Chapter I: Preface

This unpretending little book is designed to give the visitor to Florida such information as will make his trip more useful and more pleasant. In writing it I have had in mind the excellent European Guide-Books of Karl Bædeker, the best, to my mind, ever published. Though I have not followed his plan very closely, I have done so to the extent the character of our country seems to allow.

I have borrowed from him the use of the asterisk (*) to denote that the object so designated is especially noteworthy, or that the hotel thus distinguished is known to me to be well-kept, either from my own observation or that of friends.

Most of the localities are described from my own notes taken during an extended tour through the peninsula, but for much respecting railroad fare, accommodations, and charges, I am indebted to a large number of tourists and correspondents who have related to me their experience. To all these I express my warmest thanks for their assistance.

As of course such matters are constantly changing, and as I shall be most desirous to correct any errors, and bring the work fully up to the times in future editions, I shall esteem it a particular favor if those who use this book will forward me any notes or observation which will aid me in improving it. Such communications may be addressed “care of the Penn Publishing Co., 710 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, Penna.”

The map of the St. John River is based on that drawn by my friend, Mr. H. Lindenkohl, U. S. Coast Survey.

PHILADELPHIA, _August, 1869_.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Preface iii

Contents iv

PRELIMINARY HINTS.

1. Season for Southern Travel 9

2. Preparations for the Journey 10

PART I.--SOUTHERN ROUTES.

1. Steamship Lines 13

2. Washington to Richmond 14

3. Richmond to Charleston 18

4. Aiken, S. C., and the Southern Highlands 22

5. Charleston to Savannah 26

6. Savannah to Jacksonville 29

PART II.--FLORIDA.

1. Historical 32

2. Books and Maps 35

3. Physical Geography of Florida. 1. Geographical Formation.
2. Soil and Crops. 3. Climate and Health.
4. Vegetable and Animal Life 37

4. The St. John River and St. Augustine (Indian River,) 52

5. Jacksonville to Tallahassee, Quincy, and St. Marks 81

6. The Oklawaha River and the Silver Spring 88

7. Fernandina to Cedar Keys 93

8. Key West, the Florida Keys and the Gulf Coast 97

9. The Western Coast (Tampa, Apalachicola, Pensacola, Mobile) 106