CHAPTER


A TOUR OF THE STATE WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF IMMI-
 GRATION.


 IN the midwinter of 1879-'80 the Hon. Seth Fren
State Commissioner of Immigration, decided to make
official tour through the southern and middle regions
the State, for the purpose of better informing himself
to the general character of the people, the soil, the pr
ucts, and the facilities for transportation. He kindly
vited the writer to accompany him, and the invitation
gladly accepted. It was a very extensive tour, and g
us an unusually excellent opportunity to fully acqua


ch,
an
of
as
od-
in-
vas
ave
int


ourselves with
French-known
tive of New Yc
 NI L---. "yr


W isconsin.
presence and
ested in his
all respects j
position which
 At noon


lie
ad
du


a very large section of the State. Mr.
to all his friends as Dr. French-is a na-
,rk, but was for many years a resident of
is a man of wealth, liberal education, fine
Dress, social disposition, thoroughly inter-
ties, and an enthusiast about Florida-in


just the
h he th
of one


man for the peculiar and responsible
en held.
rainy day late in January, we took


passage at Jacksonville on the old, small, odd-looking but
excellent steamer Volusia, commanded by young Captain
Lund. It is an up-river steamer, an old-timer, built espe-
cially for navigating the narrow, crooked channel of the
far-up St. John's. The steamer was crowded with passen-
gers, including an elderly lady and her husband, from
New England; a Massachusetts school-ma'rm; a lady with