The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-04
cerre.pondenes Of the Democratic Advocate.
Notes on Florida.

IDEAS advanced by many philosophers that
creation is constantly going on, is so elabo-
rately illustrated in the peninsula of Florida
as to give the credulous sufficient grounds for
belief After leaving the watershed, or range
of hills running from the northeast to within
thirty miles of the Gulf coast, we encounter
such evidences of unfinished nature, which
must leave no doubt as to the fact that the
lower part of she peninsula Of Florida remains
IN a state of semi-creation. 1t is true that
there is plenty of land there, bat the most OF
it, to all intents and purposes, designed by
nature as the basis of production, might as well
have remained in the situation it occupied dur
ing the food, as to be in Its present state,
which is simply high enough above low tide to
show that there is land in that country, al
though it is most of its time covered with wa
tor. If, as these philosophers say, that crea-
alton is constantly going on, and it don't go
ON any faster than it has in the unfinished end
of Florida for the last hundred years, it will
take it several of those hundred years yet to
complete the job.
Northern visitors to old Fort San Marco, at
St Augustine, are highly entertained by the
old sergeant in charge, who tells them thathe
carried ice water to the workmen when they
we're engaged in building the fort ut was built
in 1861, and on being questioned as to how
they rot the ice, said it came in a through car
via the Cincinnati Southern Railroad. So |
must refer those who are curious to know the
condition Of the peninsula at that time TO the
old sergeant of Fort San Marco.
Well, now, let us for while look at its pres
ent situation It was certainly largely laid
ont. even if imperfectly constructed. On
reaching Kew West, which is both an island
and city, we feel that we are certainly some
where, but very much mnddled as to where
that somewhere is. 1t is true that here is
ground, because there is a city, of at least
eight to ten thousand people, built on 1t, but
then as soon as we get to the northern limit of
the eitv. looking for some delightful suburb,
we meet the rolling pillows of old ocean dash
ing the coral reefs with which the shore IS
lined. We turn. and again through the city
in the opposite direction. of course we will
find the hacienda Of some rich Cuban refugee,
ornamented with a lovely coquina cottage, sur
veunded with that loveiiest of all suburban
evergreens, the date-palm tree; but here,
again, we are doomed to disappointment.
Fort Tayior nestled IN the surf and light houses
erected al the points leading into the harbor
is all we can see, except the waters of the
Gulf Of Mexico, as far as the eye can reach.
Toward the east and west il is all the same,
and we exclaim SIS this Key West, Florida p
Surely it is Key West, but where IS Florida
Away to the north by east. for more than
hundred miles, it Is water, water, water. True,
this broad expanse of ocean is dotted with
islands and coral reefs without number. Some
OF them are highlands, covered with the tall
pine, and have soil adapted alike TO the
growth Of both vegetables and fruits. More,
however, lay Just beneath the surface of the
water, and as treacherous to the commerce of
the world as the Comanche Indian to his white
brother. Before leaving Key West, however.
the thought strikes us to ask IL that island is
the last land Of the United States in that d.
rection; bat feeling ashamed to expose Gus
ignorance as to the geography OF our own
country, we quietly entered book store and
purchased Il map Of Florida, and upon exam.
nation it showed US another reef or island
still further 20 the southwest, called s.Dry
Tortueas,t' on which was the noted Fort def
ferson, where Confederate officers were i'm.
prisoEed. So
Holy Moses and the mother Of saints come down,
And show the straighiest road out Of this town
Dry Tortugasl why that's the place Gen.
