The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-04-01
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.


the same day. In my last letter L did
not have space to give description OF
nv trip on the st. Johns river, perhaps
one of the finest streams in the country.
The river is navigable for steamers of the
size of the iNanitoWoc for distance Of
about $50 miles, and then for nearly as
long distance steamers of a smaller size
navigate its waters. There is some beau
tiful scenery on both banks Of the river,
but on account of its great breadth-av-
eraging two miles nearly as far up as the
large steamers navigate tit is only oc-
casionally, when the channel of the river
runs near either bank, that the passen-
gers are enabled to obtain good view of
it, from the decks of the steamers. On
our down trip we stopped at Mandarin,
the place where Mrs. Stowe has her ro-
mantle winter residence for which she
paid $1,000 nearly three years ago. The
property contains little over four acres,
has a nice gothic building upon it, and an
orange grove of about forty trees, at the
present time. When the property was
bought, the grove numbered one hundred
trees, but as 1t will be seen, over half
have died out for want Of care. We did
not stop long enough for me to go ashore
and take closer look at the premesis.
The information which [ gre above |
obtained from relative of the person
who sold the property to Mrs. Stowe At
present she does not occupy the premises,
but is being looked after by her agent.
We stopped for nearly an hour at
place called Green Coye Springs. This
place is famous for Sulphur Spring of
great medical virtue. Its large Hotel is
crowded with Northern visitors and in
valids. The spring is situated about for
ty rods from the river and about double
the distance from the landing Having
more than half an hours time, we paid
avisit to the spring, and were fortunate
enough to be just in the right time, as it
was not used for bathing purposes. The
water boils up between two shell rocks,
and forms pond in its immediate neigh
borhood, of perhaps thirty feet wide,
fifty feet long and from four to six feet
deep-excepting near the place where
the water boils up-between the rocks,
where it is from II to Is feet deep. The
water is as clear as crystal and is said to
have warmth of 10 degrees. By put
ting the hand into it, person would sup
pose that it was not more that half as
warm. I followed the example of some
of the other visitors, by tasting Of the
water. but must say that it is any thing
but agreeable The pond is used for
bathing purposes by gentleman from to
II a. NJ land the ladies from p to 4 p. m.
What will the readers Ct the TRIBUNE
think about taking bath, in the open
air, in mid-winter.
About FIVE miles from Picolata on our
way to Jacksonville, we took on about
twenty NJ. shingles. There is plenty OF
single timber for many miles in every
direction, and here | was interested to
know. to which place they were destined.
Upon making an inquiry, found, to my
astonishment, that their destination was
St. Mary, a place of about 500 inhabi-
tants, on a large river, by the same name,
and which is for some distance the devid
ing line between Florida and Georgia.
There is considerable lumber manufactur-
ed at this place St Mary-which they
ship, principally to South America, as l
afterwards learned There is plenty of
single timber in its immediate neighbor-
hood, and why they should import them
ard pay freight distance of about one
hundred miles, | cannot fully understand
to this day-unless it is that they are too
lazy to make them. The shingles are
made of cypress and bring from Sc to 81
per m. The logs for the mills-of which
there are three near st. Mary-are OBJ
tanned from 60 to 70 miles up the river.
They are RATED together and foatcd down
the river, with the current for about TWEEN
ty miles, and for the balance of the dis
tance the tug boats tow the RATS to the
mills. The cost of the logs is from 81, 80
to $40, per M, up the river, and lumber
brings from SIS to Is, according to quail
ty.
While the steamer was going up to ST
Mary, the first Alligator that l ever saw,
was pointed out to me. he was about
seven feet long, and taking it quite easy
Stunning himself" on the bank of the
river, near the edge of the water. The
waves caused by the passing steamer
washed on to him. but he paid no atten-
ton to it. When we came down the riv-
er, on our way to Brunswick, [ noticed
that he was still there, having, however
changed position little.
[ have been in Brunswick now one day,
and have looked around considerable. 1t
is place of about 1900 inhabitants, has
fine harbor, capable of floating the larg-
est ships, and other advantages. North
ern capitalists are now building Rail
road to Macon, Ga. which they hope to
have completed by next November. Over
twenty miles are already completed and
1t IS said force of two thousand men
are at work upon it. The completion of
this road will no doubt add much to the
business of the place; as it is now,
1t Is cut off to great extent, having
only weekly water communication with