Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-10


of the Ocean-Large IBflux of Vls-
ttOrs-Talk About the Weather
Florida CurIOsftIes-RailrO News
An Encouraging Outlook.
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA, March 7.-EditOr Morn
ing Ne1os: One of the most remarkable displays
of nature may be seen on the Atlantic coast,
eighteen miles south Of st. Augustine. OFF
Matanzas Inlet, and three miles from shore, a
mammoth fresh water spring gurgles up from
the depths of the ocean, with such force and
volume as to attract the attention of all who
come in its immediate vicinity. This fountain
is large, bold and turbulent. 1t is noticeable to
fishermen and others passing in small boats
along near the shore
For many years this wonderful and mystic
riouS freak of nature has been known to the
people of st. Augustine, and those living along
the shore, and some of the superstitious ones
have been taught to regard it with kind of
reyerential awe, or holy horror, as the abode
of supernatural influences. When the waters
of the ocean, in its vicinity, are otherwise calm
and tranquil, the upheavings and troubled ap-
pearance of the surface of the water shows
unmistakable evidences of internal commo-
tions. An area of about half an acre shows
| this troubled appearance something similar
| to the boiling of a waSherwomans IS kettle
This is clearly proven to be fresh water, from
the fact it is brackish or less salty, while all
| the water that surrounds it is salt as brine.
Six or eight years ago Commodore Hitch
cock, of the United States Coast Survey, was
passing this place, and his attention was di-
rected to the spring by the restless upheayings
OF the water, which threw his ship from her
course as she entered the spring. His curiosity
becoming excited by this circumstance, he set
to work to examine its surroundings, and
found six fathoms of water everywhere in its
vicinity. while the spring itself was almost
fathomleSs.
the probabilities are that this spring is of
the same character of many Of those bold
springs so common to the interior of the State.
At Daytona, a little further south. the bored
wells throw the water to the height OF fifteen
or twenty feet above the surface by the inlu-
ence of the pent up subterranean gases.
This oceanic spring may be sort of safety
valve. or scape pipe, through which all the
escape 10 the sea. We must confess, at least,
that it is most magnificent display of old
Neptune, whose imperial majesty governs the
turbulent billowS of the mighty ocean, and
calms the ''seditious floods" At whose
dominion of the seas, "an other gods retreated
to the shades" Homer represents him as
rising from the depths Of the sea- and 'the
mountains" sSays the poet, ''trembled as he
walked, and all the hosts of the sea rose to hail
their King. The waves fell back in awful
respect at the approach of Neptune
Like all other places of resort in Florida, our
old city is literally besieged with strangers
most of them from the North and Northwest,
and all seem to be enjoying life hugely. For
several days our largest hotels have been turn
ing away large numbers. and the smaller
boarding places are getting all they can do.
The weather for some weeks has been charm
ing making one feel like he'd got back to Elori-
da again. Since March set in old BoreaS has
famed things up q little, to remind us poor
mortals that he's true to his integrity. But
spring seems to have opel ed now, in good faith
and earneStness and vegetation begins to look
hourishiug and prosperous. The orange trees
are coming out nicely, aud show but little evl-
dences of injury from the December freeze.
The cold, after all. may have been benefit to
orange growers, at it exterminated the insects
that were doing great injury to the trees
Florida appears to be enjoying rich har-
vest, as it is said there are more strangers in
the State now than at any time OF any pre-
viouS year. aud the number OF visitors will con
tiuue to increase for the next forty days. 1t
Is evident that there are more people 10 our
place than at any time before.
Our curiosity shops are well patronized, and
their wares and trinkets appear TO go off rap
idly and at satisfactory prices. The Palmetto
shops are getting their usual winters custom,
and the shop-marms are putting on smiles ep-
propriate to the occasion.
Florida curiosities have become to be quite
an institution, and no stranger thinks of leav-
| ing the State without filling an extra trunk or
two with the choicest selections OF birds wings,
sea beans, aligators teeth, long moss, grasses
and other eroIGisites, found nowhere else but
| in Florida" and add to these a handsome bum
die of orange canes and a dear of young alli-
| gator.
the old town of st. Augustine furnishes the
best facilities for sailing of any place. perhaps
! upon the whole Atlantic coast. We have more
| nice. pleasure. Sailing boats the most expe-
rienced sailor boys, the prettiest bay for sail
ing, and one of the most handsome beaches in
! the State.
This is popular and enjoyable pastime
with strangers. The Ancient City is having
| its usual winters railroad talk, and the ordi-
nary amount of gossip over its prospects and
drawbacks. We've had quite number of
| distinguished railroad men here recently, and,
as a matter of course, the atmosphere that
surrounds them is eloquent with railroad talk.
1t is said, among knowing ones, that the
! work Of grading viii commence in a few days
On the Jacksonville, st. Augustine and Halifax
Rallsad Wen wait and see This is an enter
PRISE ti1at is very much needed, and will
doubtless Dc a profitable investment to the
stockholders. When completed it will open
up one OF the mos desirable portions of the
of the best and most eligFSie sucar and oranoe
growing lands in Florida. ThS lands here al.
fuded to lie along the head~sters of the
Halifax and Indian rivers, and are now com.
naratively inaccessible for the want q trans.
TT The railroad from Tocoi to st. Augustine e
the only thoroughfare by when our cly i
monopoiy This state of things now exists ftom
the necessity of the case. The road IS bonded
for twice its cash value, and III per cent Is paid
in cash, annually, on these bonds, together
with the expenses of running the road, whicf
| is narhaf,s not very economically done, makes
| n an absolute necessity that exorbltant rates
| both in fare and frelgnJS, S1Outu Dt c@dC.cu
THE distance from Tocoi to ST. Augustine I |
fourteen miles, and the rare charged Is "
which seems to be an outrage upon tne t[atei .s
inc community, and keeps many away VA tna
Tvould otherwise visit our grand ano cnarnuins
old city by the sea. a. -,o7,lar tar
Eifty per cent Is charged on the rfsIvrla e'.l
;ff rate Of goods shipped from Nsw Lork t,;c g
Tocoi for the extra fourteen Hil
st Johu's Railroad. ,-,il,o +o sst Az,
line directly from Jacksy,ntSH; S;ssoi3 ~ HS
Onetine would soon obviats tnis 9.nculsy anu
make the rates of both frs'snC anu 'r@fei Hioie
reasonable and equitabD. =. :; o,,,5ont that the
ts,,t tatrin0 all to2etler u Is eNluent tnat tno
put eaAIns -. s,s;g g. ,sosion of the State is very
ouIlooA '..o ~, ~ The interior is being rapidly
astIsS "a and r, better class or citizens tnan
so,,.tter that first settled the coun-
trv 4 hettersystem on farming mas peen In IN
eyyonrated r better class OF houses are oeii,s
augRtl gRt aa.SS,,shes and schools are being estao-
isneui tEn e of the old stereotyped system OF
tne PVin days agone. Providence has
Ining great deal 20 make this coun.
uona desirable one, and IL men would
Nv do their part truly and faithfully, the
cuntry would be all that could be reasonably
llesired. The lands produce, with reasonable
labor an abundance of fruits. all kinds OF vege-
tables, potatoes, sugar. rice, tobacco and most
ANYTHING else that grows in semi-tropical
climate There are countries where the lands
are richer and more productive, but these are
difficulties that are overcome by means or fer
tflixers A more healthy. or more pleasant
climate is not found on the continent or
America.
Nutrition iunpfor5a, strength restored and