The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-28
For the Dispatch
FLORIDA.
The River Sc. Johns.

some riyels that few into the Rrc'ic oce"n
The Nile and the St. Johns are the on.y
r;ycrs on The earth's surface whose waters
fow due north. In this respect as "eii 40
in many others it is peeuilar. u,or
Tbe }nd;sn ms called it Illaka; and when
.s,-ed what the word meant, would reply
III hath its own way-ls alone, ana COZ
trarr 70 every other" think that the orr
,inal name should be restored. FOR more
Ihan $50 miles it is from two to three mi'es
vide. ana will sometimes spread gu, l"
twelve or fifteen these are large, shal'o"
lakes. some OF them only twelve feet deep.
!, il some, 400 miles in length, and is sup.
,nscl tn rise in. the extensive swamps OF
s,mth Florida. say supposed, for, strange
f, snv. although this river is the first in
his country on which the white man ever
fIoated ship, the very first Oh whose banks
lac ever settled, although it has ever since
been known and visited---its source has
never been discovered-its head-waters are
still unknown.
As il is in scenery and climate emphati-
callv an African river, think that it would
be a good plan, as soon as DR.. Livingstone
turns M alive, 10 catch him and start him
in canoe up this river. lie would be
sure. If any one can, and if the mosquitoes
don't devour him, to come out ut the little
end of il. Congress ought to make an ap-
preparation for this purpose. Who knows
what he might not discover if only let loose
upon its waters.
It's current was only mile an hour, and
one hundred and fifty miles from its mouth
the water-level is only three feet six inches
above that of the sea. 1t must have been
originally only long saltwater lagoon.
Since the war, and owing to political con-
yulsions, as the people seem to think, ITS
waters have become fresh instead of salt,
that is, in large part of its course. Heavy
rains for successive years. and the opening
up Of some streams for navigation, have
turned larger body of water into it from
lakes and swamps, and caused this result.
Many of the Florida waters drain of south
ward through the everglades and into the
Gulf of Mexico. By clearing out the con-
ncction between this region and the st.
Johns still larger body of water will be
poured into this river, and it will eventu-
ally become the great outlet for the waters
Of all South Florida. / expect to see it
nayigable stream throughout, and boats
passing from its mouth to the very southern
roint of the peninsula. 1t can be done.
The wide expanse of its waters makes it
grand: for its banks are fiat and uninter-
esting, except for the tropical character Of
its vegetation.
Formerly the river was great solitary
highway. leading to nothing; there were
few settlements, and nature reigned undis-
TURNED the silence was only occasionally
broken by the axe of the lumbcrman and
the sound Of few saw-mills. Now its
lower waters are thickly strewn with set
tiers, and marks Of cultivation are seen.
An increasing crowd of energetic northern
settlers arc planting fruit farms and rails
in- vegetables for the city markets.
They settle on the banks because the land
is better, and the continually passing
steamers afford them ready transportation.
Land is already valued at one hundred dol
lars the acre: and the country is fast filling
up.
1t is estimated that some two million Of
orange trees have been set out in the last
three years. When these groves attain
size, and are in full bearing, this river will
have beauty added to its present grandeur. |
1t stands now alone among the rivers oil
this country Il voyage upon lis water pre-
sents q variety and difference from all |
other river voyages. The Indians were |
right it is alone, and contrary to all others. |
ORANGE SPRING.
Although not very accessible to travellers: |
this fine sulphur spring, in the pine region,
is well worth visiting. A cup Of clear,
warm sulphur water, circular in form.
thirty feet across and fifteen deep, it boils |
up in maj shy hollow of Marion county, |
and sends off bold stream into Orange |
river. The bottom has that peculiar APP |
ucarance l spoke of in Silver Spring. The |
water rushes up with such force that there
IL an elevation-a bulge-in the centre of
the circle--a small hill OF water always
falling down on every side and always re-
ncwed from below by the up-current. Of
course the whole mass is in perpetual undu-
lation. Many have tried and no one mas
succeeded in forcing canoe up and over
this swelling of the water. The strong up
current will force the boat aside and battle
the strongest arm.
The village houses "a quarter of a mile
apart, with deep sand and pines between
and uround) are much dilapidated, and af-
ford but little accommodation to the ira
weller. 1t is Il healthy place even in the
summer, and was great resort before the
war, during the hot season, for the wealthy
planters Of the surrounding country. AS
the Usklawhaha is now nayigable by small
steamers to within three miles of it, this
might be again made place of fashionable
resort. a large Eotel lies vacant, newly
built, and this is tumbling down. The
Surfing water is good for rheumatism and
kidney complaints, and can he used as a
bath in January. There are some very
pleasant people in the village, Il church,
and comfortable graveyard, if it should
he needed. The air of the pines is dry and
wholesome-far better for many than the
humid atmosphere of the coast.
Not very far off is the large Orange Lake,
and almost encircling it, and spreading in
every direction, the immense orange grove.
This consists of wild orange trees, and
extends for many miles. When in bloom,
the whole district is Observation-Disclosures
TOO heavily. II is offensive. Change the
word, and the line of the poet is true. One
might almost fear
ITO die Of II rose In aromatic pain"
Some clever fellow ought to settle here !
and distill nge-fower water for the |
world; and another might manufacture
orange bitters strong enough and bit |
ter enough and popular enough to |
cause our worthy friend Baker to die
of chagrin; while another might set |
to work to graft the sweet orange on the
wild, and supply the United States with
thisdelightful fruit. Only, Orange Lake and
its surroundings produce ill-health and
musqui,os. Yet, in payment, you have
the bitters,' the sweets, and perfumes, Of ex-
istence. Or, on the other side, you may go
down to Ocala, in the richest and best-cui-
tiyated portion of the State Of Florida. 1t |
is fine cotton country, and with a fine |
In,