CHAPTER   XXIIL

ROUTES TO AND THROUGH FLORIDA.

Jacksonville is the grand objective point for all Florida visitors.
It is the focus where all lines of travel from all parts of the Xorth
and West terminate, and where all the local lines of railroads and
river-boats have their beginning or chief oflice; where information
concerning all portions of the State can be obtained, and all uncer¬
tain routes to interior points of interest decided upon. This su¬
premacy is shared in some slight degree by Pensacola, but this city
is so far removed from the Florida sought by Northern tourists, and
is so situated geographically, that it really represents another and
distant region of entirely different attractions and interest. It is the
chief Floridian city on the Gulf, and is best known to the people of
the adjoining Gulf States. In fact, Pensacola belongs, by all natu¬
ral and geographical laws, to Alabama, and is far more accessible to
the people of that and neighboring States than to those of Florida.
This difficulty, however, will soon be remedied by the expected
early completion of the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Rail¬
road, from its present terminus on the Ohattaliooshes to its natural
and originally proposed terminus, Pensacola.

To the tourist from Xew England and New York there are sev¬
eral routes open, all accommodating and desirable.

TO   FLOEIDA  BY   WATEE.

(1.) One of the well-appointed steamers of the Mallory Steam¬
ship Line sails from Pier 20 East River at three o'clock p. m. each
Friday, visiting Port Royal en route, arriving at Fernandina on the
morning of the following Tuesday, and connecting at the wharf
there with the train to Jacksonville (only thirty-three miles, an
hour's pleasant ride over the new railroad).    For invalids and all