Before the coming of the railroads, transportation in Florida depended chiefly on streams and coastal waters. Overland travel presented a dreary and discouraging prospect.
~Federal Writers Project, 1939
Source: The Book of Florida Wisdom by Criswell Freeman
Train from the St. Johns Railway Company (late 19th century). Photo courtesy Florida Memory.
From a note accompanying the image:
[quote]Prior to the civil war the 15 mile St. Johns Railway had been built from Tocoi, on the St. John’s River to St. Augustine. During 1876, after being purchased by William Astor, the line was rehabilitated with steel rails, supplanting those of wood and scrap iron, and steam locomotives displacing tempermental mule power.[/quote]
