim to have found here, after visiting other portions of the State, the most promising facilities for orange growing on' a large scale. One “ syndicate,” from Delaware county, New York, has recently cleared, fenced and planted out a grove of over one hundred acres in area, and other parties have gone into the business to an almost equal extent. Starke has a flourishing school, known as Starke Institute, which is liberally patron- ized. The Telegraph, published by W. W. Moore, is the county paper, although the county-seat is at Lake Butler, some miles in the interior, where there is another paper published — the Times. Extensive shipments of oranges and vegetables are made from Starke, and large quantities of the famous “ Sea Island ” cotton are produced in the vicinity. THURSTON, a flag station, is a place of thrifty-looking orange groves, neat cot- Tmiles from Starke, tages and productive vegetable farms, with fields of fine corn, 77 “ “ Fernandlna, sugar-cane and other crops abounding on every side. Large 78 “ “ Cedar Key, quantities of syrup, sugar, oranges, vegetables and other pro- ducts are annually shipped from this point. 26 WALDO, in Alachua county, is one of the most prosperous and Important places ' 7 miles Horn i-iTur^u.iT, — on the Division. It occupies an important position as the 84 “ “ Fernamlina, junction of the Southern with the Central Division, from 71 “ '* Cedar Key, whence depart all trains for Ocala, Wildwood, Leesburg, etc. Waldo is situated in the centre of the best portion of the great, fertile county of Alachua, and is destined to be a place of important commercial interests. It is one hundred and fifty feet above the sea, and contains about seven hundred inhabitants, among whom it numbers some of the most enterprising citizens of the county and State. East of the town lies a perfect net-work of lakes, large and small, which give to the country round about its significant name of the Central Lake Region of the State. Lying but a few miles distant to the east is Lake Santa Fe, the largest, and between it and Waldo is Lake Alto, considerably smaller. The Santa Fe Canal Com- pany, whose Chief Engineer and local representative, Capt. Ned. E. Farrell, is one of the most prominent of the citizens above referred to, have recently completed their canal from Waldo into and across Lake Alto, and thence across a narrow neck of land into Lake Santa Fe, giving access by means of a small steamer to one of the finest agricultural sections of the State. The shore-line thus reached is some thirty miles in extent, and embraces connection with Melrose, at the eastern extremity of the lake, from whence to Green Cove Springs, on the St. John’s river, a line of railway is in course of construction. It is a fact no less remarkable than well authenticated, that the orange groves in the vicinity of Waldo have scarcely suffered at all from the effects of the severe cold spells which have visited the State during the past few years, while large trees situated many miles farther south — in some instances over SUNRISE ON ORANGE LAKE. one hundred miles — have been killed. This apparent immunity from frost has been, no doubt truly, attributed to the presence of natural protection, such as bodies of water, forests, etc. At Fort Harlee, three miles northeast of Waldo, stands the cele- brated “oldest orange tree in Florida,” belonging until recently to the estate of the late D. S. Place, Esq., of Waldo, one of Florida’s noblest adopted citizens, who, after giving for years, without hope or thought of reward, of his time and substance to VIEW IN J A. HARBIS’ GROVE. CITRA. Florida’s interests, finally gave his life itself to her service, dying while on duty as her representative at the Atlanta Exposition. This noble tree measures nine feet in •circumference about the trunk, is thirty-seven feet high, and has borne 10,000 oranges in a single year. Its age is unknown, but its existence as the only tree in the State ■of its age and size, demonstrates the fact that this region is at least the safest for •orange culture. Some of the groves about Waldo are as nearly perfect in every re- spect as one could wish to see. Mr. S. J. Kennard, whose experience is one that ■ought to be familiar to every settler in Florida, has one of the handsomest and most productive groves of its age in Florida, within three minutes’ walk of the Waldo de- pot. His success is largely due to careful, patient labor and attention, and he is one •of the shining examples of what a poor man can do in Florida. He is also largely ■engaged in the cultivation of peaches, his favorite and most successful varieties be- 28 ing the Chinese Peen-to and the ‘ ‘ Kennard ” peach, introduced into Florida by himself, from seed given him by a friend who brought it from Yokohama, Japan, and now also known as the Honey peach. With these varieties he has made a remarkable success, receiving at the rate of $6 and $7 per bushel for them in the Eastern markets. Grapes- of all varieties are also cultivated hereabouts with success, among them the celebra- ted Black Hamburg, bunches of which have been produced in the open air weighing three and four pounds. Waldo has, besides saw mills and turpentine works in its vi- cinity, a flourishing cigar manufactory. Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Bap- tist Churches are established and flourishing, as well as excellent schools. The only newspaper is the Advertiser, published by Mr. J. B. Johnston. FAIRBANKS, Alachua couuty, is a flag station, and a very pleasant and attractive 8 miles from Waldo, new settlement, inhabited chiefly by a colony of Western 92 “ “ Fernandina, people, whose thrifty and industrious ways have already 63 ‘‘ “ Cedar Key, made their mark upon the country round about. GAINESVILLE, Alachua county, is the county-seat, and the only city on the line 6 miles from Fairbanks, between Fernandina and Cedar Key. Its growth during the 98 “ “ Fernandina, past few years has been phenomenal, and it has become a “ Cedar Key, distributing point for the trade of a large and rich section of country. The city has a population of about 4,000 and is situated on the edge of a vast tract of the richest hammock lands, at an elevation of one hundred and twenty- eight feet above the sea. It has long been noted as a place of unusual sanitary at- tractions, and is already a popular and pleasant place of resort for winter visitors. The streets are wide and shady, and the business portion of the place contains a num- ber of substantial and well-arranged buildings. A number of the best business houses, together with the two principal hotels, were recently destroyed by fire, but rebuild- ing has commenced, and, as in most similar cases, the buildings destroyed will be speedily replaced by better and larger ones. A handsome new court-house is among the projected improvements, and a new depot building will soon be erected by the Florida Railway and Navigation Company, to accommodate its rapidly increasing business. The East Florida Seminary, a State Institution, endowed, like the West Florida Seminary, (Literary Department of Florida University), at Tallahassee, with an ex- tensive grant of public land, is one of the most complete educational institutions in the State. It has a military department under the instruction of an officer of the U. S. Army, and is in a most prosperous and promising condition. Alachua county, in the vicinity of Gainesville, abounds with natural curiosities and places of interest to the sight-seer. “ Paine’s Prairie,” two miles from the city, once indeed a veritable prairie, four miles wide and nine or ten miles in length, is now a lake on whose waters plies a miniature steamer bringing oranges and other products from the countless groves and farms which surround its fertile shores. The name Alachua, (Big Jug), is said to be derived from a great natural “sink” which once formed the outlet to the “ Prairie,” but which became clogged up some years since, creating the present lake. The “ Devil’s Mill Hopper” is another natural curi- osity, situated four or five miles northwest of the city. It consists of a “sink,” or deep hole in the ground, almost circular and always partially filled with water ; and though many small streams pour constant supplies of water into its depths, the water within it never rises beyond a certain point. Innumerable small lakes abound in all directions, affording unlimited fishing and shooting of water-fowl, while the fields and woods are plentifully stocked with partridges, deer and other game. Gainesville is a railroad centre of no insignificant proportions. Besides the Florida Railway and Navigation Company’s road, to which its growth and prosperity so far have been chiefly due, it is the western terminus of the Florida Southern Rail- 29 ■way, a narrow-gauge road which connects Gainesville with Palatka, with a branch southward to Ocala and Leesburg. It is also the southern terminus of the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway Company’s Florida system, extending from Live Oak. Alachua county, in common with Marion, Bradford, Baker, Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton and Madison counties, is noted for its production of the long-staple cotton, and at Gainesville is located the extensive cotton-ginning establishment of H. F. Dut- ton & Co., whose chief business is the proper preparation of the staple for the manu- facture of thread by the Willimantic Thread Company. The culture of early vegeta- bles for shipment to Northern markets had its first distinct impetus in this county, and the rich lands lying along the railroad between Starke and Bronson, in Levy county, still produce the bulk of those products shipped from this portion of the State. The United States Land Office is located at Gainesville. The Alachua Advocate is the principal newspaper. The Farmer's Journal, recently established, is conducted by M. M. Lewey, a talented colored man, and member of the State Legislature. The first named recently began the issue of a daily edition. The Plaindealer is also pub- lished here. Hotels : American House. ARREDONDO is a telegraph station, in'Alachua county, and is chiefly noted for 6 miles from Gainesville, the large quantities of vegetables produced in its vicinity for 104 “ “ Fernandina, shipment to Northern markets. This industry has been 51 " " Cedar Key ’ steadily increasing in volume and profit for several years, and the inexhaustible fertility of the soil is annually demonstrated. The station takes its name from the famous Arredondo grant, in the midst of which vast tract of several thousand acres the city of Gainesville and several adjacent villages are situ- ated. Over one hundred thousand crates of vegetables have been shipped from this rich region in a single season. Strawberries, the earliest grown in the State, are shipped from here and from the vicinity of Gainesville in immense quantities, the earliest bringing in the New York market from $2 to S3 per quart. PALMER, (formerly Battonville), is another great shipping point for early vege- ~4 miles from Arredondo, tables and oranges. In the vicinity are also a number of 108 “ “ Fernandina, saw-mills and turpentine works. The lands are rich and “ “ Cedal ~ Ke y- productive, and the neighborhood is filling up with thrifty ruck-farmers and fruit-growers. ARCHER, also in Alachua county, is a flourishing little place, depending largely 5 miles from Palmer, upon the culture of vegetables and fruits for its prosperity. 113 “ “ Fernandina, Large quantities of corn, cotton, sugar-cane and other crops 42 “ “ Cedar Key. are a i so raised in the vicinity. An extensive nursery of fruit trees is located at Archer. The soil is fertile and some wonderful crops have been raised from it. One grower last year realized as the net profit from half an acre of cucumbers the handsome sum of $290, and similar instances are not uncommon. BRONSON, in Levy county, is a telegraph station, is the county-seat, and con- 9 miles from Archer ] tains a population of about four hundred. A number of 122 “ “ Fernandina, large saw-mills in the vicinity are kept in constant operation 33 “ " Cedar Key. ^y the demand for building material from the rapidly in- creasing numbers of new settlers. The place, being just on the edge of the great Gulf Hammock, is a popular resort for sportsmen. Not far from Bronson exists a valuable and extensive deposit of iron ore, the only one of the kind known in the State, from which small quantities of iron have from time to time been produced. A large furnace was in process of erection to utilize this product near the close of the civil war, and but for the collapse of the Confederacy it is probable that a portion of the Southern army would have been supplied with implements and ammunition from 30 this source. The practical development of this rich deposit is only a question of time. The Levy County Times is the county paper. OTTER CREEK, a flag station in Levy county, is situated in the midst of the 12 miles from Bronson, Gulf Hammock, and its surroundings are interesting and 134 “ “ Fernandina, unique. A jolly old sailor, Captain Mason, entertains royal- 21 *' “ Ceflar Ke y- ly the numerous hunting parties which stop here to enjoy the shooting, which is of the rarest, the hammock being overrun with game of all kinds. A few miles distant is the well-known Gulf Hammock House of Captain Win- gate, which is crowded with guests during the season from all parts of the country and Europe, who make it their headquarters for the winter’s campaign against the myriads of game of all kinds. ROSEWOOD is a flag station, in Levy county, and is a favorite resort for hunts- 11 miles from otter Creek, men and fishermen. Vegetable farms flourish here, the soil 145 “ “ Fernandina, being very rich. The lumber business is also becoming heavy 10 " “ Cedar Key. and profitable. CEDAR KEY. This place is the terminus of the Central Division, and is situ- 10 miles from Rosewood, ated upon one of a series of small islands or “keys” lying 155 *‘ “ Fernandina. close to the main land and surrounded by the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, forming a capacious and excellent harbor. The neighboring islands, Atsena Otie, Depot Key, etc., are inhabited, and the last named principally occupied by the extensive “cedar-mills” of A. W. Faber & Co., where immense quan- tities of cedar wood of the finest quality, brought from various localities up and down the coast, are cut into suitable shape for the manufacture of the celebrated “ Faber ” pencils, and shipped thence to the manufactories. The sponge trade is also a prominent feature of the commerce of the place, the vessels of the sponging-fleets which operate along the Gulf coast in either direction making the harbor and city a depot of supplies as well as a market for their product. Large quantities of fish, oysters and turtle are also shipped hence all over the State, and latterly, by preserva- tion in ice, to the cities of Georgia and other interior states. Cedar Key has been for many years the chief distributing point for the trade of the lower Gulf ports, being the only Gulf-coast point on the peninsula reached by rail. The completion of rail communication with Tampa will cut off a portion of its trade perhaps, but it will always be a prominent trading point, and the development of the many valuable industries in its vicinity, and the rapid settlement of the adjacent country, will enable it to hold its own, if not to grow rapidly. Its fine harbor, giving easy access to the largest vessels, will also command for it an extensive trade from the Western States by way of New Orleans. Lines of steamships ply regularly be- tween Cedar Key and New Orleans, Key West, Tampa, Manatee and Havana, con- necting with Atlantic ports and Northern cities by means of trains of the Florida Railway and Navigation Company’s roads. Steamboat lines also connect Cedar Key with the rich country lying along the Suwannee river, whose mouth is only a few miles up the Gulf coast. Hotels : The Suwannee is a large, new hotel, kept in the best style. JACKSONVILLE BRANCH. This new line, formerly known as the Fernand ina and Jacksonville Railroad, was constructed in 1882 to meet the pressing demand for a direct connection between Femandina and the St. John’s river region. The line runs over the track of the Cen- tral Division from Fernandina to Hart’s Eoad Junction, eleven miles distant, thence diverging in a direction almost due south. From Hart’s Koad Junction to Jackson- ville the distance is twenty-two miles, and the only stations intervening are flag stations, of little or no commercial importance. TYSONIA, the most important, is the seat of an extensive turpentine business, conducted by Mr. H. C. Tyson, who has a fertile little farm and a charming home. DUVAL, the next station southward, is near the edge of a vast savanna, among the pine woods, and has also a considerable turpentine business. PANAMA, and CEMETERY, the first near Panama Park, a pleasant suburb ‘of Jacksonville, and the latter at Evergreen Cemetery, are in the midst of a dense ham- mock, lying between Jacksonville and Trout creek, in the “ clearings” of which may be seen many handsome suburban residences and fruitful vegetable farms and market gard ens. JACKSONVILLE, thirty-three miles from Femandina, is the terminus of the Branch, whose trains run directly into the City a few blocks east of its business cen- tre, delivering its passengers at Bay street, whence the lines of street cars, omnibuses and other vehicles transport them in a few minutes to any portion of the city. It is not to be expected that a description of the City of Jacksonville, the largest place in the State except Key West, should be given here. To do so would be a work of supererogation, for to assume that any reader of this pamphlet does not know all that we could tell of Florida's vigorous, prosperous young metropolis, would be to reflect upon his or her intelligence. Jacksonville is known the world over, almost, as the great centre of attraction and the chief objective point of all winter travel to Florida; and as “all roads lead to Borne,” so all lines of transportation into Florida lead to Jacksonville, radiating thence throughout the length and breadth of the State. VIE \V IN H AllRIS’ SHOVE, OKANGE LAKE. WALDO, on the Central Division, is the point where the track of the Southern 84 m. ir. Fernandma. Division diverges, in a direction nearly southeast, and has 105 “ “ withiacoochee e. already been described. DIXIE, the next station, is a flag station in Alachua county, commonly known as 9 m. fr. Waldo] Campville, where there is an extensive manufactory of the 93 “ “ Fernandina, finest building-brick in the world, the clay found here being 96 “ “ withiacoochee E . especially adapted to the purpose, and the works being com- plete in every particular. Four miles west of Campville, on the margin of Lake New- SOUTHERN DIVISION. 34 nan, is the mu?h-talked-of new town of Windsor, for a description of which we refer to the advertisements of Messrs. Griffin & Clarkson, of Jacksonville. Windsor is a “ temperance town,” the title deeds to all lots forbidding the manufacture or sale of spirituous liquors, on pain of forfeiture. DUNN'S PARK, OCALA. HAWTHORNE, also in Alachua county, is a thriving and prosperous village, 6m. fr. Dixie, situated in the centre of a rich section, the soil of which has 99 “ “ Fernandina, a fine clay sub-soil, in places mixed with shell and marl, and 90 “ withiacoochpp it. especially adapted to the culture of the peach and the orange. Hawthorne has about 500 inhabitants, having, it is stated, doubled its popula- tion within the past eighteen months. The Florida Southern, (narrow-gauge), Railroad, extending from Gainesville to Palatka, here crosses the track of the Florida Railway and Navigation Company, adding considerably to the importance of the place as a railroad centre. The altitude here is about 150 feet above the sea, and the adjacent pine forests make the place one of the most healthful in the State. Handsome churches and excellent schools, numerous stores full of heavy stocks of goods, and scores of attractive-looking and substantial residences, make Hawthorne one of the most prosperous-looking places on this Division. A number of pretty lakes in the vicinity add a charm to the landscape, and the shores of Lochloosa are but a few miles distant. The roads in the vicinity are excellent, and good teams can be pro- cured. Game abounds, and the lakes are full of fine fish. Three and a half miles east of the town is the Magnesia Spring, already a favorite place of resort for both residents and visitors. It is forty-five feet wide and seventy feet long, oval in shape, and of an average depth of about thirteen feet. The water is perfectly clear and of a bluish cast, and is discharged at the rate of about 1.500 gallons per minute. The temperature is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and ample facilities are provided for bathing, for both sexes. 35 ORANGE AVENUE, OCALA. An extensive deposit of natural phosphates exists in the vicinity of the Spring, as well as a ledge of sandstone of excellent quality for building purposes. The orange groves about Hawthorne are particularly thriving in appearance, and the business of growing early vegetables for shipment is rapidly attaining large pro- portions. In one of the numerous groves may be seen three trees about twenty-five years old, which annually yield to their owner (Mr. Adkins) thirty thousand oranges, paying a net profit for each tree of nearly S200. LOCHLOOSA, which takes its name from the beautiful lake on whose banks it is 7 m. fr. Hawthorne, situated, is an important station, being connected by steam- 106 “ “ Fernandina, ers with the almost numberless landings and orange groves 83 “ “ Withiacoochee R. on Lochloosa and Orange lakes, the former being four miles long and six wide, while the latter is fifteen miles in length and from two to three miles wide, the two being connected by a deep and navigable channel. Large quan- tities of oranges and vegetables are brought to Lochloosa station for shipment from the landings and groves on these lakes. The shores of Lochloosa, lined with dense groves of stately palms and magnificent magnolias, interspersed with orange groves, settlements and vegetable farms, present a rare picture of semi-tropical scenery whose equal it would be hard to find, even in Florida ; while its waters and islands are the abode of innumerable water-fowl, and the adjacent forests abound with all manner of game. Large quantities of fish of various kinds are taken from the lake for shipment to Northern and interior markets. From Lochloosa the railroad passes along the lake shore and onward towards the eastern arm of Orange Lake, which it crosses on a long trestle resting upon piles, and reaches on the south shore the celebrated groves of Messrs. Harris and Bishop, in Marion county, passing directly between them for nearly a mile. Along this divid- ing line between the two groves about twelve hundred of the finest trees had to be removed to make room for the construction of the track. These are the largest nat- ural groves in Florida. They are situated in the midst of a vast rich hammock, the trees being of natural, spontaneous growth, in the places where they now stand, budded to the best sweet varieties. The Harris grove contains nearly two hundred RESIDENCES AT BELLEVIEW.