The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-07
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.I

neglect which Is in part attributable 10 the
fact that ! was travelling along 2 routc ana
amid scenes which i endeayored faithfully
IN depict In nv last winters corresponds
ence. and the few changes that have since
taken place constitute but a meagre CLEAN
ING. that scarcely has weight or bulk sufii.
cicnt TO repay perusai. The only varia-
fion IN nv former route from st. Augustine
10 this place was made by taking the Salt
Lake branch OF the st. John'Driver and
reaching Indian river Mt Titusville, small
village twenty-one miles above Rockledge.
In passing up the river from Tacoi (the st.
Augustine landine) / noticed that several
new steamers have lately been put upon the
river, and all along The route there was
evidence Of increased population. and con-
seaiently more business FOR the boats.
Houses and cleared patches planted with
orange-trees, &C., are to be seen from the
deck of the steamer where none existed
last winter, and all the little towns ana
landings show more or less signs OF I'M
proyement. PaIstka has very much in
creased its number Of buildings, many OF
which are sufficiently ornamental to be in
HARMONY with the beautiful rows OF sour
orange-trees, with their deep-green foliage
and golden fruit, which border the SIDE
walks OF the city.
THE INDIAN-RIyER COUNTRY.
Sanford ard Enterprise, which are sit
uated on opposite sides OF charming Lake
Munroe. both show marked signs OF i'm
provement; and, judging what l hear by
what have seen, Florida Is on the marcn
OF Improvement call along the line"
You are aware that this Indian
river country has at present but two
shipping points, one Of which is from this
place by portage OF three miles to Lake
Poinset, and the other from Titusyite 10y
a portage OF eight miles TO Salt lake. The
two steamers which do the trade come up
the ST. Johns from Lake Munroe to a
point above Lake Harvey, and there di-
yerec-the one going to the Titusvile land
ing. and the other TO the Rockledge land
ing. Rockledge is more central, more
visited by tourists, and is the more inn
portant place IN every respect; and when
the canal which is now being made, con-
Meeting st. Augustine bay with Indian
river, is completed, and steamers are put
upon this long route OF inland navigation,
through the most fruitful and most healthy
portion Of Southern Florida, its importance
will be much enhanced.
FINE FISHING AND HUNTING.
Nowhere else in Florida have ! seen such
perfection and variety OF tropical fruits and
flowers as this IndiaD-river country affords,
and its fishing and hunting are superb.
You my kill dozen or more ducks at
shot, and i have caught sea bass and era
wales, weighing from six TO eighteen
pounds, until the muscles OF my arm are
sore. New potatoes, green peas, green
corn. beets, onions, Ne, are now in order,
and the blossoms OF the orange-tree are
expanding in all their beauty and sweet
ness. whilst much OF the ripe fruit is yet
hanging on the tree. Rockledge now
boasts OF two large hotels besides seye-
raj boarding-houscs.
A RICHMOND MANS HOTEL.
Mr.. Wilkinson's "Rockledge House" is
large and commodious, well furnished, and
kept in fine order by Mr.. w. ii. Parker, of
your city. The guest tlat docs not have a
home feeling put upon him
by Mr.. Parker's considerate attention
10 MI his wants, and the kind social
enjoyments afforded by Mr.. Wilkin-
sons family, who gracefully manage
TO foster genial intercourse among their
visitors, must indeed be hard to please.
As sit at my window on the west side OF
the hotel broad grove Of orange, lemon,
guava, and other tropical productions
greet the eye, and the air is heavily freight
ed with the odor OF the ange-blossom.
On the east side you have a magnificent
grove of cabbage palmettoes, with their
stately stems and umbrella-like tops, eX-
tending from the piazza TO the waters edge,
and then beautiful sheet Of water one and
q half mites wide washes the opposite shore
OF Merritt's island. ] can say nothing of
the st. Johns river from Lake Harvey to
Salt lake, rs we passed over il during the
night, but presume it is like other parts OF
the Upper st. John's-as horeess river, with
a narrow and crooked saiing-way through
the bonnets. and the well-populated home
OF the alligator and waterfowl.
SLOW SAILING TO ROcKLEDGE.
The portage between Salt lake and Ii
tusville is over dry and sandy nigh
ground, with no particular feature OF in
terest excepting a large Indian mound and
some two or three badiy-kept orange
groves. Titusvllle has store, saloon,
and two hotels, with q few dwelling
houses, and Is the cOunty-seat OF Brevart.
county. We arrived there TO dinner, and
a party Of four, including myself, charter
ed small sail-boat to take us to ROckledge.
We started at 2 o'clock, with tolerably
strong and fair wind, and battered our
selves with the idea that we would make
our point before sundown; but when we
got into the Bay OF Biscay-where the
river l. seven miles wide--we ran into
thunderstorm, which was succeeded by
dead calm, and after waiting with many
a .tal.
PEELED TO pole and paddle TO the shore at 10
O'Clock, and so dark that but for friendly
light In answer to our CONDITIONING we
could not have made landing. We were
fortunate enough to find comfortable guar
rs for the remainder OF the night, and
|. ext day arrived safely at Rockledge,
ne needed rest.
! ~ rn,,oUs CLIMATE ALIVE WITH MOSQUE
have iusn returned from q ten-days'
trip down the itiver to the distance OF ITO
miles, which, Though accompanied by some
exposure and good deal of annoyance by
the mosquitoes, was, exceedingly interest
ing. By the way, exposure TO night air
and the heaviest dews you ever saw, rain
or wctting from the spray OF the pillows,
never seems to have detenous effect on
you in this Indian-riyer country. have
gone to sleep with wet CLOTHES on; have
sat for hours on the deck, Of the vessel,
with a dew settling upon the deck until it !
was as wet as shower Of rain would have |
made il. and yet never took cold or was in |
any way inconyenieneed except by the |
They and the sand-fies will |
keep you fully alive to your in-
terests. Some localities are much worse |
han others. Notably a point about 10
niles below bere. called the " yarrows.v
where The insects are so troublesome that
be boaimen cali IL Hades.
THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
Ny objective point was "rhe Garden Of
den" which is the residence Of Captain
ichards, on whose boat, the Franklin,
,oL nassa0n live miles halour here ,ua