The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-02-02
ATrip to silver Spring.



North enters st. Johns river nearly
opposite the little village of Welaka,
twenty miles above Palatka.
From Palatka to Jacksonville is
seventy.Gve miles, and from jackson
vile to the mouth Of st. Johns river
is about twenty-five miles.
In attempting TO describe Trip
cup the Oeklawaha," we are aware
that our observations did not agree
with tho rose colored account publish
ed in Harper for January, and can
only say that we will faithfully mar.
rate II just as it appeared to us.
We left Palatka at noon Jan. 18th,
on the steamer "Okahumkee," boat
of about sixty-fve tons burden.
From Palatka to Welaka the St.
Johns river will average about one
half mile in width, and perhaps 80
feet in depth.
Much of the way the shores are low
and swampy, but in places the banks
rise from Eve to fifteen feet above the
water, and are then quite dry, being
composed almost entirely of sand and
small shells.
These dry places are being cleared
of quite rapidly and large portion
of them devoted to the planting of
orange trees.
The orange fever is now epidemic
in Florida, and in many of its phases
seems similar to the Oil fever of 1864.
The result will / think be the came
a few Chose who sell land) will make
money but by far the greater number
will suffer.
Ats p. m. we reached Welaka, and
in few minutes passed into the Ock-
lawaha. This had been described
both in print Ga in Harper) and to
US personally as an enchanted region
lone of the wonders of the world.
Twas said that the vegetation was
guxuriant and magnificent beyond
description during the whole year
that masses of bloom might be seen at
any time-that the moss-covered trees
growing on the banks of the river
locked their branches across the water
80 that person in boat, gliding
along the crooked channel, could look
sup and see serpentS above and around
him, and could if he desired gather
centipedes, tarantulas and all kinds
of tropical insects and reptiles from
the branches overhanging him. That
the forests were inhabited by myriads
of bright colored birds, while the
waters teemed with alligators, turtle
fish, and water fowl.
Alasl that We had to be undeceived
--aiasl that we should find the truth
so widely different. @
Ocklawaha means crooked river
and we'll it deserves the name. Its
crooks, windings, and curves are be.
.yond description. 1t is generally
very deep-perhaps 20 or 80 feet, and
will average about 90 feet in width,
though in many places it is not more
than So or 40 feet wide.
The boats designed for navigating
1t, are constructed with especial refer
sence to strength, and making abrupt
turns, and go pounding along hitting
first one shore and then the other, iu
apparently the most reckless manner
Occasionally points of dry land run
up to the river, and are timbered with
yellow pine and live oak, but most OF
the way the forests along shore are OF
swamp cypress and palmetto, and in.
stead of overhangiDg the stream, are
very tall and the nearest perpendicu-
lar Of any trees we ever saw.
Spanish moss hangs pendant from
every limb, and is very beau tiful in.
deed, but we looked up in vain for the
serPents and reptiles whose presence
was to diversity aHd enliyen the scene.
In the whole of the trip up and
down the river we saw but one suake
"a solitary individual serenely loea.
ted on log and apparently viewing
with great complacency its natural
enemies the descendants of Mother
Eve.