— (SEE PAGES XXV AND XXVI.) acres of bearing trees, standing rather thicker than those ordinarily set out, and yielding last year a crop worth $60,000, while the crop of the present year is expected to produce not less than $75,000 or $80,000. The Bishop grove, belonging to Hon. P. P. Bishop, of San Mateo, on the St. John’s river, contains one hundred and sixty acres of trees, mostly in bearing. Here, then, is the native home of the orange tree, where it grows wild like any other forest tree, the shoots from the roots springing up in even* direction, and even interfering with the cultivation of the adjacent fields and gardens, and becoming a veritable pest, as troublesome as hazel-bushes in a Northern corn-field. The removal of. these wild shoots to nurseries and there budding them with sweet varieties has developed into a profitable industry, one grower having thus realized the handsome sum of $20,000 in a single season. And here is the beginning, the upper edge, as it were, of what is justly known as “the orange belt,” through which for a hundred miles or more the trains of the Florida Bailway and Navigation Company pursue their busy way, giving access and egress to and from one of the most interesting regions of travel on the American continent. a? CITRA, in Marion County, formerly Orange Lake, is situated just beyond 6 m. fr. Lochioosa, — : ' the Bishop and Harris groves, about a mile from the 112 “ “ Fernandina, lake shore, and is surrounded by the same dense hammock 77 “ " Withiacoochee R. growth. In its vicinity is the splendid home of Florida’s Orange King, Mr. J. A. Harris, the owner of the grove described above. He is a young man of fine physique and pleasing address, and one of the leading citizens of the county, whose thorough business methods, modest deportment and sterling worth have won sincere respect from all who know him. The handsome and" extensive groves of Messrs. John F. Dunn, of Ocala, Church, Brown & Allen, J. O. Matthews, Lindsay & Co., and a dozen or more others, adjoining the two larger groves, make up a vast tract of over 2,000 acres of solid grove adjacent to Citra station. SPARR, a flag station in Marion county, is an important shipping-point for 5 m. fr. Citra — oranges, vegetables, etc., and the excellent lands in the 117 “ “ Fernandina, vicinity are being rapidly settled up. The situation is ele- 72 “ “ withiacoochee B. yated and healthy, and the people, especially new-comers, con- tented and prosperous. ANTHONY PLACE, in the same county, is similar to Sparr, situated on a high, ‘4m.fr. Sparr, healthy pine plateau which has been inhabited and cultivated 121 “ “ Fernandina, since the days of the earliest settlement of the county. The 68 11 “ Withiacoochee B. CO untry in its vicinity is rapidly filling up with an excellent class of immigrants. SILVER SPRING JUNCTION. Here the Silver Spring Branch, two miles long, 9 m. fr. Anthony Place, enables all trains to be run to the very edge of the great 130 “ “ Fernandina, Silver Spring, which is so well known to all who have ever so “ “ W ithiacoociie e e. i iear d 0 f Florida, that but a few words of description are needed here. This vast circular basin, six hundred feet in diameter and nearly fifty feet in depth, is the source of a river navigable for small steamboats, known as Silver Spring Run, and which empties into the Ocklawaha river, about nine miles distant. Notwithstanding its great depth, the water is so clear that the smallest object can be seen on the bottom. Before the completion of the present line of railway the only means of transportation to Silver Spring was by the long and tedious voyage up the Ocklawaha river. Now the tourist can visit this remarkable and interesting place NATURAL CAVE AT BELLE VIEW. — (SEE PAGES XXV AND XXVI. I without incurring the discomforts and loss of time requisite for the voyage ; or, if he desires, can reach the Spring by rail, and after his tour through the peninsula is over, return to the Spring and take the steamer down the Ocklawaha. Hotels: Westervelt House, where excellent accommodations can be had, as well as boats for use in viewing and enjoying the wonders of the Spring. Boabding-houses : M. E. Ross. OCALA. This vigorous and prosperous little city has a population of about 4 m. fr. Silver Spring Jc., 2,500, is the county-seat of Marion county, is situated in the 134 “ “ Fernandina, centre of one of the richest regions of the State, and is 55 “ “ Withiacoochee K. manifestly destined to be the chief city and distributing point of the great orange belt. The intense energy and public spirit of its people have been severely tested by a recent conflagration which consumed in a single day over $350,000 worth of its best business property, comprising four entire blocks of over fifty buildings. This awful calamity, which occurred in November. 1883, instead of operating as a discouragement, only seemed to incite the inhabitants to new vigor, and to de velop more rapidly than ever the wonderful spirit of enterprise and progress 39 -which had already begun to show its fruits in the rapid and substantial growth of the place. Already most of the locations occupied by the destroyed buildings are the sites of far finer, larger and more substantial structures, the erection of which in so short a time has not only seemed a marvel second only to enchantment, but has had the effect of encouraging the erection of additional buildings outside of the burnt district. The old Ocala House, itself one of the best and lai’gest' hotels south of Jackson- ville and west of the St. John’s river, has been replaced by a magnificent brick structure with a front of two hundred and thirty-eight feet on the public square, and extending back a depth of one hundred and sixty-seven feet, and capable of aceom- COKN AND COTTON FIELDS AT BELLEVIEW.— (SEE PAGES XXV AND XXVI.) modating over four hundred guests. The new Ocala House has been leased by the proprietor of the former house, Col. L. M. Thayer, and all who know him agree that the pi'ospect for a brilliant season for the new hotel is assured. Large brick stores of modern style and ample capacity have arisen from the ashes of their predecessors on ever3 - side, and these, with the handsome and commo- dious new brick court-house, which stands in the centre of the public square, give ■Ocala more the appearance of a real city than that of any interior place in the State. A telephone exchange, excellent an J well-stocked livery stables, a sprightly and well conducted weekly paper (the Banner ), and handsome Macadamized streets, add largely to the metropolitan aspect of the place. Not far from the city lies a large deposit of excellent building-stone, which when first quarried is soft and easily dressed, and rapidly hardens on exposure to the weather. Ocala is surrounded on every side by thrifty and profitable orange groves, one of the largest being the famous grove of Mr. Adam Eichelberger, the pioneer of orange culture in the county, who ships annually from 4,000 to 5,000 boxes of the finest fruit, and who will, as soon as his younger trees begin to bear, have a grove of fully 4,000 40 trees in bearing. Mr. C. M. Brown, the owner of the Ocala House, has several fine groves, and one of Ocala’s chief attractions consists of its long avenues (known as Orange and Lemon avenues), lined on either side with groves of hearing trees. Four miles from the city is the oldest grove in the county, known as Hiawatha Grove, and belonging to Dr. J. E. Stubbert, many of the trees of which are thirty-five feet in height and nearly forty years old. Col. John F. Dunn, one of Ocala’s chief citizens, also owns a number of excellent and valuable groves. He is the founder of the Bank of Ocala, and the owner of Dunn’s Park, a charming spot, almost in the centre of the city, consisting of a splen- did orange grove embowered among giant live oaks draped with long, graceful sprays and festoons of Spanish moss. The astonishing increase in the population and commercial importance of Ocala and the rich section of country surrounding it has been largely due to the efforts of such men as Col. Dunn, Mr. Brown and Mr. J. K. Coachman, the last-named being a LAKE WEIR. civil engineer of high repute, and the agent of the great Disston land companies for Marion and other adjacent counties. Real estate transactions have extended and multiplied so rapidly within the past few months as to require the establishment of an abstract office on the plan adopted in northern states, which is under the charge of the Bacon & Adams Abstract Company, and is proving a great convenience to pur- chasers. Hotels: Ocala House, Magnolia House. Ttjscawilla, five miles from Ocala, and Belleview, twelve miles from Ocala, are new settlements rapidly being built up by new comers from other states. LAKE WEIR STATION, otherwise known (from the name of its post-office) as 16 m. tr. Ocala, Whitesville, is the place of debarkation for all travel bound iso “ “ Fernandina, for the vicinity of Lake Weir, which lies about two miles 39 “ “ Withiacoochee B. distant, and is one of the most charming sheets of water in the State, surrounded by beautiful residences embowered in orange groves. The soil 41 hereabouts is unusually productive, and has been known to yield, besides the finest of oranges and vegetables, a crop of 1,000 melons to the~acre. The lake is about seven miles long and four miles in width, with sloping and sometimes precipitous banks from ten to eighty feet in height. Its Indian name is said_to have been “The Lake of the Full Moon,” and its picturesque environmentjias attracted a population VIEWS NEAR PAN ASOFKEE LAKE. of wealthy winter residents and industrious settlers, whose energetic labors are rapidly converting it into a perfect paradise. OXFORD, Sumter county, is a flag station and shipping point for quantities of 6 y t m . £r . Late Weir, ' melons and early vegetables produced in the vicinity. It is 156% “ “ Fernandina, a growing place, and offers many inducements to the immi- 32^ “ “ With’coochee R. grant, chief among which are its healthy situation and good soil. 42 WILDWOOD, in Sumter county, is the most thoroughly wide-awake and enter- 3 ^ m _ fr . oxford, prising of the many new towns recently evolved like magic 160 “ “ Fernandina, from the wilderness by the extension of the Florida Rail- 29 “ “ with’coochee B. wa y aiK ] Navigation Company’s lines. It is happily situated in the midst of the pine woods, just on the edge of the Withlaeooehee hammock. which extends on either side of the Withlaeooehee river (sometimes called the With- lacoochee of the South, to distinguish it from the xlver of the same name which rises in Georgia and forms the boundary between Madison and Hamilton counties, empty- ing into the Suwannee at EllaviJle), from the lower edge of Sumter county to the lower edge of Levy county, and which contains some of the most gigantic trees east of the Rocky Mountains. One famous live oak is said to measure thirty-seven feet in ■circumference around the trunk, and several cypress trees have been found from four to seven feet in diameter. Wildwood is well named, for until the construction of the railroad the place where it stands was a wilderness indeed, sparsely populated by a simple and worthy people, who viewed the onward progress of the iron highway with amazement. They are rapidly becoming accustomed, however, to the advance of civilization into their heretofore quiet domain, and take kindly to modern practices, as will be seen by the following communication recently received by one of the officials of the Company. “ Sie : — Myself and many of my friends would be pleased occasionally to take a ride on the R. R. Please tell me of the best way of obtaining such privilege.” It is rumored that a reply was forwarded suggesting to this “anxious enquirer” LIVE OAKS, PANASOFKEE RUN. 43 that one way to accomplish his desire was to get on intimate terms with the con- ductors, and another, less objectionable to the Company, was to interview the ticket- agent and purchase a ticket before getting on the cars. At Wildwood the Leesburg Branch deflects from the main line in a southeast- wardly direction, passing through a rich country, partially hammock, and opening up to settlement one of the most desirable sections of the peninsula. The Orange-Leaf is published at Wildwood, weekly. Hotels : Withlacoochee House. PANASOFKEE, situated at the southern extremity of the lake of the same 8 m. fr. Wildwood, name, in Sumter county, is another of the vigorous young 168 “ “ Femandina, towns which have sprung up as if from the effects of witch- 2 i “ •• Withlacoochee R. craft, along the line of railroad as it lias progressed south- ward. Its situation is unusually favorable, in the midst of heavily timbered, rich lands. A number of stores are in operation and doing an excellent business, and lands which a few months ago could hardly be sold for any price are being rapidly disposed of at high figures. There are a number of fine orange groves in the vicinity, whose condition and history demonstrate the peculiar adaptability of soil and climate for this fruit. In one grove, that of Mr. Geo. Marsh, may be seen a tree thirty-eight years old, the stem of which is three feet in circumference, and from which were shipped in 1883 twen- TKACY’S LANDING, PANASOFKEE LAKE. 44 ty-two boxes of superior fruit. Another tree, in the Townes grove, yielded twenty-seven boxes, and five trees in Mr. Geo. White's grove yielded in a single season twelve thousand oranges. A large number of young groves, nearly old enough to bear, demonstrate the capacity of the soil for producing quick growth, and the fact that none of the trees in the vicinity suffered any damage from recent severe frosts gives additional evidence of the special advantages this region possesses for orange culture. The commercial importance of Panasol'kee may be better appreciated when it is stated that steamboats plying on the Withlacoochee river can pass through the natural channel or “ run” into and thence around the lake, thus connecting the railroad -with the entire navigable portion of the river, and opening up for settlement and trade a territory almost unequaled in resources by any portion of the State. The Panasofkee Democrat, weekly, has recently been established. Sumterville, two miles southeast of Panasofkee, is the seat of government of Sumter county, and has always been a place of considerable importance. Tin- Sumterville Times is the only newspaper, and the Sumterville Hotel, by J. G. R. Hamilton, is the principal hotel. Oriole, one of the many wonderful and vigorous new settlements which are spring- ing into life all along the line of the road, is only about four or five miles west of the line, hi Hernando county ; and Floral City, another, is hi the same county, on Lake Charla- Apopka, whose waters are connected with the Withlacoochee, giving access to steamers from the railroad at Panasofkee. From Panasofkee to the present terminus of the road, at the place where it crosses the Withlacoochee river, the distance is twenty-one miles. The country beyond is like that last above described, and when opened up to travel and settlement- by the railroad in its progress towards Tampa, its next objective point, will offer some of the most extraordinary inducements to settlers to be found anywhere in the State. Already the lands along the projected line of the road are being eagerly sought after, and prospectors are busy finding and making locations. Messrs. Bush- nell & Campbell, real estate agents, Panasofkee, are doing good work in this direction. From Wildwood, Panasofkee and the terminus of the road the comfortable coaches of the South Florida Stage Company convey passengers in all directions. LEESBURG BRANCH. WILDWOOD, on the Southern Division, is the junction of the main line with the n;o miles from Fernandina, Leesburg Branch, and has been already mentioned, and de- 22 “ “ Tavares. scribed in that portion of this pamphlet devoted to the South- ern Division. JUNCTION OF PANASOFKEF. RUN WITH WITHLACOOCHEE EIVEE. — SULPHUR SPRING. BAMBOO, the first station out from Wildwood, is a flag station, from whence 5 miles from Wildwood, considerable shipments of vegetables are already made, ir,5 “ “ Fernandina, produced on the excellent soil in the vicinity. Some of the 17 “ “ Tavares. finest vegetables shipped over the Line were produced in the vicinity of Bamboo last season. 46 HOTEL AND STATION AT TAVARES. water’s edge, and containing pure, clear water which reflects every detail of the foliage of the giant pines and other trees by which they are surrounded. Thrifty settlements, orange groves and vegetable farms are seen in every direction, mostly occupied by a colony of sturdy, well-educated and enterprising young English gentlemen. Promi- nent among the many beautiful places is “ Windermere," the charming home of Major O. P. Rooks, who came here four years ago from Philadelphia and settled on^th<- shore of one of the largest and prettiest of the numerous lakes. Here he has, by wonderful industry and perseverance, and without any previously acquired skill or experience, on a soil which to a Western farmer would appear too poor to pay for cultivation, without the use of any commercial fertilizers, surrounded his cozy home with a perfect wealth of fruits of all kinds, demonstrating not only the fitness of the soil, but the capabilities of the man (which, after all, has most to do with success in any occupation), to produce fruits in large variety and of the first quality. Over one hundred distinct varieties of fruits are successfully cultivated on this place, including many which are generally supposed to be unsuited to the Florida climate, such as apples, pears, etc. Large quantities of early vegetables are shipped annually from Montclair, the product of the Fruitland Park farms, as well as from'Fruitland Park station, on the Florida Southern Railroad. MONTCLAIR is a station of considerable importance, from whence large quan- 41/ m ii BS from Bamboo) tities of produce are shipped. A large mercantile business 169K “ “ Fernandina, is conducted by Dunning, Hollinshed & Co., at their mam- 12K “ “ Tavares. moth store which stands alongside the railroad track. Two miles north of Montclair, close to the western end of Lake Griffin, is Fruit- land Park, a lovely place situated on a high “black-jack ridge,” amid a score of charming lakes of different sizes, all having high, grassy banks, sloping gently to the 47 LEESBURG is one of the oldest places in this part of the county, and has quite 2 >£ m. from Montclair, the appearance of a city. It was for some years the county- 172 “ “ Fernandina, seat, and is the most important commercial place in the 10 “ “ Tavares. county, doing a large mercantile business with the region lying about lakes Harris and Griffin. It is situated on a narrow peninsula separating the two lakes named, whose shores are lined for long distances with what were once wild groves of orange trees, but are now fine, profitable budded groves. Less than a mile away, with a substantial tramway leading thence from the main street of the town, is the landing on Lake Harris, where miniature steamers which ply its waters arrive and depart to and from the numerous landings and orange groves along its coast, into lakes Griffin, Dora and Eustis, and up and down the Ocklawaha river, connecting at Fort Mason, on Lake Eustis, with trains on the St. John’s and Lake Eustis Railroad for Astor on the St. John’s river. This road is now being rapidly extended to Leesburg, with the expectation of reaching that place during the coming autumn or winter. At Leesburg the track of the narrow-gauge road (Florida Southern) has its present termination, being projected thence southward into Orange county. The extension of the railroads to and through Leesburg has created a revolution in the real estate business in the vicinity, and land-seekers can hardly fail to find ample opportunity for selections at reasonable prices. Messrs. McCracken, Bacon & Co. and J. Nat Moore are the principal land agents. Boabding-hotjses : D. D. Roach. TAVARES, the present terminus of the Leesburg Branch, in Orange county, is a 10 miles from Leesburg, most prosperous and flourishing place, whose destinies are 182 “ “ Fernandina, in the hands of active, progressive and public-spirited men. 36 “ “ Orlando. Situated in the centre of a region of navigable lakes, whose borders in the near future will be lined with groves and settlements and farms, and enjoying unusual facilities of railway connection in all directions, it is apparently destined to become a great distributing point and a place of extensive commercial importance. Tavares is the initial point of the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, which is projected through the heart of Orange county and eastward to the Atlantic coast, and is almost completed to Orlando, the county-seat and chief city of that county situated on the South Florida Railroad, and which will give to the immense travel which annually finds its way into Orange county, a direct, all-rail route, over the Florida Railway and Navigation Company’s lines and this new road. WESTERN DIVISION. CHATTAHOOCHEE KIVER. This is -the western terminus of the Western 209 miles from Jacksonville, Division, (formerly Florida Central and Western Railroad), S-fi l “ “ Pensaco la. _ a nd is a landing on the Chattahoochee river, or, more prop- erly, the Apalachicola river, which is formed by the junction of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers about a mile above the landing. Just below the"landing^the iron bridge of the Pensacola and Atlantic Rail- road crosses the river, and its tracks extend thence to the Union Depot at River J unction, a distance of about one mile. Here all trans- fers are made to and from' the Western Division, the Pensacola and Atlantic and the Savannah, Florida and Western railroads, the latter having in operation a branch road from here to a junc- tion with its line between Bain- bridge, on the Flint river, and Savannah. Of course, all through passenger and freight trains between Jacksonville and Pensacola and New Orleans merely stop at River Junction, without transfer. At the landing are extensive wharves, depot-buildings and an inclined tramway, operated by steam, to facilitate the transfer of freights, etc., and a small hotel for the accommodation of passengers bound up or down the river. Here the trains of the Western Division connect with the several lines of steamers plying between Apalachi- cola, situated on the Gulf at the mouth of the river, and Columbus, Georgia, the head of navigation. These steamers, though small, are very comfortably — and some of them elegantly — finished and furnished, and are numerous enough to give, in the winter season, a tri-weekly connection in either direction. The country in the immediate vicinity of the river is low and flat, and covered with a dense forest growth, embracing a large number of varieties, including the almost extinct Florida Yew, and the unique Torreya Taxifolia, (popularly believed to be identical with the “ shittim-wood ” of Scripture), its chief peculiarities being that it is to be found nowhere else on the American continent, and that its wood is practi- 50 cally indestructible — logs having been known to lie embedded in the mud of the swamps and river bottoms undecayed for many years. Beyond the river bottoms great hills, almost mountainous in height and appearance, rise abruptly to a height of a little over three hundred feet, being the highest point in Florida. CHATTAHOOCHEE STATION, a flag station in Gadsden county, is the station 3 m. tr. Chattahoochee R., for Chattahoochee village and the State Asylum for the 206 “ “ Jacksonville. Indigent Insane, both of which occupy commanding posi- tions on the summit of one of the highest hills, north of the railroad. The Asylum is situated on the site of, and occupies the buildings formerly belong- ing to, the United States military post established here in 1834 by General Jackson, then military Governor of the Territory. The buildings are of the most substantial character, being all of brick, arranged in the form of a hollow square, enclosing, with the high brick wall which connects them, a smooth plaza, shaded by large trees and carpeted with grass. The property comprises about 1,700 acres, and much of it is under cultivation as a farm for the production of forage, vegetables, etc., for the use of the Asylum. It was donated by the Federal Government to the State shortly after the war. The view from the tower is one of the finest panoramas of beautiful land- scape scenery to be seen south of Lookout Mountain, and a visit to the asylum is one of the most pleasant and interesting episodes a tourist could desire. Boarding-houses : II. II. Spear. MOUNT PLEASANT, a way-station, is chiefly noted as the location of the exten- 8 m. fr. Chattahoochee s., sive Hermitage Vineyards of the late Col. M. Martin, Sur- u “ “ Chattahoochee R., veyor-General of the State, which lie about five miles north 198 “ “ Jacksonville. 