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a MPL '^r s tfgpffisfflr Rouk iMRA.® •■“ T T E Vol. 111. No. 5. FLORIDA. The Cis-Atlantic Italy! History, Climate, Towns, Villas, Homes, and Scenery. This beautiful State is at this time attracting the attention of the whole country. Not only is it inviting to invalids, and to tourists who visit it in the winter to seek health or pleasure, but its advantages as a permanent residence are now for the first time fully appreciated. Next winter will doubtless see a larger number of visitors than any season has yet attracted to the places fitted up for them, on the St. John’s river, from Jackson ville to Lake Monroe. Already villages, vil las, hotels, and residences in the midst of orange-groves, fringe the banks of that mag nificent river, and thousands from other States are about to make Florida a perma nent home. Its history reads like a romance. Five years after Columbus first saw the new world, unconscious of the grandeur of his discov ery, another navigator spread his sails upon the unknown seas, and Sebastian Cabot with the English flag flying at his mast-head, dis covered this land; but it was not until 1512 that a settlement was made by Europeans. Ponce de Leon, an old cavalier of Spain, re ally believing that the fabled fountain whose waters would restore youth, and preserve it in perpetual vigor, ■was to be found in the newly discovered country, sailed upon this romantic expedition and landed upon its coast for the first time, on Easter Sunday, in the month of April, in the year of our Lord 1512. The day was called in the Spanish tongue, Pasqua Florida ; the land was cov ered with a profusion of wild flowers, and Ponce de Leon named it Florida. It is not proposed in this brief paper to trace the eventful history of the beautiful land, so appropriately named by the Spanish cavalier, through the successive struggles of Spain and England to maintain their su premacy. General Andrew Jackson’s military opera tions brought him into conflict with the Spanish authorities, and the whole territory was ceded to the United States in 1819 by a satisfactory treaty. The exchange of flags took place in 1821, and Congress the next year established a government for the terri tory. In 1845 it was admitted into the Union as a State. Florida is called by many “The Italy of America.” But it is far superior to that classic land, in climate and natural attrac tions. Italy has its great cities, its splendid architecture, and its noble ruins. Florida is in its youth; but its luxuriant tropical foliage, its great rivers, its beautiful lakes, its forests of live-oak, its groves of orange and lemon, together with its extended coast, indented with bays, constitute a realm more attractive than can be found in any part of Europe. The peninsula of Florida is one of the most remarkable regions on the globe. It stretches A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO RAILWAY INTERESTS, LITERATURE, ART AND HUMOR. for four hundred miles from north to south, through the parallels of latitude from 25° north to 31° north, with an average breadth of ninety miles. Every part of the State is attractive, but we limit this paper almost exclusively to the peninsula, and to the country bordering on the river St. John. Tallahassee, the capital of the State, is in Middle Florida and is ac cessible by railways over which trains run with regularity and speed. The city is dis tinguished for its refinement, having been early settled by people of high culture and great wealth. It is surrounded by a beauti ful and fertile country. Florida is a large State; larger than Geor gia, or Illinois or Michigan, and nearly as large as all New England. Its millions of acres invite settlement, and offer to-day the finest opportunity for profitable investment presented by any State in the Union. Jacksonville is the largest and most im portant city in the State. Its population is now probably quite fifteen thousand. Seated on the west bank of the St. Johns river it presents an appearance of the highest pros perity. Its hotels are magnificent, its stores handsome, and several of its private resi dences are splendid. Ships of large size drop their anchors in front of the city, and ocean steamers float in the wide stream that stretches out like a bay; while the surround ing shores are covered with stately resi dences. The great live-oaks shade the streets and dwellings, giving to the place a great charm. The St. John’s river is magnificent ; its affluence surpasses that of any stream in the country —like the Nile it’takes its rise in the south, and flows directly north. From its source in the everglades it rolls its majestic current for four hundred miles and then turning to the east, pours its vast volume of water into the ocean. For one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth its average ■width is one mile and a half, and at some points it expands into six miles. With its luxuriant tropical foliage, its birds of varied plumage, its banks presenting to view the tasteful im provements which embellish them; its lakes and islands, and the boats that pass and salute each other, bearing passengers and freights at all hours, it is interesting beyond description. The tribute to the most beauti ful Italian city is often repeated, “See Naples and die,” but to one who for the first time ascends the St. John’s river in a splendid steamer, and on a fine day, the view is quite as enchanting as that offered by the famous city and its lovely bay. Thousands of visit ors are accustomed to pass the winter months among the towns and villages seated on its banks from Jacksonville to Enterprise on Lake Monroe, two hundred miles distant, and Mellonville, on the opposite side of the lake, with the fine hotels in its neighborhood is the favorite resort of many who find in its balmy air a perfect climate. Steamboats of fine size, and elegantly fitted up, make daily trips between Jacksonville and these places. The