Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-17
A REGION OF DELIGHT.

Where the Only Drawback to Per
petual Bliss is Mosquitoes, Ticks and
other Crawling, Biting Things not
Necessary to MentiOn-A POetical De-
scription by Young Man who is on
the Spot.
Correspondence ofthe Morning Ee,cs.
CITY POINT, INDIAN RIVER, FLA,
Feb. 12.-How wonderfully beautiful is
Indian river! There is no other such
sheet of water in the world. No one can
describe it fully, or pen or pencil portray
its innumerable charms. Nature, with
lavish hand, has spread its waters and
adorned its banks. The design of the
great Master Artist is seen in the narrow
strip of land as a great 1evee separating
the water of the river from the Atlantic,
and in the forest upon this leYee as a great
wind-break to curb the fierce winds of the
Atlantic ocean. Properly speaking, it is
not river at all, but an arm Of the ocean.
Its centre is on an airline north and south
14O miles long, while its banks curve
in and out in beautiful bays and
grOttos. A few small creeks empty
into it from the west, while the
water enters from the Atlantic
at five points and perhaps from under
ground passages. 1t is a sea without it's
dangers, a river without a current. 1t is
from two to eight miles wide. Seldom is
it calm, but is almost always in motion
from the winds. A continuous wind from
the south causes it to rise several feet to-
wards the north, and a wind from the
north causes it to rise towards the south.
From constant motion the water of this
salt river is kept pure. The winds of
winter, coming from the northwest, are
s0ftened and warmed by the waters of the
Upper st. Johns river and the pine forest
on the west of the hummOck lands of this
river, and the winds Of summer, which
come almost necessarily IRON the east,
are tempered and cooled by the gulf
stream, making the climate nest delight
full in winter and summer, and perhaps
most to be desired of any in America.
The river is full Of fish and can be taken
by the thousand with only a cast-net.
The oysters are plentiful and uneXcelled
bv any. l have often seen two of these
delicious bivalves fill a large saucer. On
Indian river is found not only the best
oranges in the world, but pineapples,
guayas, lines, lemons and other tropi-
cal fruits.
Land can be bought, but it brings a
very handsome price and the owners are
perfectly Indifferent as to whether you
| buy or not. The people living here are
cOnteBted, prosperous and happy, and
have an abiding faith in the future OF
their section.
They argue that their oranges are bet
ter than any other, and being practically
free from cold they can raise pineapDles.
They hold their oranges whenever there
is a temporary glut in the market, with
out risk or detriment.
This river | know to be perfectly healthy
| Being so near the Atlantic all malaria is
/ blown away. The country is settled by
nd
lies of wealth from all parts of North
! America have here their winter homes
The time is not far distant when the banks
/ of Indian river will be as far-famed and
noted as the banks of the Hudson. Even
now without a railroad and with the slow
and roundabout transportation OF the Up
per st. Johns, visitors are numerous and
the country wonderfully developed. AS
you sail up or down the river you are
scarcely ever out of sight of beautiful
homes, half hid in the dense shades on
either bank. Nearly all travelling and
commerce is carried on by sailbOats
| Frequently dozen white sails,
in view at the same time.
add to the beauty Of the scene
Here the tired hand and brain can find
rest. The cares and anXieties Of business
/ are forgotten in the sport of hunting and
/ fishing and the charms of this truly trOpi-
! car country.
/ A small party near st. Sebastian killed
/ last week fifty deer, and the Indians kill
/ ed about three hundred. Is it not time
for a game law when Indians are allowed
/ to kill so many deer, almost exclusive.
! ly for their hides
1t is interesting, indeed, to watch the
river in its many changes-at one time
resembling a sea Of glass, so calm and
2 quiet, thon in a row moments the white
} ipc nj N To -
| a dark night when the winds are heavy:
upon the crest of the waves huge caul
| drons of molten silver seem to have been
! emptied, and as if it were real silver, hur-
! ries to hide itself in the
/ bosom of the waters; or to
watch q rOWbOat as the water
! turns to silver at the touch Of the oars:
or to see this beautiful sheet of water by
moonlight, when the whole river seems tO
have fallen in love with the moon, and
laughs until its face is wreathed with in
Vulnerable dimples, and each dimple has
/ caught the moon in its embrace. Your
correspondent was sitting near the river
last night, by the side of fair, lovely
young girl. The moon was full, and
threw flood of light upon the water and
over my fair companion, who leaned her
rosy cheek upon her soft white hand, her
lovely hazel eyes, ''Where the moonlight
loves to dwell" resting upon the enchant-
ing scene.
''Oh, how beautiful, how lovely. how
romantic" she said, as she raised her
small white hand to her snowy neck-''to
pick these horrible ticks.''
Yes, there fare insects here, but not so
many as reported. The mosquitoes are
said to be great nuisance at certain pc
RODS III mia summer, but the people have
their houses prepared for them and they
give cut little trouble. l have not seen a
doZen.mosquitOes in the two weeks have
spent here.
The public can find anumber Of pleasant
homes and hotels where they can board,
and the accommodations are ample for a
large number Of visitors. City Point and
ROckledge lands are more thickly settled
than any other portions of the river, and
as the cOnveniences of life and neighbOrs
are good things to have, these lands are
more valuable and desirable.
The most beautiful and valuable orange
grove l have seen is the Turkey Creek
Grove" 25miles below ROckledge, owned
by Culpeper, Creech & Co., of Quitman, Ga.
This place contains 440 acres OF SPLEEN
did humm0ck land, and about 30 acres is
in good bearing grove. Turkey creek
runs through this body of land, forming a
beautiful bay as it enters Indian river.
In the centre Of the grove stands an In
dian mound. From the top of this mound
you look down on the trees laden with
their bright yellow fruit, Turkey creek
bay on the south, and Indian river and
the blue Atlantic on your east. And
added to this view you can often see ships
and steamers under full sail. 1t is esti-
mated that this grove will yield from the
oranges Row being shipped from $1,000
to 100000. They have been sold on the
tree for $40 per 1000. Three miles north
Of this place Mr.. Hector has pine
apple patch Of three acres.
Five thousand dollars will not buy
this patch. 1t is untouched by frost, and
is really an interesting sight.
Mr.. Boon, DR.. Wiley and wife, of VAL
dosta, Ga, are spending the winter here,
and are now on pleasant trip to Lake
Worth
Among those recently purchasing land
here is Mr.. A. Becker, q wealthy manu-
factureT from Montreal, who proposes to
put up large orange box factory, if he
can secure the necessary timber.
DENURRE,
The Porter's False Move.
Detroit Free Press.