0 f the depot, and where are growing many varieties of grapes, including the Hartford Prolific, Ives, Concord, Delaware, Martha, Cynthiana, and a number of Rogers’ Hybrids, as well as the hardy Seuppernong. Large quan- tities of wine are annually manufactured and stored in the great wine-cellars, and portions of the earlier vintages have been sold, bringing highly remunerative prices, 51 and being celebrated for their excellent quality. The vineyards were established in 1869. The recent death of the proprietor may bring tnis magnificent property into market. There are a number of other, though smaller, vineyards in the county, which are a source of handsome profit to their owners. QUINCY is the county-town of Gadsden county, and is a snug and charming little 9 m. fr. Mt. Pleasant, place, containing about 800 inhabitants. It is one of the 20 “ “ Chattahoochee R., oldest towns in Middle Florida, having been incorporated in iso “ “ Jacksonville. 1828. It is delightfully situated at an elevation of 290 feet above the sea, and its environment is exceedingly picturesque. Just north of the town is the beautiful valley of the Attapulgus. On all sides rise the wooded hills which form the great charm of Middle Florida. Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, a handsome brick school-building and a well-preserved and commodious court-house adorn the town, besides numerous handsome private residences with well cultivated grounds, that of Judge J. E. A. Davidson being one of the most attractive, and containing a great variety of rare plants and flowers, among them several plants of the only real South American Pampas Grass in the State, from which are taken some 500 magnificent “plumes” every year. The grounds of Congressman E. H. M. Davidson contain some of the largest specimens of the Camellia Japonica in the State, if not in the South, one or two of them being some twenty-five feet in height. The only weekly newspaper in the county, the Herald, is published here ; also the Monthly Educator. The scenery in the vicinity of Quincy is charming in variety and picturesque attractions. The delightful drives, numerous mineral springs, and fine views which abound every- where throughout the county, present attractions to visitors un- surpassed by any in the State, and the erection of a large hotel for the accommodation of visitors would be an enterprise returning handsome profits to its proprietors. STATE ASYLUM FOR THE INDIGENT INSANE AT CHATTAHOOCHEE. All the cereals, cotton, sugar-cane, grasses, etc., flourish and are grown extensively. A crop of 8,000 pounds of oats was recently produced from a single acre. Stock-raising is largely engaged in, and the county has long been noted for its line home-raised horses. The culture of tobacco has always been one of the important industries of Gadsden county. Many planters in Gadsden for years made this their staple crop, while others* 52 large cotton planters, made it an extra crop, which, without curtailing the amount of cotton produced, usually paid all the expenses of the plantation. The tobacco product of the State in 1849 (census of 1850), was 998,614 pounds, of which Gadsden county pro- duced 776,177 pounds. The crop of Gadsden in 1860 was estimated at 1,200,000 pounds, and at the price then current return- ed to its growers about 8300,000. In 1873 the crop was only about 100,000 pounds, and in 1874 about 200,000 pounds. The crop of 1879 (census of 1880), was only 6,677 pounds. This remarkable falling off in the production of a staple crop from which such notable results had form- erly been obtained is almost entirely attributable to the war, and the high prices of cotton immediately subse- quent thereto, which tempted all planters to grow cotton to the total exclusion of every other crop. Be- sides this, many of the elder genera- tion of planters who had demonstra- ted the success of tobacco culture in the earlier day have passed away. The favorable conditions of soil, climate, etc., yet remain, however, and all that Gadsden county requires to enable her to equal, and in a brief time far surpass, her former success in tobacco culture, is the immi- gration into her borders of a population of practical tobacco-growers from Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, with their knowledge of modern methods andfsuch capital as will enable them to accomplish results which the im- poverished condition of her people since the war has prevented. The same natural conditions which exist in Gadsden are present in nearly all the other counties in Middle Florida ; and the immigrant having a knowledge of the requirements of tobacco culture oan'scarcely go amiss in the selection of a locality favorable for the prosecution of this important and profitable industry. Hotels : Quincy House. MIDWAY is a small settlement containing one or two stores, school-house, and a 12 m. tr. Quincy, few dwellings, in the centre of a rich farming country ; and at 32 “ “ Chattahoochee R., various places in its vicinity, along the road between Midway m “ “ Jacksonville. and Tallahassee, are a number of saw-mills. The railroad crosses Little river between Quincy and Midway, and the Ocklockonee river between Midway and Tallahassee. The growth of lumber trees along these rivers is very dense and of fine quality, and the logs are rafted down the stream to the saw-mills located in the vicinity of the railroad, which takes their products to market. TALLAHASSEE is the county-seat of Leon county and the Capital City of the 12 m tr Midway, State. It stands upon the broad summit of a high hill, over 44 “ « Chattahoochee R., two hundred and fifty feet above the sea, and with the excep- 165 “ “ Jacksonville. tion of a single range of lower hills to the southward, nothing intervenes between its position and the Gulf coast, twenty-nine miles distant, but an almost unbroken forest of pine timber. 53 From the westward, the first view of the city gives but a faint idea of its charming situation and its elevation. The white buildings gleam among the green trees, and high over all rises the tall tower of the courthouse, from the top of which a view ravishing in its beaut} 7 can be obtained. The approach from the eastward is much more inter- esting. Four miles from the city, the train passes over a portion of the prettiest of the upland lakes of this hill region — Lake La Fayette, so named from its situation in the midst of the noble estate granted by a grateful country to the great French patriot, in recognition of his services in the Revolutionary struggle for independence. It was a LEON HOTEL, TALLAHASSEE. magnificent domain of over 23,000 acres, (an entire township), and contained some of the choicest lands in the State. Passing the lake, the road runs through a stupendous “ cut” made through a great hill, the grade to the centre of the cut being one of the steepest on the line, and in the State. As the cars emerge from this tunnel-like way, first into a deep and narrow valley with steep slopes on either side, and thence debouching into the broader valley of the “ St. Augustine Branch,” in the early morn- ing, a scene of beauty meets the eye, such as no uninformed tourist ever dreamed of beholding in Florida. Great sloping hills rise as if by magic on every side; in front, crowning the loftiest, are the whitened walls and thousand windows of the city shining in the morning sun. The population of Tallahassee, within the city limits proper, is given by the census of 1880 as 2,494, but with its outlying suburbs, including the homes of many of the numerous operatives of the cotton factory and railroad car-shops, it doubtless contains over 3,500 souls. Its healthfulness is a proverb among all the people of the State, and can be no better illustrated than by stating that during the summer of 1882, its entire sick list was easily attended by a single physician. There were two physicians resident in the city, one of whom was absent until midsummer, and on his return the other left with his family on a visit to Virginia. In the early spring, and during the autumn months of September and October, there is always more or less sickness from malarial causes, as in all southern regions where rich lands and what is known as hammock growth — meaning all timber growths except pine — exist ; but the maladies are slight, easily yield to simple treatment, and are generally to be entirely avoided by a careful attention to diet and sanitary precautions. Tallahassee is full of interest to the tourist, not only on account of its being the seat of government, but because of its inherent attractions. It was here that the great chiefs of the aborigines held their savage court ; here the Spanish invaders of their 54 territory, in the era immediately succeeding the settlements on the Atlantic coast, established themselves by the occupation of the Gulf coasts and the erection of elab- orate forts and strongholds, the remains of which still exist ; here that, in a later day, the military authorities of the United States, under General Jackson, after taking formal possession of the territory, established the chief military post and seat of gov- ernment. Aside from its historical interest, Tallahassee has always been a place of consequence as a centre of trade. Long before the Florida Central Railroad, (from Jacksonville to Lake City), the old Pensacola and Georgia Railroad, (from Lake City to Tallahassee), later called, with its extension to Chattahoochee, the Jacksonville, Pen- sacola and Mobile Railroad, were thought of, the Tallahassee Railroad, from St. Mark’s to Tallahassee, was a flourishing enterprise, founded as early as 1833 upon the necessities of the immense trade even then existing between St. Mark’s and the interior. In later years the building of railroads from the Atlantic coast westward diverted this trade. Two miles west of Tallahassee is the “Murat Place,” a fine plantation owned and occupied, until her death, by the widow of Prince Murat, the son of Napoleon’s favorite Marshal, afterward King of Naples. The Prince, who spent the last years of his life upon his fine estate in Jefferson county, and his widow, who survived him many years, lie side by side in the Episcopal Cemetery at Tallahassee. Three miles westwardly is the site of an old Spanish fort (San Luis), upon the broad summit of one of the highest hills, where fragments of ponderous old iron armor and heavy cannon have been found. In many other localities are pointed out similar remains. Tallahassee has been called the “Floral City of the Land of Flowers,” and well deserves the name. Almost every dwelling is in the midst of a wilderness of flowers, which seem to bloom with equal splendor from January to December. The hard clay roads, winding gently over the hills and through the valleys, under over-arching boughs and among the fertile fields, toward the various beautiful lakes which abound throughout the country, afford the finest opportunities for pleasant drives and rides and walks ; all of which are invited by the clear, bracing atmosphere and the varying changes of the landscape. Lake Jackson, the largest in the county, lies nearest to the city, its nearest point being only about three miles. It is a noble expanse of water, extending in a northerly direction a distance of some eighteen or twenty miles, and varying in width from half a mile to three miles. North of it lies Iamonia, a veritable archipelago on a small scale, being full of small islands. It is famous over half the continent, among the knowing ones, as the place par excellence for the shooting of water-fowl during the winter months. South of Tallahassee, four miles, is Lake Bradford, almost circular in form, and about a mile and a half in diameter, its shores composed of a wide belt of fine white sand, and shaded by immense trees. Twenty miles northeast is Lake Miccosukie, nearly as large as Lake Jackson, and forming a portion of the boundary between Leon and Jefferson counties. Lake Hall, almost a perfect crescent in shape, lies five or six miles northeast from Tallahassee. All these are surrounded by high banks and bluffs, and the scenery is as fine as in any lake region in the world. A beautiful and substantial little steamer, the “ Jennie-Rossie,” has been placed on the waters of Lake Jackson for the use of pleasure and fishing parties by Mr. E. W. Clark, a prominent merchant of Tallahassee, and a considerable fleet of swift sail-boats, including one or two of the famous “ Racine” pattern, all belonging to citizens of Tallahassee, beautify its waters. The boat-houses are on the extensive estate of “Rodenwald,” belonging to Mr. H. Y. R. Schrader, of Tallahassee, on the east side of the lake, five miles from the city, where charming building lots for winter homes, gardens, truck-farms, etc., are to be had. The Thomasville, Tallahassee and Gulf 55 Railroad, now in course of construction, winds along its eastern shore near the water’s edge, and just opposite “ Rodenwald,” on the western shore, is “ Shidz-u-o-ka,” a beautiful tract of some 1,200 acres, recently purchased by Messrs. Clark, Purves & Co., who contemplate the erection of a hotel and a number of pretty villas, the winter homes of those who have purchased portions of the estate. Tallahassee has substantial and well-appointed churches, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopalian, and the Roman Catholics have a chapel in the old convent building, where services are regularly conducted by a resident priest. The Hebrew residents also enjoy religious services, but have no synagogue. The Florida University, a most comprehensive institution of learning, is located at Tallahassee. It comprises a Literary Department, (the "West Florida Seminary, a State institution endowed with a large grant of public land), with schools of Languages and Metaphysics, Natural Science, English Branches and History ; a Military Department, with its cadets organized under the State Laws into a battalion of State Militia ; a Medical Department— the Tallahassee College of Medicine and Surgery; a Polytechnic Institute, with Schools of Civil Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Mechanics and Architecture, Arts and Commercial Instruction : a Law Department and Normal Institute. A corps of over twenty-five competent professors and instructors are engaged in the different departments. An extensive and valuable Museum of Anatomy and Natural History is attached to the Medical Department. A larger number of newspapers are published in Tallahassee than in any other city in the State. The Weekly Floridian, established in 1828, is the patriarch of the Florida press. The Economist and Land of Flowers are weekly. The Florida Immi- grant and State Journal of Education, formerly issued as the organ of the State Board of Immigration, is now issued monthly in the interest of immigration and education. 56 A flourishing public library, called the University Library, is a new feature of Tallahassee life, having been organized in 1883. It occupies a suite of pleasant rooms in a central and desirable location donated for its use by one of Tallahassee’s oldest, most beloved and public-spirited citizens, Ex-Governor (now Judge) David S. Walker. The State Capitol is a roomy, massive and well-preserved structure of imposing appearance, built in 1834 by the military government of the territory, and stands in a commanding situation on the extreme southern portion of the hill occupied by the city. From the eastern entrance to its well-kept grounds, extends eastwardly the St. .Augustine Load, a military highway constructed by the U. S. Government in territorial times to connect, for purposes of military transportation, the capital with the settle- ments on the Atlantic coast. Tallahassee is the northern terminus of the St. Mark’s Branch, which extends a distance of twenty-one miles to St. Mark’s in Wakulla county. There are a number of railroads projected to and through Tallahassee, among them the Thomasville, Talla- hassee and Gulf Bailroad, from Thomasville, Georgia, through Tallahassee to some eligible point on the Gulf coast, (probably Carrabelle, a thriving lumber port on the deep waters of Dog Island Harbor, at the western end of James Island), the preliminary surveys of which have been completed, and the work of grading commenced. The car- shops of the old Florida Central and Western Bailroad are situated near the depot, which latter is the finest building belonging to the line, and was built to accommodate the general offices of the old P. & G. B. B. At the Tallahassee cai'-shops some of the best railroad car-building to be found in the South may be seen. The Western Division has some handsome sleeping-cars for local use, turned out from these shops, and there is now building one of the most ele- gant and best arranged private coaches for the use of the President of the Company, ever seen in this section of the countiy. It is complete in all its appointments, with dining-saloon, kitchen, sleeping apartments, smoking-room with windows extending to the floor, gents’ toilet-room, ladies’ toilet-room, and a private drawing-room. It is heated by steam, furnished and upholstered in the best style throughout, and is a piece of work that Master of Machinery Dohoney may well be proud of. Near the depot stands the Tallahassee Cotton Factory, the only establishment of its kind in the State. It was founded many years ago by a stock company, and is now owned by Mr. Alexander McDougall, who is engaged in the manufacture of fine yams, which meet with a ready and profitable sale. The capacity of the mill, with a moderate addition of capital, could profitably be increased ten or twenty-fold. A ginning estab- lishment and grist-mill are run in connection with the factory. A planing-mill, a cigar factoiy, a tan-yard, (the only one in the State), an ice factory, and an extensive manufac- tory of fine pressed brick, complete the list of Tallahassee’s manufacturing establish- ments. Messrs. B. C. Lewis & Sons conduct an extensive banking business, the only one in Middle Florida. Tallahassee has some thirty or more stores, including three drug stores, two book stores, news depot, furniture store, stove store, hardware store, and two large livery stables. There are few vacant stores or business places in the city, and a Yiurnber of large brick store-houses for the accommodation of its increasing busi- ness are being erected. Leon county is one of the most fertile and prosperous in the State, producing large crops of cotton and the cereals. Of late the culture of tobacco has been largely engaged in, and a factory for the manufacture of the product into cigars has been established and is producing a fine article. The raising of fine blooded stock, both horses and cattle, has also become a prominent industry, and hundreds of valuable graded milch cows have been sent to other parts of the State, where there is a constant and growing demand for them . The business of dairying has of late years extended largely, and “Leon county butter” is in great demand all over the State. The raising of early 57 vegetables for shipment to Northern markets has been, and is constantly becoming more and more profitable as growers gain in experience, especially the crops of Irish potatoes, the product from Middle Florida having attained a high repute In the North- ern markets. One grower in Leon county during the last season shipped a lot of forty barrels to New York, which the dealers there actually reported as being “too large for the trade ! ” All varieties of the grape are cultivated with success, and several large vineyards have been recently set out by practical wine-makers upon the fertile hill-sides. The cultivation of the celebrated Le Conte pear is attaining in this county, as in others of Middle Florida, a prominence which indicates it as the coming industry in fruits. Large tracts of ten to fifty acres in extent have already been set to this wonderful fruit, and its cousin, the Kiefer pear, and some of the oldest trees are already bearing, giving most astonishing results. Three trees belonging to one grower produced thirty bushels of fruit in their sixth year, which sold at S2.75 to $5.00 per bushel. As the trees can be set as close together as orange trees (say fifty to tlid acre), this would give a gross income per acre, at an average price of S3. 