fares for passengers are mod erate and the charges for freights very low- ATLANTA, GA., SEPTEMBER, 1875. The pretty village of Mandarin on the east bank of the river, fifteen miles from Jack sonville, is the residence of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe. The place with its towering live-oaks and orange groves, is charming. Green Cove Springs, thirty miles from Jacksonville, on the west bank of the river, is one of the most beautiful resorts to be found in any country. The water has a temperature of about 75 degrees, and is as clear as crystal. Its health restoring quali ties are extraordinary. At Tocoi, forty-nine miles from Jackson ville, is the depot of the St. Augustine road; distance to the city being fifteen miles by a good st#am railroad. Palatka, seventy-five miles from Jack sonville, is a large and prosperous town, finely situated on an elevated bank. Mellonville, one hundred and twenty five miles from Palatka, is situated on the west bank of Lake Monroe. It is already a flourishing town, and is destined to attain still greater importance. It is supported by a flourishing back country, and its neighbor hood is very attractive. The population, ex tending over several miles,is superior. There are churches and schools, and the highest culture distinguishes the people. Some of the finest orange groves in the State are here, and the country up to Orlando, the county site, some twenty-five miles in the interior, is being rapidly settled, by as fine a population as any country can boast. Lake Monroe, upon which Mellonville, Sanford and Enter prise are all built, is a beautiful sheet of water five miles wide and twelve miles long. It abounds with fish, and water-fowl of a great variety are seen. The Indian River Coun try is near these towns, and fishing and hunt ing parties are fitted out for it, and for other parts of the neighboring country where game abounds. Lake Harney is so near Mellonville that parties can make a visit to its charming scenery, and return the same day. The cli mate in this part of Florida is perfect. The winter temperature is very much that of May and June at the North. The nights are delightful. It is to be observed that the peninsula of Florida extends to a parallel of latitude which would indicate extreme heat. It is in a line with the Desert of Sahara, and Southern China. But lying between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, it is fanned by breezes, and the gulf stream, which runs along its coast for some three hundred miles, affects its temperature. Tak ing it through every month in the year, it is the most delightful climate in the world. It is ascertained by careful observation for years, that Florida is the healthiest State in the Union. Its future is bright. Besides its fruits, it will produce the finest cotton, and its sugar lands are unsurpassed. It is accessible by the sea and the land. Travelers who prefer land routes, will find railways, and trains of the finest construction for their accommodation. They can take a sleeping car at Louisville, and traveling via the Great Kennesaw Route, through Chatta nooga, “ the Pittsburgh of the South,” and Whole No. 41. Atlanta “ the Gate City,” reach Savannah and Jacksonville without a single change. Besides this, tourists will find elegant Pal ace cars leaving Baltimore daily for At lanta, via Lynchburg making close con nection with through car for Jacksonville, Fla. Such is Florida; soon destined to attract to its fine climate and beautiful scenery, tour ists from all parts of our great country, and to furnish homes for many thousands of inhabitants. St. John’s River—Distance from Jacksonville. To Mulberry Grove,* 12 Miles. “ Mandarin, (H. B. Stowe’s place,) 15 “ “ Hibernia,* 23 “ “ Magnolia,* ” ’ 28 “ “ Green Cove Springs,* .. 30 “ “ Picolata, 44 u “ Tocoi, ''’ ’ ’ 49 u “ Federal Point ’” ’ ‘ 53 u “ Orange Mills, \ ’ 33 « “ Palatka,* 75 u “ Welaka, iqo “ “ Beecher, ’’’’ iqi « “ Mt. Royal, ’’’ 113 « “ Georgetown, 123 “ “ Volusia, \ ’ 144 «• “ Orange Bluff, ’’’ 147 u “ Hawkinsville,* 174 “ “ Cabbage Bluff, ’’J” 175 “ “ Blue Spring, ...... 180 “ “ Sanford, 204 “ “ Mellonville, 205 “ “ Silver Springs, (Ocklawaha River,)’... 210 “ “ Enterprise, 211 “ “ Sand Point, (Indian River,) 276 “ *On right side of river going up. DO’NT DIE HERE. A few days ago a couple from lowa, on their way East, had to stop in this city, owing to the wife’s illness. They went to a hotel, and for the first day or two the hus band didn’t complain of the cost, but when his wife grew worse, and a doctor was called in and a nurse employed, he began to hang on to the dollars which were demanded. On the fifth day the doctor looked serious and said that the woman would probably die. The husband consulted with the hotel clerk and with a freight agent, and going back to his wife he leaned over her and sobbed: ‘Oh! Sarah Jane! you musn’t die here!’ ‘ I don’t want to leave you, Philetus,’ she replied, ‘ but I fear that my time has come.’ ‘Don’t! oh! don’t die here!’ he went on. ‘ If my time has come I must go,’ she said. ‘ Yes, I suppose so, but if I could only get you back home first I’d save at least forty dollars on funeral expenses, and forty dol lars don’t grow on every bush! ’ A lecturer, addressing an audience, con tended with tiresome prolixity that art could not improve nature, until one of his hearers, losing all patience, set the room in a roar by exclaiming: “ How would you look with out your wig?” At an examination in one of the public schools of Wheeling, West Virginia, a few days ago, a youngster was asked to name the different forms of government. “ Democracy and Hypocrisy,” was the reply. “ Under what form of government do we live?” asked the teacher. The boy hesitated a moment, and then answered: “Hypocrisy.” CST” Through Pullman cars leave New Orleans daily for Lynchburg, Washing ton and Baltimore, Without Change by the Kennesaw Route—l,2s4 miles. The longest continuous line of Sleeping Cars in the WORLD.