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Story
December 11, 1909
The San Mateo Item
San Mateo, Putnam County, Florida
What is this article about?
Promotional article describing San Mateo, Florida, as an ideal location for visitors and home seekers, emphasizing its position on the St. Johns River, transportation via rail and steamer, amenities, health benefits, and profitable orange growing industry.
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SAN MATEO.
LOCATION, ATTRACTIONS, ADVANTAGES.
Information for the Visitor or Home seeker.
Location.
San Mateo, Putnam County, is situated on the east bank of the St. Johns River, and 90 feet above it.
The highest point in Florida, east of the St. Johns river, which is one-half mile wide at this point.
Five miles from Palatka, our county seat, (city of 5,000), 28 miles from St. Augustine and about 75 miles from Jacksonville.
The terminus of a branch of the Florida East Coast Railway. The depot being three-quarters of a mile from the river wharf.
Advantages and Attractions.
San Mateo has good shelled roads and miles of hard sidewalks. Beautiful water oaks line both sides of streets, and meet overhead in many places.
Two churches, public and private schools, telegraph, telephone, express, money order post office, three mails daily, meat market, two general stores who take orders and deliver goods at your door, weekly paper.
The place is incorporated.
The state and county taxes are about 20 mills on about one-third valuation.
Good hunting and fishing. deer, turkey, ducks and quail, black bass and other Florida fresh water fish.
Good boarding house, Byrlyn Place, open winters: rates eight to ten dollars per week; $2.00 day.
Six thousand people went through the San Mateo Fruit Company's grove here last season.
One of the best advantages San Mateo enjoys is transportation: being on both river and rail is an advantage that few Florida points enjoy. A recent season, for instance, railroads and terminals at Jacksonville were more than congested and fruit shipped from points down the central part of the state was, in some cases, three weeks getting to Jacksonville, en route to northern markets, and did not bring enough to pay freight, while San Mateo shippers, at same time, would ship from here one day and have fruit go out of Jacksonville on the Clyde ship the next. This little matter that season alone was worth thousands of dollars to the San Mateo growers and the homeseeker will do well to bear in mind transportation and cheap rates that come with competition, in selecting a Florida location.
The population is about 850, who came mostly from the northern states.
As a class they are men of means, progressive and sociable. Have a better class of homes than can be found in any place in the south of its size.
The buildings kept painted and grounds in good order.
Healthfulness.
On account of its high altitude, there is no healthier spot in Florida for all the year round or for the winter visitors. For those who come to Florida on account of health, and this higher altitude, dry and balmy air is better than the lower, more harsh air found in salt water sections.
Business.
The principal business is orange growing.
Some 400 acres in groves are here, and as this proves profitable, there is not much attention paid to other crops, although there are some vegetables grown for shipment and cattle and hogs seem to be profitable.
As an instance for profit in a good orange grove, Mr. B. F. Dotey from less than seven acres last season, shipped $6,200 worth of fruit.
Soil.
The San Mateo orange crop this season is estimated at 50,000 boxes; that for Putnam county at 400,000 boxes.
The county is now building at Palatka a $35,000 court house: a bridge one mile long, costing $45,000, connecting this section with our county seat, and will spend at once $100,000 on board roads.
The soil varies a great deal from high pine to low and high hammock all within a mile so that lands for any purpose or crops can be secured.
San Mateo can be reached from Jacksonville by Florida East Coast railway or Beach and Miller line steamers (see time tables elsewhere in this paper). The Clyde's St. Johns river steamers arrive here about 10 p. m. so do not advise this route. Fare B. & M. line $1.25: railroad $2 from Jacksonville.
Launch Rainbow leaves Palatka every afternoon at 1:30. Lucas line steamers 2:30 p. m., every day but Sunday.
B. & M. line from Palatka 3 p. m Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and three trains daily on F. E. C railway. Fare from Palatka 25 cents rail route.
LOCATION, ATTRACTIONS, ADVANTAGES.
Information for the Visitor or Home seeker.
Location.
San Mateo, Putnam County, is situated on the east bank of the St. Johns River, and 90 feet above it.