75 per bushel, of SI, 875 ! A Le Conte pear orchard is as good, and in some respects a better thing to have than an orange grove. Hotels : The Leon, a large modern house, constructed and owned by a local stock company, has recently been leased for a term of years by Mr. J. M. Lee, the well known proprietor of the mammoth Everett Hotel in Jacksonville, and one of the most, progressive and successful hotel managers in the South. The Leon has accommodations for about one hundred and twenty-five guests, is first-class in all its appointments, with service of gas and water — hot and cold — throughout, and is elegantly furnished. The City Hotel, the oldest in the State, perhaps, has a reputation and history hoary with age and shining with honors. It is leased to Mr. Geo. C. Morgan, late of Alabama, and has been thoroughly renovated, repaired, cleansed, partially re-furnished, and re-christened after its enterprising new proprietor, “ The Morgan.” The Whitaker House, remodeled from a spacious old residence, and in a pleasant and quiet though central location, is one of the nicest places in the city. It is kept by Mrs. S. B. Hopkins, whose old-time hospitality at her well-known former residence, “ Goodwood,” (one of the largest and finest of the many luxurious country seats of the olden time), was a proverb through all the region round about. Boarding-houses : Mrs. McIntosh. CHAIRES, a flag station in Leon county, is the point of shipment of large quan- 12 m. fr. Tallahassee, tities of cotton grown on the rich lands of the many large 56 “ “ Chattahoochee R., plantations in its Vicinity, and during the cotton season it is a, 153 “ “ Jacksonville. busy-looking place. LLOl’D, hi Jefferson county, is a flourishing place, with post-office, express- 6 m. fr. Chaires, office, a number of stores, and a cotton-seed oil mill, the first, 62 “ “ Chattahoochee R-., one elected in the State. Large quantities of cotton-seed 147 “ ■* Jacksonville. products, syrup, sugar, poultry and eggs, besides other pro- ducts, are annually shipped from this station. Hotels : Whitfield House. P inhook is a flag station, seven miles from Lloyd and two miles from Drifton. DRIFTON is the junction of the main line of the Western Division with the Monti- 9 m. fr. Lloyd, cello Branch, which extends thence northwardly four miles 7i “ “ Chattahoochee R., to Monticello, the county-seat of Jefferson county. Trains on 13 S “ “ ■Taokannriii'v t he Branch connect regularly with all passenger and freight trains on the main line. MONTICELLO is nobly seated on a high ridge, surrounded by a splendid farming- 4rn fr Drift i i ll country— one of the richest sections of Middle Florida. It is- 75 “ “ Chattahoochee R., a queer combination, as many of the older towns are, of old- 142 “ “ Jacksonville. fashioned, comfortable simplicity (in habit as well as archi- 58 lecture) and modern improvements and style. Many of the lately erected dwellings and stores would do credit to a large city. Like most Middle Florida towns, it is heavily shaded, chiefly by handsome live-oaks and water-oaks. Flowers abound every- where through the grounds of the private residences; and a flourishing greenhouse, well filled with rare plants, on the place of Col. Bird, just out of town, is one of the attractions of the place. The model plantation of Mr. E. B. Bailey, (one of the young- est as well as wealthiest of the planters of Middle Florida), of 600 acres, near the town, is supplied with the best and latest improved machinery and implements. Mr. Bailey owns some 12,000 acres of the finest farming land in the county, besides the care of which he has a large store and cotton warehouse at Monticello. The people of Monticello are becoming very progressive and energetic in the adap- tation of their soil to the production of new crops, and have recently engaged largely in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits. Over 75,000 Le Conte pear trees, which will bear in another year, are estimated to be growing within a mile of the town. The growing of melons for shipment has largely engaged the attention of the people in the vicinity for the past few years, and fields of two to three hundred acres in extent are not uncommon. The plan of diversifying crops is recognized as a prime element in agricultural success, and the county bids fair to rival any in the State in the variety and excellence of its products. Much attention is being given, also, as in Leon county, to the growing of the finest strains of live stock, many specimens of registered Jersey s, etc., having been imported. Monticello has an excellent newspaper, the Constitution ; it possesses Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches, and a very commodious and substan- tial brick school-building, also a spacious and well-appointed public hall. A large hotel is in process of erection, and when it is completed and properly operated by an exper- ienced and popular lessee, the opportunity to visit and view one of the finest sections of country in Florida will be sure to be embraced by a large number of visitors. Hotels : Partridge House. AUCILLA is a small village situated near the boundary line between Madison and 7 m. fr. Drifton, Jefferson counties, and takes its name from the Aueilla river, 78 “ “ Chattahoochee K., which flows near by, rising in Georgia and emptying into the 131 “ “ Jacksonville. Gulf — a small but beautiful stream, abounding in picturesque scenery. Aueilla is chiefly noted for its “breakfast-house,” where eastward-bound trains stop “ twenty minutes for breakfast ” at “ Aunt Aggy’s,” where is served a bounti- ful repast of real old-fashioned, wholesome country fare. In the lower portion of Jefferson county is the location of that now celebrated ■object of interest, the “ Florida Volcano.” Persons whose lives have been passed in the section named unite in testifying to the existence, for the past thirty or forty years, •of a strange “ pillar of fire by night, and pillar of cloud by day," which marks the spot where the volcano is supposed to exist. Although many attempts have been made to reach it, it still remains a mystery, owing to the difficulty of penetrating the jungle which surrounds and partially conceals it. This mysterious secret, which Dame Nature has so long and jealously and successfully guarded, is becoming more and more a topic of absorbing interest in the minds of those inclined to exploration and discovery. GREENVILLE occupies a beautiful situation, near the foot of a range of low hills 7 m. fr. Aueilla, which rise behind and beyond it to the southward, while a 85 “ “ Chattahoochee R., charming landscape of broad, fertile valleys surrounds it in 12 -t “ ■■ Jacksonville, every other direction. Giant live-oaks are plentifully grouped about, and in the vicinity are several small lakes. It has several stores, a mill and •cotton-gin, and contains about 200 people. The surroundidg country is rich and rolling, and large quantities of cotton and other staple crops are produced in the vicinity. 59 MADISON is the county-seat of Madison county, a town of some 800 inhabitants, 14 m. fr. Greenvill e; containing about twenty' or thirty stores, an exceilent school- 99 “ *« Chattahoochee k., building, (St.John’s Seminary), Episcopal, Baptist, Presby- lio “ “ Jacksonville. terian and Methodist churches, and a handsome new court- house. The town lies about half a mile from the depot, and is reached by hacks, which run to and from all trains. Near the depot lies a fine tract of land, coveted with improvements of various kinds, and owned by Capt. J. L. Inglis, who has long been •engaged in extensive manufacturing interests, comprising saw-mill, grist-mill, rice-mill, eotton-ginning establishment, etc., and who lives in one of the handsomest and largest dwellings in the place, situated a short distance from the railroad, in the midst of highly cultivated grounds. Captain Inglis is also a practical model farmer, and has done much to develop the agricultural resources of the county. He has recently per- fected arrangements for the investment (in connection with and partially superseding his previous manufacturing interests) of a large capital by the celebrated thread man- ufacturers. Messrs. J. A P. Coats, of Paisley, Scotland. The new arrangement embraces the organization of the Madi- son Cotton Ginning Company, recently incorporated in New York and Florida, with E. S. Auchincloss, of New York, President ; John L. Inglis, of Madison, Manager, and G. N. Hornblower, Secretary; Messrs. H. D. Auchincloss, of New York, Joseph Gul- worth, of Savannah, and William Lawtey, of Fernan- dina, with the President and Manager, comprising the company. The capital repre- sented by the value of the “plant” is about $50,000. The business of this exten- sive establishment will be to handle and prepare for the thread-mills the peculiar long-staple cotton which is produced in this vicinity, and its various products, and the making of oil, oil-cake and cotton-seed meal for fertil- izers. The exhibits of the long-staple cotton of these counties at the Atlanta Ex- position attracted the attention of the thread-makers to its superior qualities for their purpose, and the establishment of this enterprise and a similar one at Lake City is the result. The company have furnished large quantities of seed to the planters of Madison and adjoining counties, under contracts providing for the handling by them of the crops produced therefrom, and are doing everything in their power to encourage its production and the use of the meal product as a fertilizer, which is said to excel in effect all other known compounds. Madison has two newspapers, the Recorder and the Neiv Era ; and a stock company 60 lias .just completed a large and handsome hotel, which will not only be an ornament to the town, but a source of profit to its owners. Madison county, besides being in the region where the long-staple cotton Ls pro- duced, is in the midst of the Le Conte pear belt, and large numbers of orchards are already growing. The same spirit of progress in agriculture which prevails in the other counties of Middle Florida is found here, and each year adds to the list of new industries and new products. Many of the truck farmers have been the most successful in the State in the culture of vegetables, Irish potatoes, melons, etc. The culture of oranges has always been a feature of the industrial progress of the county, and it is- said that the first orange trees planted in Manatee county, which now produces large quantities of the finest fruit, were taken from Madison comity in 1843 by a Mr. Joshua Stafford. The cold waves which have swept over the State during late years appear to- have done less damage to the trees in Madison than in other parts of Middle Florida. Four miles from Madison, over smooth, hard roads, the wandering visitor will find “ The Cascade,” “the roar of whose waters sounds like the beating of the surf upon the beach,” says one who has been there. Eleven miles distant is Lake San Paola, five miles long by three in width, surrounded by majestic oaks ; and two miles beyond is “ Chuieotah,” one of the most regal and remarkable of the old-time estates of this region. “ Chuieotah,” which being translated from the Indian, means “ Pine Hill,” was the former seat of Judge J. C. McGhee, one of the planter-princes of Madison county. It stands on the summit of a high hill near the great highway known as the St. Augustine road, and was erected more than forty years ago. It is built in the Gothic style of architecture, with pointed, many-gabled roofs, and stacked chimneys, extensive piazzas supported by massive arches, and containing as its chief interior feature an immense hall, twenty feet wide and forty feet in length, with its numerous other rooms in proportion. Boudoirs, bath-rooms, drawing-rooms twenty feet square, and innumerable other features which would grace any modern-built villa of the highest grade, were, in that early day, a source of unending wonder to the neighboring residents, and exhaustless comfort to the occupants. Every particle of material used in its construction, and fur- niture, came from the extensive estate it adorned ; nearly all the work on finishing and furniture was done on the spot by skilled artisans brought there for the purpose, and no two rooms were finished or furnished in the same wood. The flower-gardens and fruit orchards adjacent wore equally complete in every particular. An immense army of slaves furnished the labor of the vast plantation, which was a perfect community in itself, manufacturing at home nearly everything used on the place. This magnificent property is now owned by Hon. W. Naylor Thompson, of Feraandina. Hotels : The new hotel will be leased and in operation for this winter’s business. The name has not yet been decided on. WEST FARM is a flag station in the centre of an extensive turpentine farm belong- 5 m. fr. Madison, ing to the West Brothers, where a large turpentine still, sur- lOi “ “ Chattahoochee R., rounded by the cabins of the operatives, forms the chief 105 “ “ Jacksonville. object of interest. LEE is another flag station, similar to West Farm, from whence large quantities 2 m. fr. West Farm, of turpentine and resin are shipped annually. The proximity 106 “ “ Chattahoociiee R., of these “farms ” to the railroad enables the stranger to note 103 “ “ Jacksonville. the processes of manufacture of the pine sap into valuable naval stores. ELLAYILLE is a pleasant village of about 700 inhabitants, and is entirely popu- 8 m. fr.' Lee lated by the employees of the late firm of Drew & Bucki, whose ill “ “ Chattahoochee E., immense lumber and planing mills were located here. This 95 “ “ Jacksonville. was one of the largest establishments of the land in the 61 South. It was established in 1867 by the senior partner, Ex-Govemor George F. Drew, Mr. Louis Bueki, of New York city, becoming a partner in 1869, and sole proprietor by purchase from Gov. Drew, about a year ago. The firm name is now L. Bucki & Son. The entire establishment, including an immense quantity of lumber, was totally de- stroyed by Are a few months ago. Messrs. Drew & Bucki owned some 1,200 or 1,500 acres, and Governor Drew about 1,200 acres, including and immediately adjacent to the mills and village, and the firm about 90,000 acres of choice timber lands in the vicinity, chiefly along the Suwannee river, through which runs a private railroad of the standard gauge, equipped with engines and rolling-stock belonging to the firm, and employed in supplying the mills with logs. The annual product of the mills, heretofore about twelve million feet, was recently increased to twenty millions by the introduction of additional machinery. The firm recently built for their trade between Jacksonville and New York a handsome and powerful steam schooner, the “ Louis Bucki, ’ the first of its kind on the coast, which has proven a complete success. A firm of Pennsylvania car-builders have recently decided to establish an extensive car factoiy at Ellaville, and Messrs. Bucki & Son con- template the early re-building of their mills. About a mile beyond Ellaville the track crosses the Suwannee river on a substantial covered bridge, whose walls unfortunately permit to the traveler only a moment’s glance at one of the most charming bits of scenery in Florida— the junction of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers, which is only a few hundred yards above the bridge. Both rivers are narrow but deep, flowing between rocky, precipitous banks, which are overhung with large trees festooned with long gray pendants of Spanish moss. A few miles above Ellaville, near the west bank of the Withlacoochee, is Blue Spring, a favorite place of resort for the people of Madison town, some eleven miles distant, the hard, shady roads making a very pleasant drive. The Spring is about twenty-five feet in diameter, and is strongly impregnated with lime. LIVE OAK, the county-seat of Suwannee county, is a place of considerable impor- 13 m. fr. Ellaville, tance. It has about 500 inhabitants, several churches, Masonic 127 “ “ Chattahoochee K., and Odd Fellows’ lodges, about twenty stores, several cotton- 82 “ “ Jacksonville. ginning establishments, good schools, etc. The Florida branch of the Savannah, Florida and Western Bailway here intersects the Western Division. The Live Oak and Kowland’s Bluff Eailroad extends to Howland’s Bluff on the Suwannee river, twenty-five miles distant, and to Gainesville in Alachua county. A line of steamers run on the Suwannee river between Eowland’s Bluff and Cedar Key. Live Oak has two newspapers, the Intelligencer and the Bulletin ; and a large livery stable affords ample means for transportation through the adjacent country. 62 Suwannee county is especially favored in the way of transportation facilities, being- bisected each way by railroads, and its western borders washed by the waters of the Suwannee river, which is navigable almost to Ellaville. There are yet large bodies of State and United States lands subject to entry, there having been more of these lands- selected and patented in this county than in any other county in the State. The county has prospered greatly in the past few years, having advanced from a list of 400 voters to over 1,500 since the war. There are immense tracts of fine timber lands, and several large saw-mills. The Empire Mills, three miles west of Live Oak, have a capacity of 30.000 feet per day, and Johnson’s Mills, two miles east, can cut about half that amount, while the Suwannee Mills, near the northern boundary of the county, can cut 10.000 feet per day. The soil, all along the road and in the interior, Is of excellent quality, and great quantities of early vegetables are produced for shipment to Northern markets, besides cotton, turpentine, resin, etc., in large quantities. For fruits, and especially grapes and peaches, the soil seems to be particularly adapted. Market gar- dening and fruit raising are among the most prominent industries in the vicinity of Live Oak ; and the success of those engaged in it will encourage others to increase the genei-al result. One grower is mentioned as having netted S275 from two acres of watermelons raised in the vicinity of the depot last year. Within a stone’s throw of the railroad track, and just east of town, is the splendid Scuppernong vineyard of Col. John F. White, from which are made annually from thirty to fifty barrels of superior wine. It is five acres in extent, with an additional three acres of young -vines. Oranges are grown, as in all the counties along the line, but not to a large extent. The cultivation of the Le Conte pear is also proving very successful. Near Suwannee, a station on the Florida Branch of the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, seven miles from Live Oak, is the well-known Suwannee Sulphur Spring. A very large and handsome hotel was built there in 1883, but before it was quite finished it was destroyed by fire, and has not been rebuilt. HOUSTON is a small station with store, post-office, etc. It is surrounded by 6 m. fr. Live Oak, — numerous small but beautiful lakes, and is becoming the 133 “ “ Chattahoochee R., place of shipment for large quantities of vegetables raised in 76 “ “ Jacksonvi lle. the vicinity for the Northern markets. WELBORN, a similar station, has a population of about 150, and is the centre of a 5 m. fr. Houston, large vegetable-growing interest. From Welbom it is eight 138 “ “ Chattahoochee R., miles in a northerly direction to the celebrated White Sulphur 71 ■* “ Jacksonville. Spring. The Spring is situated in Hamilton county, on the orth bank of the beautiful Suwannee river. The means of reaching the Spring are ample and comfortable, and the trip over the smooth, level road is made in about two hours. The first five or six miles of the route lie through the “ piney woods ” and among the turpentine farms and long-staple cotton plantations which abound there ; the last few miles over a rolling country, heavily covered with woods of hammock growth. A substantial bridge, suspended high above the water, crosses the Suwannee, and at its further end is the village, known as White Springs. The Spring is situated a few hundred yards below or west of the bridge, at the foot of the high bank of the river, and but a few feet above high-water mark. Over it is built a large and substantial structure, three stories in height, which serves as a bath-house. The upper story, which is nearly on a level with the top of the bank, contains the entrance, pumps for supplying the water to the hotel and village, and the bath-keeper’s offices. The second story contains dressing- rooms, and the lower story contains the pool, which is twenty by forty feet in size. The Spring is one of the largest in the State, and its immense volume of water, burst- ing forth from the bowels of the earth, impregnates the air for hundreds of yards around with strong sulphurous odors. Within a few feet of the Spring, on the summit of the river bank, stands the hotel. It is partly new and partly composed of the old 63 hotel which has accommodated visitors to the Spring for many years. The new struct- ure, now completed, contains about 100 rooms, and is under the management of Major T. F. Wesson, an old resident of the place, who kept the old hotel twenty-three years ago, and who owns a most valuable chalybeate spring property on Swift creek, about three miles west from the White Sulphur. The entire spring property, containing about 300 acres, has recently passed into the hands of Messrs. Wight & Powell, mer- chants of Cairo, Ga., who are engaged in the construction of the hotel and the orna- mentation and improvement of the grounds. The improvements will include a hand- some building, separated from the hotel by the wide, shaded avenue leading to the Spring, and containing billiard-rooms, bowling-alleys, bar, ball-room, etc. The hotel will be kept open during the winter, and it is almost a misnomer to call it a “ summer resort,” since the healing waters of the Spring will be accessible to the public all the year ’round. Dowling’s Turnout, four miles from Welbom, is for the convenience of shippers of lumber from the adjacent mills, and logs to the Jacksonville mills. LAKE CITY is the county-seat of Columbia county, and one of the prettiest and 12 m. fri Weiborn, most prosperous places in the State. It is almost surrounded iso “ “ Chattahoochee R., by a series of charming little lakelets, which give a most 59 “ " Jacksonvill e. pleasing effect to the landscape, and are large enough to afford, besides unlimited Ashing, very pleasant sport in the way of sailing and rowing. The city contains about 2,00(1 people and its prosperity, as well as that of the county, is increasing rapidly. There are seven or eight churches and several excellent private schools, besides the public schools. It also has some forty stores, two livery stables, a large carriage factory and other places of business, and an ex- cellent newspaper, the Reporter. The elevation at Lake City is said to be 203 feet ; at Welborn, the next station westward, 209 feet above tide- water. Its healthfulness has become a proveib all over the State, and the number of strangers who seek its many charms during the winter is rapidly increasing every year. Here is now in operation an im- mense establishment for the handling of sea-island or long-staple cotton, founded by the Lake City Cotton Ginning Company, which is incorporated under the laws of New York and Florida, similar to the Madison Cotton Ginning Company, and upon the plan of which that was founded, it having been inaugurated about the same time by the same Arm of thread manufacturers, Messrs. J. & P. Coats, of Paisley, Scotland. Mr. A. G. Bigelow, a prominent business man of Lake City, is the resident manager. The crop of cotton of Columbia county for the present year is estimated to be worth 8500,000. The Florida Agricultural College has recently been located at Lake City. This is a. State institution, endowed with a large and valuable grant of public lands, and the buildings for its purposes will be ample and convenient. The one just completed, being the west wing of the main building, is forty-Ave by ninety-Ave feet in size, three stories in height, with tower niuety-Ave feet high. The College is located in a most ehgible and picturesque situation, environed by several small clear lakes, and a grove of gigan- A • _'• / ■; 'fes. /■}{//. 2, a. I //adjso?;. 64 tic oaks. An experimental farm of one hundred and twelve acres is attached to the College, and a full faculty of instructors has been engaged for its first session, which began in October. The soils of Columbia county ai'e of great variety and richness. It is one of the most naturally fertile regions to be found in the entire State. Its chief products are sea-island cotton, upland cotton, corn, rice, sugar-cane, oats, rye, sweet potatoes, stock, peas, tobacco, wool, vegetables, pindars, hay, etc. The sea-island cotton Ls the money crop, and is generally cultivated. Its fine, strong staple has attracted the buyers who supply the world with thread, and the farmer can now sell his crop direct to the agent of the mills, saving all the expense of shipping and losses through middle- men. It is usually planted and cultivated upon the natural land. Twice Columbia county received the premium at the State Fair for sea-island cotton. From the first settlement of the State, this section has been noted for the fine quality of peaches produced with little care from the native varieties. The common varieties begin to ripen the 1st of July, and last until the 10th of August. There are varieties, like the Peen-to and Honey peaches, which ripen in May and J une, and sell readily in market at fancy prices. Others ripen in August, September and October. Figs are grown by many people, but not in sufficient quantities to ship. They sell readily at home at SI. 50 to $2 per bushel. Grapes of many kinds have been tried, and several varieties are well adapted to this locality. The Scuppernong succeeds best ; it has several distinct varieties. Oranges are now exciting the greatest interest. Scarc-elv a family can be found which has not a few orange trees in bearing and growing finelv. while others are making extensive groves. In 1835, when wild orange trees were killed or injured in every locality, the grove on Orange Lake, nine miles northwest of Lake City, was uninjured by the freeze, conclusively illustrating the adaptability of this sec- tion to the cultivation of this fruit. Twice Columbia county received premiums at the State Fairs for the excellence of her oranges. Columbia county has an enterprising Immigration Association, whose efforts are ably seconded by Messrs. Finley, Dortch & Snowden, real estate agents. The growing of vegetables for shipment to northern markets lias engaged the attention of the people for several years, and experiments have demonstrated the peculiar adaptability of soil and climate to the successful prosecution of this industrv. The principal vegetables shipped are peas and beans, which yield abundantly and grow quickly, and require very little cultivation. Cucumbers, squashes, Irish potatoes, egg- plants, beets, cabbage and onions are also raised. Watermelons, too, are grown to 65 great advantage, the character of the soil being especially adapted to their cultivation. Hotels : Chicago House. MOUNT CARRIE, in Columbia county, is a flag station, from whence large quan- — tities of lumber are shipped from the extensive mills in its 7 m. fr. Lake City, 157 “ “ Chattahoochee R., vicinity. It is surrounded by a good farming country, which is rapidly filling up with settlers. 