Newton had selected as a quiet home for me,
in 1864, but as the Indian Chief Billy Bowlegs
replied to Gen. TAYLOR, when during the Flo
rida var. he sent word TO the chief that if he
did not come in and surrender his arms be
would hang him, it was
s.Catchee lsefore hAngees
During the fall Of 1864 Gen. Newton issued
orders that all officers caught ON the coast
were to be seat 10 Dry Tortngas, and /. hav-
ing been on q tour Of inspection ofthe points
Of defence and the troops on that coast, under
orders from Lieut.. Gen. Hardee. aeeompan-
led BIZ Brig Gen. Miller and the Mayor Of
Tallahassee, a trap was fixed 10 capture as,
which came very near meeting with success,
aud although We made n timely escape, the
name OF Dry Tortugas has always beea ac-
eompanied with lonely feeling when spoken
in my presence. And now, If the reader viii
excuse this depression, We wall leave DRY
Torfngas- severeiy alone and pursue our way
M the peninsular.
After leaving the islands that make some
show Of connecting the main land Of the state
with Key West, weenter the worldwide Ever
glades. and now what are the Everglades Of
Florida. / don't know, do youg MOI Wen
let's tell what we have heard about It, and |
guess We come about as near the truth as
those who say they know all about il. As ]
said before, the peninsula of Florida remains
in a semi-finished state. As far down Is the
head waters Of the St. Johns river, the eoun-
try may be said TO be completed. hut when we
reach the Everglades, the water Of the Attain
Ia 0eean aad those the Gulfof Mexico NEE,
together, apaa the ehirping song Of the parro-
anette aud the hideous believing Of the ALI
gator. Il may be the waters Of the ocean. Ii
may DC ttttlct -Nut
say, but when We take a batteAu al 9 gulf
port, and paddle between the islands until we
reach some port on the Atlantic, we know that
We haze padded through tie state on water,
so we d0h't bother our minds as 10 which
ocean or gulf Il comes from.
Our attention is next drawn 10 the nnmer-
oas lakes and sink holes, in which this part
of the peninsula abeands. First Is lake
Oehechobee. Could the artist mix colors that
would truly represent this singular aud mar.
vellous freak of nature, with all of lis sur
roundings, the quill-drsyer collect to-
gether words that would give the reader only
q faint idea Of its wonders, no gallery would
be finished or library complete, without cop
les Of these wondrons efforts. Could Disston
drain this lake and transform what is now the /
home of alligatOrs, cranes, snakes and other
reptiles; FISH of all kinds, sizes aud colors;
turtles bold and terTGpins shy; birds of all /
the most brilliant plumage; mosquitoes and /
gallinipers that send their javelins deeper into
man flesh at every certain thrust, into the 1
peaceable and luxurious fields Of rice, sugar
cane and corn, be would be one Of the great
est benefactors ofthis age. His dredge-boats, I
steam-tenders and other appliances, the re
suit of Yankee ingenuity, lay hardly in (
adjacent waters, ready for the attack and ere /
another twelve months shall have passed,
Excelsior viii be inscribed on the banner /
of this great invader, or we will hear the
screams from the mouths Of famingoes cranes I
and every other long-legged water fowl, aa- I
n0uncing from the tops ef the big moss filed 4
cypress frees surrounding the lake, his failure. |
FIVE follow the windings of the st. John's |
river IN It's cifcuisous course, from the head
sa4efs TO tfer sea, many hundred miles viii I
have beeu traversed. 1t rises somewhere /
within the semi finished part of the state and 4
rams nearly parallel with the coast, until near I
its mouth. Along the east side, between il i
and the ocean, the land is generally fat and 4
sandy, with a sparse growth of pine and other
evergreens, but between it and the Gulf of 1
Mexico is the most wonderful collection of 4
clear and beautiful lakes. Running within ten
miles or so, and parallel with it, is the most i
complete watershed or high range of land 4
that ever divided state. Springs rising
within a few yards Of each other, viii take I
contrary directions to empty their waters. 1t /
is ON the top of this range of hills, or rising i
ground, that these beautiful lakes and ponds /
are situated. Cottages, villas and hotels are
dotted along side of them, and nestled in !
groves of the orange, banana and palm trees, I
form a lovely picture of tropical home. +
The St. Johns river oyerhows, as the surplus
waters created by rainfall is drawn away
through these lakes and subteTanean streams. I
TIE ,...ar sfuaIf i really hut chain, If thaae