The highest point in Florida, east of the St. Johns river, which is one-half mile wide at this point.
Five miles from Palatka, our county seat, (city of 5,000), 28 miles from St. Augustine and about 75 miles from Jacksonville.
The terminus of a branch of the Florida East Coast Railway. The depot being three-quarters of a mile from the river wharf.
Advantages and Attractions.
San Mateo has good shelled roads and miles of hard sidewalks. Beautiful water oaks line both sides of streets, and meet overhead in many places.
Two churches, public and private schools, telegraph, telephone, express, money order post office, three mails daily, meat market, two general stores who take orders and deliver goods at your door, weekly paper.
The place is incorporated.
The state and county taxes are about 20 mills on about one-third valuation.
Good hunting and fishing. deer, turkey, ducks and quail, black bass and other Florida fresh water fish.
Good boarding house, Byrlyn Place, open winters: rates eight to ten dollars per week; $2.00 day.
Six thousand people went through the San Mateo Fruit Company's grove here last season.
One of the best advantages San Mateo enjoys is transportation: being on both river and rail is an advantage that few Florida points enjoy. A recent season, for instance, railroads and terminals at Jacksonville were more than congested and fruit shipped from points down the central part of the state was, in some cases, three weeks getting to Jacksonville, en route to northern markets, and did not bring enough to pay freight, while San Mateo shippers, at same time, would ship from here one day and have fruit go out of Jacksonville on the Clyde ship the next. This little matter that season alone was worth thousands of dollars to the San Mateo growers and the homeseeker will do well to bear in mind transportation and cheap rates that come with competition, in selecting a Florida location.
The population is about 850, who came mostly from the northern states.
As a class they are men of means, progressive and sociable. Have a better class of homes than can be found in any place in the south of its size.
The buildings kept painted and grounds in good order.
Healthfulness.
On account of its high altitude, there is no healthier spot in Florida for all the year round or for the winter visitors. For those who come to Florida on account of health, and this higher altitude, dry and balmy air is better than the lower, more harsh air found in salt water sections.
Business.
The principal business is orange growing.
Some 400 acres in groves are here, and as this proves profitable, there is not much attention paid to other crops, although there are some vegetables grown for shipment and cattle and hogs seem to be profitable.
As an instance for profit in a good orange grove, Mr. B. F. Dotey from less than seven acres last season, shipped $6,200 worth of fruit.
Soil.
The San Mateo orange crop this season is estimated at 50,000 boxes; that for Putnam county at 400,000 boxes.
The county is now building at Palatka a $35,000 court house: a bridge one mile long, costing $45,000, connecting this section with our county seat, and will spend at once $100,000 on board roads.
The soil varies a great deal from high pine to low and high hammock all within a mile so that lands for any purpose or crops can be secured.
San Mateo can be reached from Jacksonville by Florida East Coast railway or Beach and Miller line steamers (see time tables elsewhere in this paper). The Clyde's St. Johns river steamers arrive here about 10 p. m. so do not advise this route. Fare B. & M. line $1.25: railroad $2 from Jacksonville.
Launch Rainbow leaves Palatka every afternoon at 1:30. Lucas line steamers 2:30 p. m., every day but Sunday.
B. & M. line from Palatka 3 p. m Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and three trains daily on F. E. C railway. Fare from Palatka 25 cents rail route.
What sub-type of article is it?
Promotional Description
Town Guide
What keywords are associated?
San Mateo
Putnam County
St Johns River
Orange Groves
Transportation
Healthfulness
Hunting Fishing
Florida East Coast Railway
What entities or persons were involved?
B. F. Dotey
Where did it happen?
San Mateo, Putnam County, Florida, On The East Bank Of The St. Johns River
Story Details
Key Persons
B. F. Dotey
Location
San Mateo, Putnam County, Florida, On The East Bank Of The St. Johns River
Story Details
Promotional overview of San Mateo's location, transportation advantages, amenities, health benefits, population, and orange growing profitability, aimed at attracting visitors and settlers.