52 Jacksonville. OLUSTEE, in Baker county, is a growing place, whose chief industries are the 5 m. tr. Mt. Carrie, lumber and turpentine business and truck farming. Near it 162 “ “ Chattahoochee R., was fought during the civil war the only engagement of any 47 “ «• Jacksonville. note, save the battle at the Natural Bridge in Wakulla ■county, that occurred in the State east of the Apalachicola river. It is known in history as the battle of Ocean Pond, or battle of Olustee. ■ EVERETT HOTEL, JACKSONVILLE. Pendleton is a flag station recently established eight miles from Olustee and two miles from Sanderson. SANDERSON, the eounty-seat of Baker county, is widely known and noted for the io in. it. olustee , quantity and fine quality of the peaches grown in its vicinity, 172 “ “ Chattahoochee R., large shipments of which are annually made. It is also the 37 “ “ Jacksonvil le. centre of a prosperous vegetable-growing industry. Taliaferro’s Junction, two miles from Sanderson and five miles from Glen St. Mary, is the junction of a private railroad track extending far into the depths of the pine forests, from whence vast numbers of logs are transported to the Jackson- ville lumber mills. GLEN ST. MARY, Baker county, is a new station established on a tract of splen- 7 m. ir. Sanderson, did, rolling, high pine land, containing 60,000 acres, lying be- 179 “ “ Chattahoochee R., tween Baldwin and Sanderson. This fine tract has, for its 3 0 “ “ Jacksonv ille. northern boundary, the St. Mary’s river, which flows into the sea at Pernandina, about fifty miles distant, and the south fork of this same river flows down through the centre of the tract, having a clear, limpid current and high banks. The entire tract is called by the same name, anil its founders have built a good hotel there, besides a station-house, stores, post-office, schools, churches and dwellings. The soil is a rich, gray loam underlaid with clay, and all manner of fruits, including the or- iange and peach, do well, while field crops and garden vegetables are unsurpassed. It is conceded to be one of the healthiest localities in the State, and peculiarly favorable to persons afflicted with pulmonary or asthmatic disorders. Hotels : Glen House. DARBYVILLE, also in Baker county, is situated in the midst of a good belt of 2 m. tr. Glen S tTMary, timber, and has several saw-mills in its vicinity. The soil is 181 “ “ Chattahoochee K., well suited to the production of vegetables, and the growing 28 “ “ Ja c ksonville. 0 f these and fruits-is receiving considerable attention. The future prospects of this place are very bright. The lands hereabouts, hi Baker county, are high, rolling and fertile, and the soil is underlaid with clay. The climate is splendid, water excellent, and good health assured. The products of the county are oranges, peaches, pears, grapes, figs, and other small fruits, corn, cotton, oats, potatoes, sugar-cane, tobacco, rice, and all the vegetables. Some of the finest bearing orange trees hi the State are to be found in this county, but no large groves have ever been planted and brought to bearing, the great industry of the county having been heretofore the manufacture of lumber and naval stores. Baker is one of the best grazing counties in the State. Thousands of head of cattle are reared without a dollar of expense to their owners. Sheep would do quite as well, with the usual and ordinary protection from dogs that is required everywhere. Lands are sell- ing in this county at from $5 to $20 per acre, and are now being eagerly sought for. Parties desiring to make permanent homes in Florida cannot do better than examiue the many claims of Baker comity before determining where they will locate. The eastern portion of the county differs much from the low flat-woods in the west. Like Middle Florida, it is hilly, and is practically the “hill country" of East Florida. The great “Trail Itidge ” extends through this part of the county, and is crossed by the railroad track only a short distance from Darbyville, at which point, at the summit of the high grade through and over the Bidge, the spring waters divide, those on one side flowing westward into the Gulf, and those on the other flowing inn > the St. John’s. Here, on this western slope, protected by the forest-clad hills, from the damp winds and raw, chilling fogs that haunt the Atlantic coast, lies the great “ peach belt” of Florida, innumerable orchards of which delicious fruit are to be seen on every side. Nearly nine thousand crates of splendid fruit were shipped from Darbyville alom ■. during the season of 1881. It is in contemplation to change the name of Darbyville to “ McClenny,” in honor of Hon. C. B. McClenny, whose home is here, and to whose enterprise and public spirit the place and its surroundings are chiefly .indebted for their progress and prosperity. He is one of the incorporators and a large stockholder in the Florida Improvement and Colonization Society, whose Land Commissioner, Mr. C. F. Shuey, has charge of the immense bodies of land belonging to the Society here and in the vicinity of Glen St. Mary, and whose headquarters are at Darbyville. The Baker County Star, weekly, is published at Darbyville. Hotels : Hotel McClenny. BALDWIN, in the edge of Duval county, is the crossing-place of the Central and 9 m. fr. Darbyville, ~ Western Divisions, and is one of the liveliest railroad centres ioo “ “ Chattahoochee K., in the State, despite its rather uninteresting appearance. The 19 “ Jacksonville. tracks cross each other almost at right angles, and the numerous passenger, express and freight trains on each division passing at all hours of the day and night in every direction keep up a continual din and clatter. Considerabl' local business is done at Baldwin, and the day is not far distant when some far-seeing 67 and enterprising individual will build hero a magnificent and capacious hotel and restaurant, chiefly for the benefit of his own purse, and, secondarily, for the entertain- ment of the vast numbers of passengers who daily find themselves “ashore ” here for a few minutes while train business is being transacted, which frequently happens (every old traveler will understand how frequently) about the time something nice to eat or drink would taste good. WHITE HOUSE, the last station before reaching Jacksonville, is a puzzle to all 8 in. fr. Baldwin, " " who see it. No one seems to know why it was so named, 198 “ “ Chattahoochee R., unless from the fact that there is no white house, nor, indeed, 11 “ “ Jacksonville. a house of any color, anywhere within sight. It was probably an important station in the early history of the road, when the virgin pine forest all about was being converted into lumber to build Jacksonville houses, but it is now little but a name. At “ Waycross Junction ” the Western Division track crosses that of the Savannah, Florida and Western (Waycross) Railroad, thence proceeding into the city of Jackson- ville, about one mile distant. The track of the Western Division enters the city almost directly at the point where the broad sweep of the St. J ohn’s river curves abruptly from its southward course, eastward towards the sea. The later-built roads — the “Waycross ” anti the Jackson- ville, Tampa and Key West — also enter near the same point; but while these have their depots and grounds quite at the southwestern extremity of the city, the grounds of the Florida Railway and Navigation Company lie stretched along the river front for nearly half a mile, giving ample space for its extensive and always busy and crowded lumber- wharves and log-slips, and extending on beyond these, up into the very heart of the city, the passenger and freight trains running almost to the very walls of the great Astor Building itself, in the second story front rooms of which are some of the offices of the Company. On the wharves at the foot of J ulia street stand the freight depot, ticket-office and passengers’ waiting-room, and directly across Hogan street from the Astor Building, on the south side of Bay street, stands the up-town ticket-office of the Company, conducted by Mr. Walter G. Coleman, the General Traveling Passenger Agent, who devotes his winters to the Jacksonville business, assisted by the ticket agent, Mr. C. S. Beerbower, who is on duty all the year round, selling tickets to all parts of the country and State over the Company’s lines. A few feet westward on Bay street stands the neat little brick office of Col. S. I. Wailes, the Land Commissioner of the Company, where, assisted by a large corps of clerks, the Commissioner is engaged constantly in the location and sale of the Com- pany’s lands. Two blocks northwest of the depot, at the corner of Cedar and Forsyth streets, is one of the coziest houses in the city — the Sunnyside, kept by Mr. S. M. Hall ; and on the south side of Bay street, near the Astor Building, are the real estate offices of Messrs. W. & W. S. Walker. Directly in front of the railroad wharves and depot, half a block distant on Bay street, stands the great Everett Hotel, (the largest in the city except the St. James), whose destinies are presided over by the brilliant and successful young Boniface, Mr.. J. M. Lee, who is also lessee of the Leon at Tallahassee, and the Sanford House at Sanford, in Orange county. One square back of the Everett is the Duval ; on the second square beyond that, fronting the city park, is the Windsor, the most elegant and famous of all the Jacksonville hotels, kept by Mr. F. IT. Orvis, who also conducts in summer the famous Equinox House at Manchester, among the Green Mountains of Vermont. Diagonally across the park from the Windsor is the St. James. Down Bay street, three blocks from the depot and one block north on Pine street, is the well-known and popular Tremont House, noted for its unusually excellent 68 cuisine, and kept by Dr. H. DeWolf Dodge. The constant demand for more room has obliged Dr. Dodge to greatly enlarge the premises, and two large additions have just been completed which more than double the former capacity of the house. The im- provements also comprise a new and capacious office with marble floor, electric belts, gentlemen’s lavatory with marble fixtures, bath-rooms and rooms with baths, a large dining hall and over 500 feet of broad piazzas. On the opposite corner from the Tremont, occupying the whole second floor of the old Freedman’s Bank Building, are the general offices of the Florida Land and Improvement Company, the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Canal and Okeechobee Land Company, and the Kissimmee Land Company — the first-named being the original organization under the celebrated Disston Purchase of 4,000,000 acres of the State lands by Mr. Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia, and the others being offshoots there- from — all managed by Col. W. T. Forbes, as Land Commissioner of the two first- named, and Manager of the last-named company. , On Forsyth street, only a few doors from the Tremont, are the elegant real estate offices of Messrs. Griffin and Clarkson. At the foot of Pine street, in Bostwick’s new buildings, is the office of Hopkins A Le Baron, real estate dealers. Half way down Bay street on the south side, between Pine and Ocean streets, in the second story of the Beed Block, are the handsome offices of the Florida Land and Mortgage Company, the organization under a purchase of a portion (2,000,000 acres) of the Disston lands by Sir Edward Heed, of England, and his associates, managed by Mr. A. D. Basnett, Besident Director, and Mr. Arthur T. Williams, Land Com- missioner. In the middle of the next block below, on the south side of Bay street, is Bettelini’s Hotel, kept in metropolitan style ou the European plan. In the same block is the post-office, and half a block from that, up Newnan street, is the “old reliable” St. Mark’s Hotel, under the management of Mr. Fred. E. Foster, who also runs the Hotel Columbia at Ocean Beach, New Jersey, during the summer. One block below the post-office is the Carleton. Just in the rear of the Post-office is the ferrv-slip of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax Biver Bailway, from whence the steam ferry-boat ‘ • Mechanic ” makes regular trips to the opposite side of the river, landing at the terminus wharf and depot of the railroad. Adjoining the ferry-house is a substantial, two-story brick block, the upper tloor of which is occupied by the real estate offices of Messrs. W right A McClure, the founders of the new town of Bayard, fifteen miles out on the railroad, where Judge Wright, of the Times- Union staff is locating a colony of good people from everywhere, who find there tropical conditions without going to South Florida. The various steamboat landings are all within easy distance from the Western Division Depot. The People’s Line steamers and the St. John’s Biver Fast Line boats land at the foot of Hogan street. The boats of the DeBary-Baya Line, which com- prises a splendid fleet of sixteen elegant steamers, a portion of which are run on the Montgomery and Sea Island Boutes in connection with the trains of the Florida Bail- way and Navigation Company, land for passenger's at their wharves at the foot of Laura street, only two blocks from the Western Division depot, while their freight wharves are at the foot of Pine street. The depot and wharves of the Jacksonville Branch are at the foot of Marsh street, five blocks from the post-office, and nine blocks from the Western Division depot. ST, MARK'S BRANCH, TALLAHASSEE is the junction and initial point of the St. Mark’s Branch, over which trains leave for St. Mark’s, twenty-one miles distant, three times a week, return- ing the same day. The road runs through a rather flat and uninteresting country most of the way, being the poorest portion of Wakulla county. BELAIR is a flag station of little present importance, but was formerly the favor- 4 miles from Tallahassee, We summer resort of the Tallahassee people. Situated on a 17 “ “ St. Mar k’s, high ridge, in the midst of a dense pine forest, with one or two beautiful miniature lakes of clear, cool water near, it must have been, and from all accounts was, a delightful retreat from the summer heats and the tendency to malarial disease which prevailed in the early history of the country, when the great forests of hard-wood timber to the northward were being cleared away to make room for the vast cotton and corn fields. In these latter days, Belair is but a shadow and a name, while the present generation have found a much more delightful summer retreat at St. Teresa, a pleasant little village of cottages, situated on a fine shelving beach on the Gulf side of James Island, some fifteen miles from St. Mark’s by water, and forty miles from Tallahassee overland. Surf -bathing, fishing and hunting are the chief amusements, and the summer population of the place often runs up into the hundreds ; for people come from far up in Georgia and Alabama to enjoy its delights. The com- pletion of the Thomasville, Tallahassee and Gulf Railroad to James Island will make St. Teresa and Carrabelle, at the western end of the island, more popular and populous than ever during the dog-days. FERRILL is another flag station, from whence fire-wood, ties, syrup, barrels 6 miles from Belair, and produce of various kinds are shipped to Tallahassee. The to “ “ Tallahassee, finest and earliest water-melons are produced on the fertile soils of this region, which appear to be especially adapted to that crop. WAKULLA, formerly known as Oil Still Station, is the nearest station to Newport, 6 miles from Fen-ill, three miles distant on the St. Mark’s river, the site of the 16 “ “ Tallahassee, noted Sulphur Springs, which have long been celebrated hereabouts for their wonderful cures of rheumatism and other kindred diseases ; and is also the nearest station to the celebrated Wakulla Spring, although most visitors prefer to take carriages at Tallahassee and drive thence through the pine woods. This wonderful natural curiosity has been visited by thousands of interested sight- seers, and is an object well worth going far to see. It lies in the midst of a dense growth of hammock forest, and lias been described as almost the exact counterpart of the celebrated Silver Spring in Marion county; but many of those who have visited both declare Wakulla to be by far the most remarkable. Sidney Lanier, in his delight- ful “ Handbook and Guide to Florida,” says of it: “ About fifteen miles from Talla- hassee is one of the most wonderful springs in the world — the famous Wakulla Spring, which sends off a river from its single outburst. * * * * Once arrived and floating WAKULLA SPRING. on its bosom, one renews the pleasures which have been hereinbefore described in what was said of Silver Spring. Like that, the water here, which is similarly impreg- nated with lime, is tlirillingly transparent ; here one finds again the mosaic of main - shaded green hues, though the space of the Spring is less broad and more shadowe 1 by overhanging trees than the wide basin of Silver Spring. In one particular, howewi . this is the more impressive of the two. It is 106 feet deep, (Silver Spring is sixty feet), and as one slowly floats, face downward, one perceives, at first dimly, then mom clearly, a great ledge of white rock which juts up to within, perhaps, fifty feet of the surface, from beneath which the fish come swimming, as if out of the gaping mouth of a great cave. Looking down past the upper part of this ledge, down, down through the miraculous lymph, which impresses you at once as an abstraction and as a eoncreii substance, to the white concave bottom, where you can plainly see a sort of ‘ trouble in the ground,’ as the water bursts up from its mysterious channel, one feels more than ever that sensation of depth itself wrought into a substantial embodiment, of which I have before spoken.” 71 The bottom of the Spring, shaped like a great bowl, is covered with bits of bright tin, buttons and other objects dropped by curious visitors, who take a wild delight in watching them whirl and circle down into the abyss below, through the magnifying water, which invests them with every color of the rainbow in their eddying flight. Many years ago the skeletons of two mastodons were found at the bottom of the Spring, and were taken out and shipped to the Smithsonian Institution ; but the vessel they were on was wrecked off Cape Hatteras, and those interesting remains now lie at the bottom of the Atlantic. In 1881 a similar skeleton was discovered some eight feet below the surface of the ground in Taylor county. The width of Wakulla Spring is about 250 feet; its form nearly circular, and the Wakulla river, which flows from it, is a deep and large stream, capable of bearing- large vessels. At its mouth, where it flows into the St. Mark’s river, it is about 10(> yards wide. The Spring, with a large tract of land surrounding it, has recently been purchased by an eminent Cincinnati physician, who proposes to erect suitable buildings and establish there a winter sanitarium. Wakulla, beauteous spring! thy crystal waters Reflect the loveliness of Southern skies ; Ancl oft inethinks the dark-haired Indian daughters Bent o’er thy silvery depths with wondering eyes: From forest glade the swarthy chief emerging, Delighted paused, thy matchless charms to view ; Then to thy flower-gemmed border slowly verging, I see him o’er thy placid bosom urging His light canoe. ST. MARK’S, the terminus of the Branch, is a small town of seventy-five or eighty 5 miles from Wakulla, people, who are mostly engaged in fishing and in the sponging 21 “ “ Tal lahas see, business; it has two stores and a dozen or two dwellings, besides the railroad warehouses and wharves. From St. Mark’s to the mouth of the St. Mark’s river, the distance is eight miles, with a deep channel all the way, through which large vessels are enabled to reach the wharf. A lighthouse of the second class stands at the mouth of the river. The St. Mark’s river is one of the most picturesque streams in America. Its source, like that of the Nile, is a mystery, but has always been believed to be the great: Miccosukie Lake, from which a subterranean outlet is supposed to exist, extending to the “ sink,” where the St. Mark’s begins its strange and devious course. The river is navigable for vessels of considerable size for some twenty miles, to a point near what is known as the Natural Bridge, another wonderful natural curiosity, which may be reached by a pleasant drive, through the pine woods, of eighteen miles from Tallahas- see. Here the river, a broad, deep, sluggish stream, disappears suddenly into the bowels of the earth. No barrier arrests its course; the formation across its course is but three or four feet above the level of its waters ; it simply appears that, at some remote period in the past, the bottom quietly dropped out, and, to all intents and pur- poses, from that point the St. Mark’s river is no more. But a phenomenon equally .astounding is its reappearance in a great basin some forty or fifty feet from its burial place, where it calmly comes up again, like a giant refreshed, from its journey to the •centre of the earth, and resumes its placid course towards the Gulf. The intervening ispace between the exit and reappearance of this great body of running water is not over fifty feet in width, and has no appearance of a bridge, but is so exactly like the surrounding land on either shore, that persons passing over it for the first time enjoy the experience of that ancient worthy of nursery rhyme who “ couldn’t see the town for the houses ” — he doesn’t know it is a bridge until he has passed over it. Here, during the war, was fought the only battle in Middle Florida. A force of Federals 72 landed near the lighthouse, and were making their way towards Tallahassee, intent upon its capture, when they were met here by an inferior force of old men and boys, volunteers, picked up here and there in the general alarm, supported by only a com- pany or two of infantry, and a small battery of artillery. These made a stand imme- diately at the Natural Bridge, and threw up earth-works, from whence the pass was gallantly defended, the Federals being forced to retreat after experiencing a con- siderable loss. The Wakulla river is also picturesque and beautiful, and a trip from 81. Mark's up to the Spring is one of the things no tourist of well-regulated mind and reasonably substantial body can afford to miss. At its mouth stand the remains of the ancient Spanish fortress of San Marco, which was built of massive blocks of stone, and but for its demolishment to furnish material for a large TJ. S. Hospital, built near its site some twenty years ago (itself now a miserable and not at all picturesque ruin), it might have been standing to this day. Two ponderous blocks of stone, one bearing a representation of the coat of arms of the Spanish King, and the other a flattered inscription in Spanish, which once graced the fortress walls over the sally-porl and the main entrance, were rescued from an ignoble use many years ago, having been dis- covered doing duty as door-steps to a saloon in St. Mark’s by Gov. B. K. Call. a W* taken to bis residence in Tallahassee, where they now remain. GREEN COVE SPRINGS. CONNECTIONS. AT FERNANDINA:— Steamships of Mallory Line to and from New York — weekly. Steamers of DeBary-Baya Merchants’ Line (Montgomery Route) to and from Brunswick, Montgomery and Savannah, connecting with the Georgia Railroad System and Coast Lines Northward — daily, and Steamships for Boston, New York and Phila- delphia — tri-weekly. Steamers of New York and Charleston and Florida Steamship Company — semi- weekly. Steamer Martha, to and from St. Mary’s River Landings — semi-weekly, and Tow n of St. Mary’s — daily, except Sunday. AT CALLAHAN:— Trains of Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, to and from Savannah, Charles- ton and all points North and West, and Jacksonville — daily. AT CHATTAHOOCHEE, (River Junction) Trains of Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, to and from all points in West Florida, and via through trains between Jacksonville and Pensacola, to and from all points North, West and Southwest — daily. AT CHATTAHOOCHEE LANDING:— Steamers on Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint, rivers, to and from Apalachi- cola, Bainbridge and Columbus, and intermediate Landings — tri-weekly. AT JACKSONVILLE:— Steamers of DeBary-Baya Merchants’ Line, to and from all points on the St. John’s river — daily. Trains of Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway, to and from Palatka — daily. Trains of Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railway, to and from St. Augustine — daily. AT GAINESVILLE:— Trains of Florida Southern Railway, to and from Palatka— daily. Trains of Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, to and from New Branford and Live Oak — daily. AT CEDAR KEY:— Steamships of Tampa Steamship Company, to and from Manatee River Landings and Tampa — semi- weekly. Steamships of Florida and Havana Mail Steamship Company, to and from Tampa, Punta Rassa and Key West — semi-weekly. AT HAWTHORNE:— Trains of Florida Southern Railway, to and from Palatka and Gainesville — daily. aT LEESBURG:— Steamboats on Lakes Harris and Griffin, to and from all Lake Landings. Trains of St. John’s and Lake Eustis Railroad, to and from Astor. AT TAVARES:— Steamers for all landings on Lakes Dora, Harris, Eustis and Griffin. Stage Lines to and from points in Orange County. AT PANASOFKEE : — Steamers for all landings on Panasofkee Lake and Withlacooehee river. Stages of South Florida Stage Company, to and from Brooksville, Sumtervillo, Tampa and all points in South Florida — daily. D. E. MAXWELL, Gen. Supt. FERNANDINA, FLORIDA. A. O. MACDONELL, Gen. Pass, ancl Ticket Agt. WALTER G. COLEMAN, Gen. Trav. Ag’t, Corner Bay and Hogan Streets, Jacksonville, Florida. 74 METEOROLOGICAL RECORD The following table shows the maximum, minimum and mean temperature for each month of the years 1881, 1882 and 1883, and the first six months of 1884, at Jack- sonville, Tallahassee and Cedar Key, three of the principal points on the Lines of tin- Florida Railway and Navigation Company, with annual mean temperature and highest -•and lowest temperature with dates at each point for each year ; also a comparative recapitulation compiled from the several sections of the table. This table is compiled, for Jacksonville, from data furnished by Sergeant J. IV. Smith, U. S. Signal Service Observer at that pladti ; for Tallahassee, from observation^ taken by W. A. Rawls, Esq., and published in the Weekly Floridian, of that place ; and for Cedar Key, from data furnished by Gen. W. B. Hazen, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., from the records of his office in Washington. JACKSONVILLE. 1881 Temperature. Jan. o March. April. May. . I July. : ti CG Oct. Nov. © "Maximum 72.0 78.0 80.0 88.0 96.0 99.0 99.0 96.0 94.0 88.0 &3.0 79.0 Minimum 33.0 34.0 39.0 37.0 63.0 66.0 70.0 70.0 69.0 54.0 32.0 41.0 Mean 57.9 59.5 67.2 75.8 82.5 83.8 81.5 79.9 74.6 65.6 61.3 Annual mean temperature, 70.2 degrees. Highest temperature and date, 99.0 degrees, June 22d and July 23d. Lowest temperature and date, 32.0 degrees, November 25th. 1882. Maximum ] 78.0 79.0 88.0 85.0 89.5 95.5 94.0 96.0 94.0 86 0 80.0 76.0 Minimum 38.0 47.0 56.0 54.0 65.0 71.0 69.0 65.0 51.0 38.0 •28.0 Mean 61.7 66.8 70.9 74.5 81.1 80.9 81. G 77.8 72.6 60.0 54.2 Annual mean temperature, 70.4 degrees. Highest temperatui'e and date, 96.0 degrees, August 9th. Lowest temperature and date, 28.0, December 17th. 76.0 83.0 79.1) 88.0 95.0 98.0 94.5 90.5 92.0 83.0 Minimum 29.0 40.0 40.0 52.0 54.0 68.0 69.5 70.5 62.5 59.0 43.0 Mean 57.9 64.3 60.4 70.1 73.9 80.9 84.1 80.8 76.5 74.2 63.3 | Annual mean temperature. 70. G degrees. Highest temperature, and date, 98.0 degrees, July IGlh. Lowest temperature and date, 29.0 degrees, January 21st. 1884. Maximum 1 72.2 79.0 85.2 88.5 90.7 91.6 Minimum 21.(1 36.8 42.4 47.2 62.3 61.7 51.7 62.1 r.6 ;; 68.7 76.5 76.9 Highest temperature and date, 91.6 degrees, June 26th. Lowest temperature and date, 21.0 degrees, January 6th. TALLAHASSEE. 1881. Maximum I 73.0 77.0 76.0 88.0 90.0 96.0 97.0 94.0 94.0 87.0 7S.0 76.0 Minimum 32.0 32.0 44.0 47.0 70.0 76.0 73.0 72.0 72.0 66.0 32.0 39.0 Mean 56.1 60.5 69.5 79.5 84.8 85.1 81.0 81.8 76. S 65 . 1 61.0 Annual mean temperature, 71.2 degrees. Highest temperature and date, 97.0 degrees, July 23d. Lowest temperature and date, 32.0 degrees, January 1st and 2d, and November 25th. 75 1882. Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. AUg. Sept.: Oct. Nov. 1 Dec. "Maximum 77.0 78.0 86.0 86.0 90.0 95.0 90.0 92.0 90.0 : 86.0 84.0 78.0 Minimum 32.0 38.0 50.0 61.0 63.0 70.0 70.0 72.0 70.0 63.0 43.0 : 32.0 Mean 64.8 62.9 69.3 73.1 76.4 80.5 81.2 80.9 79.7 75.8 63.9 57.3 Aunual meau temperature, 72.1 degrees. Highest temperature and date, 0 5.0 degrees, June 21st. Lowest temperature and date, 32 .0 degrees, January 2d and December 8t.h. 1883. Maximum 71.0 80.0 79.0 89.0 90.0 94.0 96.0 95.0 93.0 j 92.0 80.0 i 79.1) Minimum 40.0 51.0 51.0 61.0 52.0 71.0 74.0 74.0 67.0 ! 60.0 42.0 i 38*0 Mean 09.2 64.5 74.9 78.0 80.7 83.9 82.6 78.6 75.9 65.2 | 62.3 Annual mean temperature, 73.1 degrees. Highest temperature aud date, 96.0 degrees, July 17 th. Lowest temperature and date, 38.0 degrees, December 16th. 1884. 68.0 79.0 ! 83.0 85.0 1 90.0 1 84.0 |. | 1 1 21.0 i 43.0 ! 41.0 50.0 ! 60.0 70.0 ! | | 48.6 61.9 ! 66.5 71.0 . 78.2 j 77.2 1 . . ! Highest: temperature and date, 90.0 degrees. May 2’2d. Lowest temperature and date, 21.0 degrees, January 6th. CEDAR KEY. 1881. Maximum , 74.0 74.0 74.0 84.0 91.0 93.0 94.0 93.0 94.0 1 89.0 81.0 78.0 Minimum 34.0 35.0 40.0 38.0 66.0 08.0 69.0 69.0 68.0 1 57.0 33.0 42.0 57.8 58.3 66.0 76.6 82.5 83.1 81.7 80.7 1 75.6 67.2 61.8 Annual mean temperature, 70.5 degrees. Highest temperature and date, 04.0 degrees, July — and September — . Lowest temperature and date, 33.0 degrees, November — . 1 S 82. Maximum 76.0 82.0 85.0 90.0 91.0 92.5 92.0 92.0 86.0 81.0 69.0 Minimum ! 34.0 40.5 47.0 60.0 54.0 68.0 70.0 70.0 69.0 55 . 0 37.0 29.0 Mean I 62.6 62.3 67.2 73.4 75.2 79.9 81.5 81.5 79.2 74.0 61.7 54.9 Annual mean temperature. 71.1 degrees. Highest temperature and date, 92.5 degrees, .July — . Lowest. temperature and date. 29.0 degrees, December — . 1883. Maximum | 72.0 79.0 74.0 1 86.0 87.0 90.8 92.5 96.0 ] 90.3 87.5 80.2 75.4 Minimum 1 32.0 43.0 45.0 55.0 50.0 70.3 69.4 72.2 | 65.5 59.0 43.3 30.2 Mean 66.9 61.3 | 72.6 75.1 82.1 83.8 83.7 | 79.7 76.3 65.8 62.5 Annual mean temperature, 72.4 degrees. Highest temperature and date, 96.0 degrees, August — . Lowest temperature and date, 30.2 degrees, December — . 1884. Maximum I 08.9 77.4 I 78.9 1 84.8 I 90.0 I 91.0 I lilinlmum 25.2 I 37.2 | 42.2 | 50.7 60.5 62.0 | JUean | 51.6 | 63.4 | 66.7 | 69.0 | 77.0 | 78.2 | Highest temperature aud date, 91.0 degrees, .Tune — . Lowest temperature and date, 25.2 degrees, January — . RECAPITULATION. Highest temperature, 99.0 degrees — Jacksonville, June 22d and July 23d, 1881. Lowest temperature, 21.0 degrees — Jacksonville and Tallahassee, January 6tli, 1884. Highest annual mean, 73.1 degrees — Tallahassee, 1883. Lowest annual mean, 70.2 degrees — Jacksonville, 1881. Highest average meau tor three years (1881, 1882 and 1883), 72.1 degrees — Tallahassee. Lowest average mean lor three years (1881, 1882 and 1883), 70.4 degrees — Jacksonville. •Greatest range of thermometer in three and a half years, 78.0 degrees — Jacksonville, least range ot thermometer in three and a half years, 70.8 degrees — Cedar Key. CO H O P P O Oh P O co H P W S Ph > — < E CO p < p H O < O P I — l £ o E co U P m < H — .s spisoi-a-BO Oja % 5 1-0 W ‘.laquiij, 'sSo'j ‘jaquinT: S01-BJO e9qo'B9«i S91BJQ -eaSuvio SGJ'BJO •ssiq-eiaSQA sp^ot -JPO euoi0K sptraoa -iooal spnnod; x^Ai. xiazoa sssa iiazoa •Aoino£ siaxrog ‘s.i0jsxo ‘qsu spboi -jho -^oois 0An ’epnnotj •sreen ugajj •spnno 5 o < cc H z w o . irfofl it cc. a. ct c ‘g r: : ;8 ■; 1 ; P ■ * : :£i|p|p| • • CO i g pllfllPI P ;H • • rt o . s : :i| : ''■% il X : : : S 3 : • § :1 1 : : S lli : 111 s 1 I cm • 1 , :§ 1 : • cr • • 8 ijjij 3 1 :| 15 | ■ : x 25 E: • t- b" ■£ fi § . ! 3 : i 1 ! I sg|”||Si I: § | § : = c ■ 1111 1 :1 : c 1 = • • 3 : g I j ; ; PS il ?! - :5 :g r; • M s . ; £ : ii - j : i j HI j :«! • s :S :§|£§ 5 , X 15 si ill - 51 * o l: X ' £ 6 ? !L III I £ £ < < — a P I III < t ' ■SOUTHERN DIVISION. • X X il : 1 i i i pg| mm : : I th 1 : :g g : sS| 1 ilill ?i :1 ii . . . : : : 5 1 :1 : :1 Ii i ;IPI ; 1 1 1 • O \4 !!!!!M : i 1- ; r ; : s s 5 ~ 5 r. be • zd if 3 : if -X • C ; sfi X O z < CC PQ O cc D CQ a w z 5s I 5 Z o co > Q Z CC UJ h [3 £ «< i p 1 r-i il * shipments from Cedar Key include products from Gull coast. ** Including St Mark’s Branch. --PLEASE Mention this Publication when making use of any of the Advertise- ments contained herein. GO ii FINE PRINTING AND ENGRAVING. THE SOUTH PUBLISHING CO., FINE PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS, -s* No. 85 "Warren Street. New York City. PRINTERS of Illustrated Guide Books, Pamph- ENGRAVERS 011 Wood, Steel or Stoneof Views lets, Newspapers. Catalogues. Real Estate Lists, of Buildings, Landscapes, Machinery. Maps of Circulars. Cards, Letter-heads, Note-heads, Bill- Property, Colored Emblems for Cards and Letter- heads, etc. ; heads, etc. COLOR WORIC a. specialty. PUBLISHERS A Journal of Southern and Southwestern Progress. The South occupies a distinctive field in journalism. It Is the oldest journal in the country devoted exclusively to the development of the Southern States It is a reliable medium for sain- ing correct and valuable information of the resources of the South and a just estimate of its people. The South assumes high ground, and will he conducted with caudor and independence. It represents no sect or party: it is devoted to no exclusive class or interest: it is in sympathy with the people; it appreciates the vast resources of the South and is prophetic of its destiny. Terms of Subscription, $3.00 a Year, in Advance. Single Copies 25 cts. iii TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. GEO. C. MORGAN, PROPRIETOR. UNDER * ENTIRELY * NEW * MANAGEMENT. THE ENTIRE HOUSE RE-MODELED AND REFURNISHED. ELECTRIC BELLS AND BATHS. ROOMS LARGE AND COMFORTABLE. Having leased for a term of year's THE FAMOUS OLD CITY HOTEL the proprietor has changed its name to “THE * MORGAN,” and would inform its Patrons and the General Public that it will be OPENED NOVEMBER 1ST. “ The Morgan ” is situated opposite the State Capitol, in one of the most desirable and elevated portions of the city. It has an extensive tropical garden in connection, and flower-garden on the roof, commanding magnificent views of the beautiful and picturesque “ Hill Country” for many miles around. Tallahassee, the "Floral City” of the South, is famous for its numerous splendid flower gardens, where the choicest exotics delight the eye of the beholder, presenting a scene of loveliness rarely equaled and never surpassed. The hard clay roads leading to the numerous beautiful lakes in the vicinity afford drives, rides and walks such as can be enjoyed in no other part of the State. The Culinary Department of “ The Morgan " is under the supervision of one of the most celebrated chef* de cuisine, and the tables will be served to suit the tastes of the most exacting, including the finest of Fish and Oysters, direct from Lake and Gulf, in abundance. The Office will be under the charge of Mr. Geo. H. Sprague, formerly of Sweet’s Hotel, Grand Eapids. Mich., and the Frazier House. Bay City, Mich., who is a courteous and polished gentleman, and “the right man in the right place.” With the combined efforts of the Proprietor, Mr. Sprague and the Steward, Sam’l T. •Crissy, late of Hotel Brighton. Coney Island, the guests of “The Morgan” can feel assured that they will receive every attention and enjoy eveiy comfort and luxury known to the very best hotels of the country. iy WALTER B. CLARKSON. GEO. B. GRIFFIN, Notary Public. GRIFFIN * & * CLARKSON * REAL ESTATE AND LOANS, 17 West Forsyth. Street, (Opposite Bank of Jacksonville). JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. City Property, Suburban Lots, Orange Groves, Vegetable Farms, Timber Tracts, Wild Lands. REAL ESTATE BOUGHT AND SOLD. LOAMS NEGOTIATED. SPECIALTIES: WINDSOR. ALACHUA CO., FLA. (See opposite page.) DREW'S ADDITION TO TAMPA lies close in to the business portion of the city and immediately contiguous to the resident portion, convenient to Post Office, Churches, Stores, etc. We offer for sale choice lots at reason- able prices and ou favorable terms in Drew's Addition to Tampa, which presents unequaled facil- ities for resident lots, as well as opportunities for speculation. Springfield, Campbell’s Addition and Burbridge’s Addition are three suburbs to Jacksonville, the chief city of Florida, now rapidly growing. We offer for sale fifteen hundred building lots in these suburbs. Those who have seen the rapid increase in value of suburban property elsewhere, need not be reminded of the favorable opportunities now offered by Jacksonville's unprecedented growth. Homes for all on easy terms of payment. ORANGE LAND IN HERNANDO COUNTY. Near the thriving settlement of Oriole, along the Charlotte Harbor Railroad, four miles west of Transit Railroad, which is now building, we offer for sale two thousand acres choice, selected, high rolling pine land at prices ranging from $5 to $25 per acre. Healthy locations, good neigh- borhood, early transportation facilities; railroad passes right through some of these lands. Ten. acre lots for $100 each. -* WINDSOR FLORIDA. WINDSOR, is the name of one of the prettiest anti healthiest towns in Florida, or any other State. Situated on the eastern shore of Lake Newnan, a beautiful sheet of water some nine miles in length, abounding in flsh. Nine miles east of Gainesville, two miles from Gruelle station on the Florida Southern Railroad, and four miles west of Campville station on the Peninsular Railroad. LAND. Windsor embraces a tract of about 4,000 acres, nearly one-half cleared. The soil is neither the white sand of so large a portion of Florida, nor the red clay of Georgia, but a dark, rich loam, producing excellent crops of all varieties of vegetables or the finest orange trees. The higher land is fifty feet above the lake, gradually sloping to the water. Lots varying from four to twen- ty acres, several fronting on the lake. Village lots for building purposes can be had at from fifty to two hundred dollars. HEALTH. The wonderful healthfulness of the place has been the subject of remark for the past thirty years. There are people now living there that have been residents for that length of time, and who assur# us that for a population of seventy souls there was not a physician called before the war in fourteen years. What other portion of country can make so good a showing? It is high pine land with excellent water ; sore throat and catarrh soon disappear here. CLIMATE. Windsor is located on the ridge midway between Ocean and Gulf, giving it a steady, even climate. No hot nights here and few insects. IMPROVEMENTS. Windsor is young— barely six months old— and there are up and in course of construction about twenty houses, several of them costing from two to four thousand dollars; two saw and planing mills running, two stores up, and one office: another store building: a post office estab- lished; several orange groves set out; miles of streets cleared out — in fact, the whole face of the country is rapidly improving. PROGRESS. During the winter more stores are to go up, one church, one academy, and a score or more of dwellings. A steamboat is to be put on Lake Newnan to connect with the Florida Southern Rail- road at Gruelle. ACCESSIBILITY. Windsor is easy of access. Take the steamer to Palatka, whence a ride of two hours on the Florida Southern Railroad takes you to Gruelle station; or Peninsular Railroad to Campville, three and a half hours from Jacksonville, and a hack ride of thirty or forty minutes will take you there. HOTEL. We have an excellent site overlooking the lake, of five acres, which we will donate to any party who will build a good hotel to accommodate fifty guests. No better place can be found. LANDS FOR SALE. Lands can be purchased at from fifteen to one hundred dollars per acre, according to loca- tion, and whether timbered or cleared. Several beautiful lake fronts. DO YOU WANT A HOME IN FLORIDA? If so, we would say — take a good look at Windsor before you decide where to settle. Mr. E. F. Moody is Agent at Windsor to show lands. For further particulars, address. GRIFFIN & CLARKSON, 17 West Forsyth St., JACKSONVILLE, FLA. VI BY ALL ODDS THE -4.K BEST EQUIPPED RAILROAD IN THE SOUTH LET IT BE FOREVER REMEMBERED THAT THE MOBIL E AND OHIO RAILROAD is the best and shortest route to and from St. Louis, Chicago and the Northwest to Jacksonville and all Florida points, via I. C. E. R. to Cairo and St. L. 1. M. & So. to Columbus, Ky. : M & O. R. P. to MOBILE; L. & N. E. E. to Pensacola; P. & A. R. E. to Chattahoochee; F C. & W. or S F. A: W. Eys. to Jacksonville and there connect with all railway and steamboat lines diverging for all the Attbactive Winter Resorts in Florida. For further information apply to any of the com- pany’s agents or to the undersigned, CHAS. J. WALLER, GEN. PASS. AGENT. MOBILE. ALA. -m# NEW YORK AND CHARLESTON AND FLORIDA STEAMSHIP COMPANIES. The only line under one management running between New York and Palatka, Fla., stopping at Charleston, Savannah, Fernand, na, Jacksonville, and landings on St. Johns river between Jack- sonville and Palatka. The New Fork and Charleston Steamship Company’s fleet is composed of the following first class steamers : CITY OF COLUMBIA, Capt. Woodhull. 1 DELAWARE, Capt. Winnett. CITY OF ATLANTA, Capt. Lockwood. | SAN DOMINGO, Capt. Pennington. Leaving New York from Pier 27 North River at 3 P. M., every Wednesday and Saturday, and connecting at Charleston with the Iron Steamships of the Florida Steamship Company, viz ; CITY OF PALATKA, Capt. LesYogel. I CITY OF MONTICELLO, Capt. Joseph McKee. Connections are made North bound at Savannah with the Steamship and Railroad Lines di verging therefrom, and at Charleston with the rail lines from that point, and the New York and Charleston Steamship Company sailing every Tuesday and Friday or on arrival of the Florida Steamship Company’s steamers. THROUGH RATES OF FREIGHT AND PASSAGE TO ALL POINTS. For further information apply to any of the agents of the line or to J. W. QUINTAED & CO., I JAMES ADGER & CO., Gen. Agents, Pier 27 N. R., New York. ] Agents, Charleston, S. C. S. B. TOBY, General Freight and Passenger Agent, Pier 27 North River, New York. Vll C. H. & S. B. WRIGHT, < s^ 3 ^5 Office: Masonic Hall Building;, corner New York Avenue and Boulevard, DeLAND, FLORIDA. AG-BNTS DeBARY-BAYA * MERCHANTS’ * LINE ST. JOHNS RIVER STEAMERS. ileal Estate Bought and Sold; Lands Cleared and Set to Groves; Groves, Wild Lands, Building Lots and Business Stands always on hand. SEND STAMPS FOR MAPS AND CIRCULAR. Conveyancing in all its branches a specialty. Titles examined and search furnished if desired. CHAS. S. BUSHNELL. J. W. CAMPBELL, Attorney at Law. BUSHNELL k CAMPBELL PANASOFFKEE, LAG D AG. EG TS Sumter County, Florida. Will locate Homesteads on good Farming Land, adapted to Fruit and Vegetable Culture, lying on Railroad lines and navigable streams. Will pay Taxes for non-residents, and redeem lands that have been sold for taxes. An answer on land and other matters requires the enclosure of two postage stamps. COLLECTIONS MADE. v:u CARE B. McCLENNY, President and General Manager. C. F. SHEET, Land Commissioner. THE FLORIDA IMPROVEMENT J ■sE' -viA ~L* *vl AND COLONIZATION * SOCIETY ✓jN. w'JY (c> "T* *T* *T* “^i - - 7 Darbyville, Baker Gounty, Florida, (Twenty-eight miles from Jacksonville, on Western Division, Florida Railway and Navigation Company), Offer for sale to actual settlers, desirable lands on installments, "WITHOUT MORTGAGE and with ABSOLUTELY NO FORFEITURE, situated in the most delightful and healthful portion of the State, at PRICES MUCH BELOW CURRENT VALUE. DAILY MAILS. WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH OFFICE. QUICK AND CHEAP TRANSPORTATION. CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. PEACH REGION OE FLORIDA ss Railroad fare at REDUCED RATES to and from Jacksonville, only one hour distant. These lands were selected by Hon. C. B. McClenny in person sixteen years ago, paid for in cash, and the titles examined and approved by the leading counselor in Florida. No land is offered for sale for which ABSOLUTE WARRANTY DEED will not be given. -3* THE * HOTEL * McCLENNY A new building, with 800 feet of veranda and all modern conveniences, situated directly at the depot, under the management of Mr. Sam. H. Smith, of Philadelphia, late of the St. Mark’s Hotel, Jacksonville, offers ample and superior accommodations for sixty-five lacoocheo river and Gulf coast. Price $1.25 to $2.50 per acre. 46. — 1,000 acres of first-class Pine Land from one to two miles from the famous Blue Spring in south- west corner of Marion county. Price $3 to $5 per acre. 47. — 160 acres of Pine, Oak and Hick- ory Land, 10 acres cleared, good dwelling house, 3 rooms, and other out-buildings, good well of water. 75 orange trees, some bearing, other fruit trees, such as plums, peaches, etc., five miles north of Ocala, on Florida Southern Bailroad. Price $25 per acre. 48. — GO acres of good Pine Land 1 % miles north of Candler; railroad runs through the same. Price *20 per acre. DISST0N PURCHASE 4,000,000 ACRES. Agent for said lands in Alachua, Lafayette, Levy, Marion and Hernando counties. Said Agency embraces some of the best and varied lands in the State, suitable for the production of Corn, Cotton, Bice, Sugar, Tobacco, Grain, etc., and rspecially adapted for all kinds of Tropical Fruits. Government Homesteads, Entries, etc., and also Bailroad Lands carefully selected and reported upon and entries made. Have now on hand some very fine and desirable Homesteads in Levy, Alachua and Marion counties. Parties wishing to negotiate loans upon Orange Groves and other desirable Beal Estate will find it to their interest to correspond with this office. Loans Made that Pay from 10 to 15 Per Cent. Interest. Special attention given to all Engineering and Surveying business, and all work done with best Solar and Magnetic Instruments.' Seven years' experience in State surveying. Parties indi- vidually, and representatives of colonies and mill men especially, would do well to call upon me before purchasing elsewhere. Correspondence solicited and rates cheerfully given. J. R. COACHMAN, Office over Snowden’s Drug Store, southeast. Corner Court-House Square. OCALA. FLORIDA. xiii $g§$R. * W. ^ WILLIAMSH^ ATTORNEY * AND * COUNSELLOR * AT * LAW, m*m — AND * SOLICITOR * IN * CHANCERY, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. Special attention given to Real Estate Law and the Examination of Titles. -»J. T. BERNARD,** -»•« ATTORNEY » AT » LAW, 9se« TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. Financial agent, agent for Colonies. Collections and Legal Business in all parts of the United States. ^ SUNNYSIDE H OTELS S. M. HALL, Proprietor. JACKSONVILLE, FLA. ■Convenient to the business portion of the city, and to all the R. R. depots and Steamboat landings. Comfortable Rooms, Shaded Verandas, Excellent Cuisine, Competent and Polite Attendance, and all Modern Conveniences. JdSp Rates Especially Reasonable.”®® 44= EUROPEAN PLAN. <=b 18 East Bat St., Jacksonville, Fla., two doors west of post-office. All street cars from depots and steamers pass the Hotel. Rooms 50 cents per day and up- wards. Rooms for Two 75 cents and upwards, according to size and location. FIRST-CLASS RESTAURANT attached, where Regular Meals are served. Breakfast, 25 cts. Dinner, 25 cts. Supper, 25 cts. Lunch Counter, N. Y. Prices. F. BETTELINI, Proprietor. GULF HAMMOCK HOUSE. Nine miles from Otter Creek Station, Florida, The leading resort for Sportsmen on the Gulf Coast. This Hotel is situated on the most beauti- ful river and amidst the iinest scenery, and best Hammock lands in Florida. There is good fish- ing for Black Bass, Sheepshead, &c., &c., and abundance of Deer and Turkey. Hunter and Boats for hire. Communication with Cedar Key by Sail Boat. TERMS. $2 to $3 per day; $12.50 to $15 per week ; $50 to $60 per month. Capt. Wingate is again here to welcome his old friends. For further particulars address Gulf Hammock Hotel Co., Levy County, Florida. LORIDA * UNI VERSIT Y,t€* T.AJ1.I-,.A.H:.A.SSEE, FLO R. X 3D .A.. Tallahassee College of Medicine and Surgery; Literary, Law, Theological. Polytechnic, Normal and Military Departments ; Commercial School ; a fine Library and extensive Museum ; Twenty-five Professors and Instructors. For Calendar, containing terms, &c., apply to J. T. BERNARD, Sec’y. THE O E XD .A. R SU W ANEK, KEY, FLORID Beautifully situated on the Island of Cedar Key, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Sail, -"liter Bathing at all seasons of the year. The only Hotel In Florida where Oysters, Fish and Game are a specialty. RATES, $ 2.50 to $ 3.00 perday. Special Rates by the week or month. A. E. WILLARD, FRANK McILVAINE, Proprietors. — =|LUCY COTTAGr K, 1 = SEVENTH STREET,- (Near Egmont Hotel) FERNANDINA, FLORIDA. EVERYTHING CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE. PLEASANT ROOMS, NEW FURNITURE, HAIR MATTRESSES. NATIONAL SPRINGS. MISS LUCY O. THOMPSON. XIV SPEED, SAFETY AND COMFORT NO LINES EXCEL THE ASSOCIATED Railways of Virginia and the Carolinas, OPERATING THE MOST IMPORTANT AND DIRECT ROUTES BETWEEN THE NORTH, EAST, SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST. TH E PIEDMONT AIR LINE, BUNNING DOUBLE DAILY TRAINS BETWEEN EASTERN CITIES, ATLANTA & NEW ORLEANS. Makes direct connection to Jacksonville and Tallahassee, both via Columbia or Augusta and Atlanta. TIME, NEW YORK TO NEW ORLEANS, 54 HOURS. THE ATLANTIC COAST LINE, , RUNNING DOUBLE DAILY TRAINS BETWEEN THE EAST AND SAVANNAH, Makes direct connection to Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola and New Orleans. TIME, NEW YORK TO JACKSONVILLE. 38 HOURS. The Western North Carolina R. R. or “French Broad Route.” Between Cincinnati, Louisville aud Charleston. S. C., with connections to Jacksonville and Talla- hassee, offers superb scenic attractions, unequaled in the Western Hemisphere, and from Salisbury south furnishes three distinct lines of travel, viz : Yia Chaklotte, Columbia and Augusta. Via Charlotte, Columbia and Charleston. Via Raleigh, Goldsboro and Wilmington, and Charleston. For Tickets, Schedules Pullman Car Service, and general information, apply to H. P. CLARK, General Eastern Passenger Agent, .... 009 Broadway, N. Y. WALDO A. PEARCE, New England Agent, .... 228 Washington St., Boston. No. 6 North 4th St., Philadelphia, Pa. . . No. 9 German St., Baltimore. - No. 511 Penn. Avenue, Washington. No. 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington. Richmond, Ya. No. 146 Common St., New Orleans. 49 W. Bay St., Jacksonville. Fla. T. M. Emerson, Sol Haas, M. Slaughter, G. P. A., Atlantic Coast Line, Traffic Manager, G. P. A. , Richmond & Dan vlUe R. B., Wilmington, N. C. Richmond, Ya. Richmond, Ya. F. B. PRICE, Agent, - JAS. HOLLINGSHEAD, Agent, A. L. REED, Agent, N. MACDANIEL, Agent, - C. W. HARWOOD, Passenger Agent, M. R. POWERS, Passenger Agent, W. W. DAVIE, General Agent, ) G. W. TAYLOR, Passenger Agent, ) XV OFFICE OF "THE FLORIDA FRUIT AND FARM COLONY.” CHARLES A. CHOATE, ALFRED A. ANDREWS, Tallahassee, Fla. J-J pT Springfield, Mass. 8Ei L EST4! * ixcgty \> v ^1 TALLAHASSEE,!^- W LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. Middle Florida (embracing the counties of Madison, Jefferson, Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla), is the central field of our operations. The lands are mainly a rich alluvial loam with a strong red clay subsoil of great agricultural possibilities ; are well watered and produce abundant crops of Corn, Cotton, Tobacco, Sugar-cane, Grasses, Potatoes, Turnips, Sweet Potatoes, Fruits in large variety and most of the Northern farm staples; and are admirably adapted to raising Horses, Mules, Cattle, Sheep, Poultry and Dairy Products, for all of which there is a large demand at our doors, at highly remunerative prices. It is the highest, healthiest and most attractive part of the State, and presents a picturesque panorama of high hills, broad fertile valleys, vast forests of Oak, Hickory, Magnolia and Pine, studded with beautiful lakes, that cannot be surpassed in the South. The climate is exquisite, and especially desirable for constant residence the year round; the roads are excellent; the country is hilly, and it justly merits its name of the “ Garden of the State.” The organization and development of colonization plans in this truly favored region receive •our special attention. CORRESPONDENCE IS INVITED. CEDAR KEY, MANATEE RIVER & TAMPA. THE A 1 STEAMERS OF THE E f TAMPA * STEAMSHIP * COMPANY PERFORM REGULAR * SEMI-WEEKLY * SERVICE * between above points, leaving Cedar Key Mondays and Thursdays on arrival of Florida Railway .and Navigation Company’s train at 6 P. M., making close connection at Tampa with U. S. Mail Steamer for Key West. Leaving Tampa Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 A. M., and calling at all points on Manatee river both going and coming. MILLER & HENDERSON, OWNERS AND MANAGERS, TAMPA, FLORIDA. XVI I TH E FLORIDA IMMIGRANT. I “THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.” An eight page Monthly Journal devoted to the dissemination of trustworthy Information concerning i^FLORIDA,'^ Its Soil, Climate, Productions, Resources, Advantages and Opportunities for Profitable Investment. Published at Tallahassee, Fla., at O "E DOLLAR per annum, including one of Colton’s New and Colored Maps of the State, compiled with accuracy from official sources up to 1st Jan., 1885. The Immigrant is a comprehensive, impartial and exhaustive channel of information con- cerning every part of the State, and strives to make itself a reliable adviser, and welcome visitor to those who seek for a new home In Florida. Address THE FLORIDA IMMIGRANT, TALLAHASSEE, FLA. ft HE HARN ETT HOUSE, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, Is conceded to be the most comfortable and by far the best conducted hotel In Savannah. J RATES, $2.00 and $2.50 Per Day, According to Room and Location. ^M. L. HARNETT.^ The Harnett House, as now conducted, is doing a large business. The superior cuisine, intel- ligent management convenient location and extremely moderate rates, make it the most popular hotel in Savannah . — Jacksonville [Flu ) Times-Union. The Boston & Savannah Steam ship Company. ONLY DIRECT LINE BETWEEN THE SOUTH AND NEW ENGLAND. Running Steamers Weekly, every Thursday from Boston and Savannah, and connecting at Savannah with all rail and steamer lines to all points in Florida, Alabama. Georgia, the South, Southwest and Mexico. The Steamshijjs of this line are the new, fast and elegant iron steamers "f 2.200 tons each: GATE CITY, - Capt. DANIEL HEDGE. CITY OF' MACON, ----- Capt. WM. KELLY, Jb. LOWEST RATES, FASTEST TIME , AND GREATEST COMFORT. Through Tickets and Bills of Lading issued from and to all points. For further Inf' rmation apply to W. H. RING. .... Nickerson’s Wharf. Congress St.. Boston. A. DE W. SAMPSON, ------ 201 Washington St.. Boston RICHARDSON & BaRNARD, - - - Savannah. Ga. HENRY R CHRISTIAN, Jacksonville, Fla. xvu COAST iGULF §jT j ALL RAIL ]s ; • -t-3- 1 ROUTE &siVIA PENSACOLA, KXj A.. e&A PENSACOLA & ATLANTIC RAILROAD, THE SHORT LINE BETWEEN tR NEW ORLEANS AND ALL FLORIDA POINTS, -FROM THE WEST AND NORTHWEST THE EXPOSITION ROUTE TO FLORIDA, VIA NEW ORLEANS AND PENSACOLA FROM THE NORTH AND EAST. -s- — --^HE FLORIDA ROUTE TO THE EXPOSITION.^-- — Via Washington, Richmond, Savannah & Pensacola, orViaFernandina, Jacksonville & Pensacola. PULLMAN PALACE BUFFET SLEEPING CARS between New Orleans & Jacksonville. Solid Trains between Pensacola Junction and Jacksonville , VIA PENSACOLA AND TALLAHASSEE. ^•Miles Magniflcicent Bay Scenery. Fast Trains* Steel Kails. Sure Connections.*^- ASK FOR TICKETS, A.ND BE . t t a - | — , , — a -\t r> a t \ SURE YOU GET THEM, V I A. P ENSACOLA. PASSENGERS GOING IN EITHER DIRECTION WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP OVER AT =Rh- i^'LAKE DE FUNIAK, FTHE FLORIDA CH ATAUOIJA.” The First Session of the Florida Chatauqua will open the THIRD TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY and continue Four Weeks. A new and elegant Hotel, equal in all its appointments to any in the country, will be open Nov. 1st for visitors. It is furnished with all the modern conveniences, gas, hot and cold water. It is situated on the borders of Lake de Funiak, a beautiful sheet of water in the pine forest, thirty miles from and three'hundred feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico, midway between New Orleans and Jacksonville. No more attractive place can be found in the,State. Pullman Palace Sleeping Cars BETWEEN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, AND TAVARES, FLORIDA, THE FARTHEST POINT SOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES REACHED BY ALL RAIL. W. D. CHIPLEY, Cen’l Superintendent, F. C. SHEPAKD, (xen’l Passenger Agent, F. S. GRIMES, Traveling Agent PENSACOLA, a — * FLORIDA. XV111 ^ -v V ^ ^ V- — • • - ' • ~ THE FLORIDA FRUIT AND FARM COLONY. «- Chartered xjndee the Laws of Florida. Capital Stock. S25,000. INCORPORATORS : EDWARD LEWIS, Tallahassee, Fla. I JOHN II. STEBBIXS, Springfield, Mass. O. E. DYKE, Tallahassee, Fla. | ALFRED A. ANDREWS, Springfield, Mass. M. MARTIN, TJ. S. Surveyor General, Gadsden County, Florida. This organization proposes to bring together and colonize Northern and Western people of similar tastes, habits and desires, and to secure for each the advantages of society, schools, churches, and other local conditions calculated for the general welfare. The Actual Settler will find that the project combines many attractions to him ; but the speculator can probably find other channels more to his mind. Address THE FLORIDA FRUIT AND FARM COLONY, TALLHASSEE, FLA. THE BANK OF OCALA, Florida State Agricultural College, (JNO. F. D\JNN & CO.) Ocala, — Marion County, — Florida. We will do a GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS; and being centrally located, and having a large capital, gives us facilities unsurpassed by any Bank in the State. Patronage solicited. J. M. BLAIR, Cashier, Late Cashier Exchange National Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio. EAST FLORIDA SEMINARY. AT LAKE CITY. On Florida Central and Western Railroad. Sixty miles west of Jacksonville, offers to North- ern students a winter home, and the best edu- cational advantages at moderate cost. Session BEGINS OCTOBER 1st, and ENDS JUNE 9th. Classical, Scientific and Agricultural Courses, with Military Tactics. Full faculty, unsur- passed climate, pure water. Send for Announcement to ASHLEY D. HTRT, President. THE MANSION HOUSE, A State Institution with Military Organization. Session 1884-85 Begins September 24, 1884. The Curriculum embraces English, Mathe- matical, Classical and Commercial Studies. The Methods of Instruction are strictly Normal, and the Training Class affords Professional Prepara- tion to students AND OTHERS who expect to be- come Teachers. The Military Department is In charge of Lieut. A. L. Wagner, of II. S. Army, a Graduate of West Point. USTFor copies of Annual Register, apply to Cot. E. P. CATER , Sup't, Gainesville, Florida. FEBNANDINA, * © © FLORIDA. MRS. B. M. DOWNIE. PROPRIETRESS. This old, favorite and well-known House has been thoroughly renovated, repaired and re- painted, and offers superior inducements to the traveling public. Good beds, pleasant rooms, a perfect cuisine, careful and polite attendants, and its convenience to all depots and landings, make it the best place in the city for either transient or permanent custom. A reasonable proposal for the purchase of the entire hotel property, (one of the handsomest and most desirable in the State) from the right party will he entertained. <0 ST. LOUIS & CAIRO RAILROAD.^ —THE ONLY DIRECT THROUGH LINE BETWEEN — — c AT RO*ANDsST. LOUIS . ■«©«- Close connections with the MOBILE AND OHIO at CAIRO, and at St. LOUIS with all lines diverging. It you contemplate taking a trip NORTH or WEST call for tickets via this popular route and take none other. NO DELAYS. QUICK TIME, and change of cars made in Union Depots. 51 NOTE THE TIMEise LEAVE CAIRO 11.45 a. m. 10.15 p. M. ARRIVE St. LOUIS 7.00 r. M. 6.50 a. m., Ktp Our tickets are on sale at all principal ticket offices throughout the South.-=SAt OHAS. HAMILTON, JNO. H. TRACY. BOBT. BELL, General Superintendent. Trav. Pass. Agt. Ass’t G. P. A. ST. LOUIS. C. A. FINLEX. W. E. DORTCH E. L. SNOWDEN, REAL ESTATE AGENCY — OF — FINLEY, DORTCH & SNOWDEN, LAKE CITY, FLORIDA. The above firm have opened an office for the Sale and Purchase of Real Estate in Columbia, Baker, Bradford, Alachua, Lafayette, Suwannee and Hamilton Counties. Parties desiring to pur- chase or exchange property in either of these Counties will receive prompt attention, should they *apply to our Agency. Lands located by DORTCH & SNOWDEN, Practical Surveyors. ALL kinds OF j -^XE W S DEALER .B f watches, clocks, SPORTSMEN’S 0 JEWELRY. GOODS. E. W. CLARK, JJL W I . —ALLIGATOR— FLOEIDA Hides Tanned. , ^ TALLAHASSEE— — — — FLOEIDA. ^ f. C URIOS ■^ST. .* JAMES * HOTELS TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. The undersigned, owners of this well-known and popular house, having recovered possession from the late lessees, and having thoroughly renovated and repaired the entire premises, are now prepared to receive guests, and will do all in their power to recover for the place its former patron- sage and prosperity. Rates : — S2.50 to $3 per day. Special terms by the week or month. ME. AND MES. GEQEGE A. LAMB. CLARENDON HOTEL, GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FLORIDA. HAEEIS & APPLEGATE, PEOPEIETOES. The Clarendon has accommodations for 200 guests; its appointments are first-class. The Oreen Cove Warm Sulphur Spring, flowing 3,000 gallons per minute, is located ou the grounds of this hotel. All-rail connections with Jacksonville; street cars from the station to the hotel. TWO MILLIONS of acres of Farming, Orange, Tim- ber and Grazing Lands, situated in twenty-nine counties, and com- prising the lands bought by Sir Edward J. Reed, from the State of Florida in 1881, are now offered at graded prices. These lands were selected by Hon. Hugh A. Corley, late Commissioner of the State Land Office, and Mr. M. A. Wil- liams, late agent for sale of State lands, which fact is a guaranty of their high quality. The purchase known as the Reed Purchase was only opened for sale this year, and the lands have not been culled or picked over. No part has been reserved in any manner, and the whole is open for sale. Special prices on large tracts. Timber lands, virgin forests in bodies of 50,000 acres and upwards. Lands sold for cash, or on long time. THE FLORIDA LAND AND MORTGAGE CO. (LIMITED), JACKSONVILLE. FLORIDA. xxl THE FLORIDA LAND AND MORTGAGE COMPANY (LIMITED). 2,000,000 ACRES It is strange that although this beautiful “ Land of Sunshine and Flowers,” also of health and prospective wealth, was the earliest discovered, explored and settled portion of the mainland of North America, yet it has remained almost a terra incognita for over 300 years, not only to Europe, but even to the inhabitants of the United States, of which it forms a part. The wonderful productiveness and the immense resources that could be developed from its sandy soil were never ‘ ‘ dreamed of.” It was not until within the past ten years that Florida has become widely known, not only as the “ Land of Sunshine and Flowers,” but also as the land of the orange, lemon, lime, citron, pineapple, ba- nana, cocoanut, guava, mango and other semi-tropical and tropical fruits. Florida has also been recently styled the ‘ 1 Italy of America,” and its climate and fruits are now acknowledged to be both of them su- perior to the renowned climate and fruits of Italy. Nothing has contributed so much to draw the attention of the civilized world to this “ American Italy” as the great pur- chases of Florida land's recently made by Hamilton Disston and Sir Edward Eeed, of England. The 2,000,000 acres acquired by the latter distinguished English capitalist were subsequently sold to the Florida Land and Mortgage Company, a corporation of English capitalists, and offices have now been established in London and Jackson- ville, and the lands graded and put on the market. The office in London is at No. 20, Buck- FLORIDA LARDS. lersbury; the Jacksonville office, No. 8 West Bay street, and under the charge of A. D. Basnett, as resident manager, and Arthur T. Williams, as Land Commission- er. Agencies have been also established in each of the counties where the Company holds lands, and information will he cheer- fully given to all. The lands of this corporation are situated in no less than twenty-nine counties in the State, embracing parts of West, East, Mid- dle and South Florida. These lands were selected with great care out of all the lands then owned by the State by Colonel M. A. Williams, under the special supervision of the Hon. Hugh A. Corley, late a member of the Cabinet of the Governor of the State, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of Florida, Commissioner of Lands for Florida, ete The said lands are adapted to the growth of all the tropical and semi-tropical fruits, as well as sugar-cane, rice, tobacco, cotton, early vegetables, small fruits, etc. They were selected with a view to their present and prospective value for timber and agri- cultural purposes,. and embrace every va- riety of soil and surface to be found in the State. The Company has large tracts of valuable timber lands, mostly virgin forests of yellow pine, and can sell in large bodies, ranging from 50,000 acres to 300,000 acres, and offers special inducements to lumber men. These tracts embrace the most val- uable timber tracts in the South, and mill- men and those interested in lumber, would do well to correspond with the Company. XX 11 THE BACON & ADAMS ABSTRACT COMPANY OCALA. MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. Complete set <>£ Abstract Books for Marion County. Abstracts furnished to order on short notice. mr BATES REASONABLE. -OJA I . Y WESTERVELT , SILVER SPRING, MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA, DEALER IN GENERAL MERCHANDISE, AND REAL ESTATE AGENT. Orange Groves set out and cultivated WM, C. LADD & CO., KINGSLEY LAKE, CLAY COUNTY, FLORIDA. Dealers in Beal Estate. Will sell, purchase, improve and pay taxes for non-residents. Houses And land for rent. Special attention given to locating, setting out and attending to Orange groves and other trop- ical fruits. Highest land in Florida. Magnificent Lake. Perfectly healthy; fine hunting, fishing, rowing, sailing and bathing. Those affected with lung difficulties, catarrh, asthma, rheumatism, and all kindred com plaints are cured, or greatly benefited. If you think of coming to Florida, write us how you are situated, and what you want. If we can help you we will be pleased to do so; if we can- not, we will frankly say so. We solicit your pat- ronage and guarantee satisfaction. FLORIDA LjAlUNTIDS. HOPKINS & LE BARON, CIVIL ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS, REAL ESTATE DEALERS, - ROOMS 8 & 9, BOSTWICK'S BLOCK, FOOT OF PINE ST., JACKSONVILLE, FLA. Agents for Disston, Okeechobee & Kissimmee Land Companies. Agents for South Florida Land Company, of Bartow and Ft. Meade. Agents for Town of Ft. Myers. Agents for the sale of Government and State Lands for sale all over the State. Thirty-three years’ experience and acquain- tance in Florida. UNITED STATES AND COUNTY SURVEYORS. contract. Correspondence Solicited. FLORIDA REAL ESTATE. W. & W. S. WALKER, 64 West Bay Street. Jacksonville, Florida, Have for sale on the most favorable terms, every variety of FLORIDA LANDS, in nearly every part of the State. Improved Lands, Orange Groves. City Prop- erty, Suburban Lots, Unimproved Lands— ALL BARGAINS. Between 800 and 1,000 lots in the beautiful and elevated suburban town of RIVERSIDE, averag- ing 25 to 30 feet above Bay Street, and forhealth- fulness and magnificent views UNSURPASSED ANYWHERE. fSg=Send for catalogues, read and see what we have, and then COME AND SEE US. C. L. MITCHELL. FORT MEADE, POLK CO., FLORIDA. Agent for the Disston and 'Waiiee Lands, and General Agent tor Sale and Purchase of l nited States and Private Lands. I plant groves, and care for them: pay taxes, and attend to any other business for non- residents. Can furnish trees, plants .and seeds of all kinds, from my SUNNYSIDE NURSERIES. i Correspondence (with stamp enclosed) solicited. McCRACKEN. BACON & CO.. SREAL ESTATE AGEXTS,| LEESBURG, -SUMTER COUNTY. FLORIDA. NED. E. FARRELL, #;i W ALDO LAND OFKICE,?^ WALDO, FLORIDA. ,8©- Maps and papers descriptive of Waldo and vicinity sent free to all who enclose stamps. .PUTNAM HOUSt cPALATKA./LA.. EQUINOX. HOU^ET MANCHESTER., VT. X'X XiX THE WINDSOR x'x "xix ’i 1 "'. ^ •> /?_ q^ — Ry 1 -T EG MO NT, fP/ — j — n, • V; T T~ T ' -T- - ' =F”^F"->h— =F Tgo^¥0Ci (i) Vv - ! . ; GS 5 ) fo FERNANDINA, FLORIDA. This new, elegantly furnished and perfectly appointed Hotel will be open, as usual, for the entertainment, under new and superior management, of its old patrons and the general traveling public. Its plan of construction, complete and perfect ar- rangement, luxurious furnishing, eligible situation, the number and variety of its modern conveniences and appliances for the comfort and amusement of its guests, render it positively unsurpassed by any establishment of the kind in the South for superior and attractive accommodations. Large piazzas front the first and second floors around the entire structure ; the sunlight has access to every room ; lighted by gas and heated by steam ; open fires of coal or wood ; hot and cold baths on every floor ; oral annunciators in every room ; billiard hall, bowling alley, lawn tennis court and other amusements. A beautiful park of orange and palmetto trees, with fountains, lawn and flower-beds, is kept for the exclusive use of guests. Hunting, fishing, boating, sailing, riding, driving and excursions by water to Dungeness and other points and objects of interest in the vicinity are among the amusements offered. A first-class livery is connected with the house, and telegraph and telephone station for the use of guests can be found in the Hotel office. A perfect Cuisine is among the indispensables belonging to the establishment. For rooms, terms, etc., apply by mail or telegraph in advance of arrival to FERNANDINA. FLA. xxxvii WHITE * SULPHUR * SPRING. On the Suwannee River, twelve miles from Lake City and eight from Welborn, is one of the boldest sulphur springs in the State of Florida, and, we might say the finest in the Southern States. It is in the thriving little village of White Springs, which is just now fairly springing into existence, having lain dormant for many years. The present owners, Messrs. Wight & Powell, of Cairo, Ga., purchased the prop- erty two years ago and since that time the village has been built up to four times its former size. A new hotel of sixty rooms has just been completed and nicely furnished, which, together with the old one, will accommodate two hundred guests. The dining-room will seat one hundred very comfortably. A large livery stable, bowling-alley, billiard and public hall and a beautifully shaded croquet ground are connected with the hotel. The bath-house is a three-story building-. On the first is a bath pool twenty by thirty feet, which is one of the most superb plunge baths in the world ; dressing rooms on the second floor, and offices and public hall on the third. The spring pours forth twenty thousand gallons of sulphur water per minute. The bath pool is cut from the solid rock, which gives it a very grand appearance. The water is of an even temperature, being about seventy-two degrees F. both sum- mer and winter, and cures Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Eruptions of the Skin, and Skin Diseases of all kinds, Dyspepsia, General Debility from overwork and Nervous Ex- haustion. It quiets Nervous Irritation, and invalids who have not enjoyed a good night’s sleep for months, invariably sleep well after commencing the bath. It cures Bladder and Kidney Diseases, and is a balm for all female complaints, such as Ner- vous Exhaustion and Nervous Debility, Anemia and Spinal Irritation. These heal- ing waters have only to be tried to be properly appreciated, as thousands are ready to testify. Hot and cold Baths can be had at the Hotel. Hot Sulphur Baths are working wonders in curing and relieving the afflicted. Much of the surrounding country is beautiful and fertile, and the orange and Le Conte pear are produced to perfection. Sea Island cotton, corn, potatoes, cane, and a great many garden vegetables, are among its products. The climate is fine, with its balmy atmosphere, the locality of the spring being high and dry. We know of no place in the State that is preferable to this for inva- lids and pleasure-seekers. Mr. C. H. Freeman, the present manager, having had many years’ experience will keep the House in a creditable manner throughout, and it is his and Mrs. Freeman’s desire to make White Springs Hotel second to no l’esort in the South. There is also a Chalybeate Spring in the neighborhood, long and favorably known for its curative powers, which is owned by Maj. T. F. Wesson, the water from which is kept on draught at Hotel. Correspondence solicited as to locality and price of lots in the village and farm- ing lands in the neighborhood, by WIGHT & POWELL, WHITE SPRINGS, FLORIDA. XXXVlli * LAND DEPARTMENT. * Florida Railway and Ravigalioh Company. Col. S. I. WAILES, Land Commissioner. .JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. On the 17tli of May, 1856, the Congress of the United States granted to the State of Florida (inter alia) “to aid in the construction of a railroad from Amelia Island, on the Atlantic, to the waters of Tampa Bay, with a branch to Cedar Key, on the Gull of Mexico,” a large quantity of Government lands lying along the projected route, I including the right of way and “every alternate section of land des- j ignated by odd numbers for six sections in width on each side of said road and branch, together with indemnity for lands lost to the grant j within said limits [by entry and settlement previous to the grant to be taken from alternate sections within fifteen miles, i. e., between six and fifteen miles from the said lines as they should be definitely fixed.” (U. S. Statutes, Yol. XI, p. 15; Decision of the Secretary of the Interior, January 30th, 1881 ; Opinion of Supreme Court of the United States, Baldwin vs. Railroad Company, 13 Otto, p. 156.) XXX IX Maps and surveys of the projected line were filed, and the lands [withdrawn from entry and sale, in 1857. The State of Florida, by an act of the Legislature of January 5th, 1855, Section 28, granted the right of way over State lands. The lands accruing to that portion of the road first constructed, now known as the Central Division, and extending from Fernandinato Cedar Key, amounting to about six hundred thousand acres, were first selected, and The Florida Land and Immigration Company was organ- ized to effect their sale and settlement. The lands accruing later to that part of the road now known as the Southern Division, extending from Waldo to the Withlacoochee River, a distance of about one hun- dred miles, now completed, and the portion beyond that river to Tampa and Charlotte Harbor now in course of construction, amount to about as much more, and are now being offered for sale and settlement by the Land Commissioner, as the work of construction progresses, in tracts of forty acres and upwards, at low prices, according to the terms of the grant, for twenty miles in advance of actual construction. These lands comprise some of the finest in the State, including all classes of lands and every variety of soil, from ordinary pine lands to first-class high hammock. They are being rapidly taken up, and the extension of the Line southward is enhancing then* value daily. They have been selected and platted by some of the best and most ex- perienced land experts in the State, and are offered at prices which are calculated to meet the -wants, means and views of every individual ; from the cattle grower, who must have large tracts of the best pastur- age, to the small fruit grower and truck farmer, whose best possession is “a little, farm well tilled.” All particulars relating to these lands, with maps, plats, prices and detailed information, can be procured by applying to the Land Com- missioner as above. xl THE CUMBERLAND RODTE RE-OPENED. _ *p5) - ... _ , '■HIS OLD AND DESERVEDLY POPULAR ROUTE completes the link between Brunswick and 4- Fernandina. Daily connections between the E. T. V. & G. System at the former point, and jjj^ the Key Line (F. R. & N.) at the latter. For passengers from all points, East, North and West ■S' to Florida, or vice versa. This route derives its name from the fact that it passes for some twenty miles along the shores of beautiful Cumberland Island, through the channel between that Island and the Coast proper, thus avoiding the rough and dangerous waters of the open sea. On this historic Island is located the old “ Nightingale Place,” where reposes the dust of “ Light Horse Harry ” Lee, of Revolutionary fame. It was also the home of Gen. Nathaniel Greene. This Island is now the property of Mr. Carnegie, and here he has erected one of the most magnificent of modern residences, which can be seen in passing. S. C. LITTLEFIELD, General Manager. At Fernandina connections are made with trains of the FLORIDA RAILWAY AND NAVIGATION COMPANY’S LINES. extending Southward into the extreme peninsula; Southeastward into and through the Great Orange Belt, and Westward to and through the Suwannee river Peach and Lumber and Turpen- tine region, through Middle Florida, the magnificent and fertile Hill Country, through West Florida and onward to PENSACOLA AND NEW ORLEANS. WALTER G. COLEMAN, A, 0. MacDONELL, Gen. Trav. Pass. Agt., Gen. Pass, k Ticket Agt., Cor. Bay & Hogan Sts., Jacksonville, Fla. Fernandina, Florida. xli GEO. F. DREW & CO., JACKSONVILLE:, FLA, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in HARDWARE MIXED PAINTS OILS AND GLASS. MILL & STEAMBOAT SUPPLIES. OU E SPECIALTIES ABE Wadsworth, Martinez & Longman’s Perfectly Pure Paints. Disston’s Saws and Mandrels, Howe’s Scales, Herring's Fire and Burglar-proof Safes, Giant Rubber Belt, Buckthorn Barbed Wire, Crown Jewel Vapor Stoves, etc., etc. We carry a large stock of goods, and pay prompt attention to all orders. Have also an ex- tensive PLUMBING AND TIN SHOP connected with our store. WE SOLICIT ORDERS AND CORRESPONDENCE. — - INDUSTRIAL MACHINE WORKS, JACKSONVILLE, - - - FLORIDA. FOUNDRY * AND * MACHINE * SHOPSh Repairing and manufacture of new and special machinery done promptly and in first-clas,s manner. ENGINES, BOILERS, SAW-MILLS, PLANING-MILL OUTFITS, STEAM PUMPS, IRRIGATING OUTFITS and Machinery of every description furnis.hed at very lowest prices. We possess a thoroughly prac- tical knowledge of our business. EX-GOVERNOR GEO. E. DREW, so long Identified with the saw-mill interest of this State, is President of our Company. Write us for circulars and prices. —SAMPLE ROOM AT 54 & 56 WEST BAY STREET. xlii TO ALL WINTER RESORTS. WAYCROSS SHORT LINE, A STEEL BAIL TRUNK LINE TO FLORIDA AND SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 5 Fast Express Passenger Trains to Jacksonville Daily. This is the line selected by the U. S. Government to carry the Fast Mail between Wash- ington and Jacksonville, and between Washington and New Orleans. The Finest PULLMAN BUFFET SLEEPING CARS Ever placed in service upon any line, are run daily between Washington and Jackson- ville, and New Orleans and Jacksonville. PULLMAN PALACE CARS Daily between Cincinnati and .Jacksonville, and Louisville and Jacksonville, only via the Waycross Short Line. WM. HUGHES, Northwestern Pass. Agent, CHICAGO. MARION KNOWLES, Southwestern Pass. Agent, 102 CANAL STREET, NEW ORLEANS. JAS. L. TAYLOR. H. C. HARDEN, Eastern Pass. Agent, 261 Broadway, N. T. General Passenger Agent. xliii ^GRAND VIEW,i€ FORSYTH, BETWEEN BRIDGE AND CLAY STREETS, -^JACKSONVILLE, FLA. .'Sii Jfe Enlarged and Newly Furnished. Electric Lights and Bells, Gas, Bath-rooms, Hot and Cold Water, in tact, all the comforts to be had at any First- Class Hotel at a much lower price. THEhouseis centrally located, two and a half blocks from Waycross. and Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railways, and People’s Line of steamers, and three blocks from Florida Railway and Navigation Co’s Depot, and Up River Steamboat Landings, on a high, dry and perfectly healthy site, commanding an extended and charming view of the magnificent St. John’s, unequaled by any house In the city. The “GRAND VIEW ” is, in fact, the paradise of the tourist. No expense or pains have been spared in building, fitting and furnishing this gem of a house, and the weary traveler on reaching it experiences the sensation, so sweet to us all. HOME AT LAST. This feeling is verified on re - pairing to the dining-hall, where he finds meals served from the choicestviands, shipped from the North and cooked by one of the most celebrated of the White Mountain knights of the gridiron. A Choice stock of cows are kept to supply the house with milk. Prices from S2.00 to S3. 00 per day, according to location of rooms. Special rates by the week and month. Rooms may be secured in advance by mail or telegraph. G. W. SMITH, Proprietor. D. S. PLTJMEB, Clerk. S. MAYER Si GLAUBER EXCLUSIVE WHOLESALE DEALERS IN SEGARS, TOBACCO, AND LIQUORS A SPECIALTY. SI WRITE US FOR QUOTATIONS. BRUNSWICK, GA. fc "i> ALBANY, GA. xliv <1THE PANASOFKEE COUNTRY. C~ No brighter prospect of future wealth and prosperity awaits any section of Florida than is manifestly in store for that newly-developed and beautiful region now becoming so widely known as “The Panasofkee Country.” Lying almost in the heart of the peninsula, on the western slope of the ridge of high pine lands which extends centrally throughout the length of Sumter county from north to south ; bounded on the west by the waters of the picturesque Withlacoochee river, Avhich also forms the western boundary of Sumter ; extending from the northern boundary line of Sumter to where a small tributary of the Withlacoo- chee, flowing in a westerly direction from its source in the interior of Sumter and debouching into the larger stream near Pemberton’s Ferry, forms the northern boundary of that eastern portion of Her- nando county which extends beyond the Withlacoochee to the Merid- ian Line ; comprising a tract of country some eighteen miles in width and twenty-five miles long, plentifully watered by the Withlacoochee and Panasofkee Lake and their numberless tributaries — fed by peren- nial springs —whose banks are lined for miles with dense forests of cypress, live-oak, water -oak and other liard-wood trees of almost mi- raculously immense size — this favored region comprises attractions and advantages more varied and desirable, perhaps, than are to be found in combination in any other portion of the State. Its very name bears testimony to the phenomenal productiveness of its soil. The aborigines, whose habit was to bestow upon natural ■objects and localities the most expressive and unmistakeably appro- priate descriptive names, called this rich region “Panasofkee,” — “The Place of Plentiful Corn! ” But a few years since this whole country was comparatively a wilderness, sparsely peopled by a few wise and enterprising pioneer settlers, whose magnificent bearing orange groves are now the pride of the entire population, old and new, the wonder and amazement of strangers, and the most powerful and convincing evidences of the mar- velous productiveness and richness of the soil and its peculiar adap- tability to orange culture ; now the whole country is teeming with restless, busy life, enterprise and progress. This transformation has been accomplished b} r the construction of the track of the Florida Bailway and Navigation Company directly through the centre of its best and richest portion. Among the dozens of new and vigorous young towns which have sprung up like magic all along the route of the railroad is WILDWOOD. Wildwood is situated in the “ piney-woods,” one hundred and six- ty miles from Fernandina and about seventy-five miles from Tampa, with the Atlantic about sixty miles to the east and the Gulf of Mexico forty miles distant on the west. There are a dozen or more stores in xlv the place, two saw-mills and three hotels. Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians have regular services, and there are ample school facil- ities. The surrounding country is healthy and the soil productive and easily worked. Another of the new towns is PANASOFKEE, situated at the southern point of Lake Panasofkee, from which lake it takes its name, and just two miles from, and the nearest railroad point to Sumterville, the county site of Sumter county. The town was laid out in 1883 upon land owned by D. R. Townes, and is now about one year old. It is surrounded by a fine section of good pine lands, fertile hammocks, beautiful lakes and navigable streams. The country around it is rapidly developing, and many fine farms and bearing groves are already sending their produce to market. The town is connected by rail (the main line of the Florida Railway and Navigation Company’s road being completed to this point) with Fer- nandma and Cedar Key direct, and by steamer with the country along the lake and up the Witlilacoochee river, steamers connecting at this point with trains upon the railroad. The town has now about 200 in- habitants and is rapidly increasing in population. It has a public park containing two acres, three general merchandise stores, a drug store, a good hotel, livery stables, post-office, express office, telegraph office, saw-mill, real estate office, insurance office, and a live news- paper. A lot has been donated for a church and the building will be erected soon; a good school, free to all, is kept up during six months of the year. About three miles north of “Little Withlacoocb.ee” river, the track of the Florida Railway and Navigation Company’s railroad crosses that of the Elorida Southern, and again crosses it some four miles south of “Big Witlilacoochee” river, thus giving to the people of this region the most ample transportation facilities. These advantages have already attracted many new settlers, and others are eagerly securing the choicest lands and locations. The new road now extends to the bend of the Witlilacoochee, fifteen miles from Panasof- kee, and is being rapidly constructed onwards to Tampa and Charlotte Harbor. On each side of the line, within fifteen miles thereof, lie the vast bodies of valuable lands belonging to the Company and now be- ing offered for sale. On the 26tli of November last, and for days thereafter, a crowd of from four to five hundred people, eager to buy, surrounded the special car occupied by the Land Commissioner and his assistants, which stood on a side-track several miles below Pana- sofkee for the convenience of purchasers ; thus demonstrating the ex- istence of the superior attractions offered, through the purchase of these lands, to settlers in The Panasofkee Country. For all information in detail, apply to S. I. IAILES, Land Commissioner, JACKSONVILLE, FLA. RUSSELL HOUSE, » e s§ »- KEY WEST, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA. A Delightful Winter Resort, and the only city In the United States below the Frost Line with an Average Temperature of 70 degrees. TERMS MODERATE. HUNTING, BOATING, FISHING AND FINE DRIVES. Reached by Steamer direct from New York, and New Orleans, or by Cars and Steamer from Tampa, Fla., every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday P. M., on arrival of trains of South Florida Railroad. CHAS. T. MERRILL, Manager. -3* ST. MARKS HOTEL, (OPPOSITE POST OFFICE,) JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. ' - Centrally located , convenient to all the St. John's River Boats. Take 'Bus Carriage or Street Car, at Depot, direct for Hotel. :- RATE, $2.00 TO $3.00 PER DAY. j^AKE REGION REAL ESTATE AGENCY. Bearing and Non-bearing Groves; Lake Fronts; Residences and Town Lots; Improved and Un- improved Lands. J. NAT. MOORE, LEESBURG, FLA. jy^AGNOLIA HOUSE, OCALA. FLA. One block from Public Square. Mbs. Cody & Mbs. Ander- son, Proprietors. 'J'HE WESTERVELT HOUSE, SILVER SPRING, Fla. Accommodations second to none. Boat9 for Guests. Good Fishing; Good Hunting. Every attention paid to guests by polite at- tendants. cpHE GULF HAMMOCK HOUSE, OTTER CREEK, Florida. The leading resort for Sportsmen on the Gulf Coast. /jQpSee large advertisement on another page. yyiTHLACOOCHEE HOUSE, WILDWOOD, Sumter Co., I. E. Barwick, Proprietor. In the Midst of the Pines. The Best Fare; the Nicest Rooms ; the Lowest Rates. O QOSTROM’S” Double Verandahed House, O facing the broad Halifax. Boats, shady croquet grounds and abundance of fruit, a beautiful shell walk along the high river bank shaded by giant live naks: and a 10 minutes’ walk to the Ocean Beach. $10 per week. J. A. BOSTROM, Ormond-on-the-Halifax, Volusia County, Florida. JACKSONVILLE TRANSFER COMPANY. Messengers on all Incoming trains. Passengers by giving their checks to messenger insure safe and prompt delivery to any point in the city, as this Company is under bonds to all the rail- roads for such delivery. Lj. hartridse, proprietor. H. «- S. * DUVAL.— > CIVIL ENGINEER SURVEYOR,! (STATE ENGINEER,) Address Care FLORIDA IMMIGRANT, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. Intricate and disputed surveys, corners, lines, etc., examined, re-located and re-surveyed, aided by a working experience in Florida, of twenty-six years. xlvii > TRANSFER COMPANY SEND FOR CIRCULAR. All baggage destined for Tallahassee re- checked on trains by messengers, and de- livered promptly to any part of the city. xlviii JOHN G. SINCLAIR. N. L. MILLS. SINCLAIR’S . CA REAL ESTATE AGENGY Opposite Charleston and Magnolia Hotels, ORLANDO, ORANGE COUNTY. Has for sale some of the finest Orange Groves and improved and unimproved Real Estate in South Florida, directly on the line of the South Florida Railroad: also Mills, Hotels and beautiful Lake Fronts, together with some of the best buildings and building lots in the thriving town of Orlando ; also at Longwood, Maitland, IVillcox, Fort Gatlin and Kissimmee. It also makes loans and investments. The success of this Agency is beyond that of any other in this section, either in amount of sales made or satisfaction given. For prices and full descriptive list of $1,000,000 worth of Real Estate for sale by this Agency, apply by letter or in person. Correspon- dents may expect immediate attention to their communications. xlix js HOTEL * LIST. & CENTRAL DIVISION. PLACE. Name. Proprietor. 0> Capacity. Daily Bate. Weekly Bate. 150 SI. 00 87.50 to S3. 00 $2.00 Special. Special. $10.00 75 Miss L. 0. Thompson.. 11 20 12 It Boarding-house Boarding-house.. . . Boarding-house... Boarding-house it ft ii Furnished Booms. Boarding-liouse.. . 20 15 it Boarding-house.. . . Boarding-house.. . . Mrs. Yon Kirn 5 ft 8 tl Boarding-house (, ,, Arlington Hotel . . C. H. Webber 12 SI. 50 to $2.00 $7.00 to $10.00 it 20 20 Boarding-house Boarding-house. . . Boarding-house Boarding-house Boarding-house B. M. Smith Boarding-house Boarding-house Boarding-house... . Gulf Hammock. . . G. H. Hotel Boarding-house . . . Boarding-house G H Hotel Co 20 $2.50 to S3. 00 312.50 to $15.00 Cedar Key The Suwanee Gull House. . . . Willard & Mcllvaine.. o o co >o 32.50 to S3. 00 $15.00 to $20.00 Magnolia House. . . Boarding-house... . Boarding-house Boarding-house Boarding-house Boarding-house Isola Bella, ] (Down the Coast) f Alfred P. Jones 18 S2.00 to 33.00 $10.00 to $12 00 SOUTHERN DIVISION. Boarding-house... . Boarding-house Boarding-house E E. Leavitt (< S. J. Tyner «< Dr. C. A. Simmons Orange Lake(Citra) Boarding-house Anthony House Westervelt House. Boarding-house Boarding-house Mrs. E. White 40 14 $2.50 $2.50 $9.00 to $12.00 Special. Special. Special. ft J. E. Webb 400 . 30 .. $4.00 $2.00 to $3.00 Magnolia House. . . Allred House .. Colonnade House. Peninsular House. Whitfield House. . . Mrs. Cody & Anderson ( « << Boarding-house Boarding-house Boarding-house tc el Boarding-house . . . Withlacoochee Ho. Georgia House ... 50 >2.00 to $3.00 $1.50 $12 00 $7.00 40 LEESBURG BRANCH. 40 $1.30 to $3.00 $7.00 to $10.00 et if (( , t Gibbons House Boarding-house . . . Boarding-house . . . (e Mrs. Hull Whitehall House. . .. . i ....! WESTERN DIVISION. Chattahoochee L’g Chattahoochee Quincy Riverside Hotel . . . Boarding-house Quincy House H. H. Spear 12 20 $1.50 $2.00 $7 00 $10.00 Tallahassee The Leon J. M. Lee 200 $4.00 Special. The Morgan Geo. C. Morgan 150 $4.00 Special. (( The St. James. .. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb... 50 $2.50 to $3.00 Special. <( Whitaker House. . . Mrs. S. B. Hopkins 20 $2.00 to $3.00 Special. « Boarding-house.. . . Mrs. W. M. McIntosh 30 $1.50 $10.00 ,, ::::: (( T. L. De Milly Whitfield House... Mrs. L W Whitfield. 25 $2.00 $7.00 Monticello Partridge House. . . B. W Partridge 8 o o Cl $8.00 Mrs. Williams Mrs. Scott ATT 150 Mrs Thomas Mrs. Parramore Live UaK Mrs. Branan J. M. Wilson 30 $2 00 to $2.50 $10.00 to $15.00 LaKe • Miss. T. M. Tilton. . . . 20 $1.50 $8.00 to $12.00 Hotel McClenny Sam. H. Smith 65 $2.50 to $3.00 $10.00 to $14.00 J. M. Lee 300 $4.00 Special. 200 $4.00 Special. Fred. E. Foster 125 $2.50 to $3.50 Special. S. M. Hall 75 $2.50 to $3.00 Special. Tremont House Dr. H. DeW. Dodge so $3.00 to $4.00 Special. F. Bettelini. 50 European Plan. Grand View Hotel. G. W. Smith 1 Graduate Student Charge Duke University t-* T iKrarv