River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-05-22
Tourist s Notes from Florida.

ia CKsoNVILLE, May Sd, 1884.
HFlordla 8 not speedily developed the
cause is not likely to be lack of railroad
facilities and the opening of water ways
by canals ire m lake to lake in the interi-
or and sout hern portions of the state,
both OF VIII CHI means of transportation
are belngpu shed forward with commend
able enterp rise. continuous railroad
route from this place along the south
bank OF the > st. Johns River to Palatka
and thence in a southwesterly direction
to Tampa o n the Gulf coast was finished
two months ago and spurs or short cuts of
the various lines of road are being built
into the Il ammock lands to facilitate the
rapid ship nent of strawberries and early
vegetables which must have quick trans
portatlon II become worthless.
Your NJ Imble servant left his white
quarters Gainesville ten days ago, TAX
ing the outh Florida railroad to the
Junction with the new Jacksonville <
Tampa Dad near Palatka where we
turned o. If faces northward, but for a
distance of only fifteen miles to Tokoi
where on. train was backed ON a trestle
over the waters of the St. Johns where
we board led a steamer which speedily
landed u on trestle ON the north bank
OF the RI {er where we again took train
for st. Al gustine, only fifteen miles away.
The St. Johns at this point is five miles
in width and is a beautiful sheet of wa
ter, espe( tally when the surface is like a
mirror as on the day of our return trip to
Tokol Though st. Augustine may be
the oldes t city IN America she has nothing
imposing IN her dress or appearance I'M
less it be that of antiuuity The old fort
built OF coqulna and cement with its
| smooth bore cannon does not seem for
mldable though the smell of its dungeons
and thu legends of curelties there enact
ed do lot leave pleasant memories, es-
| pecIally In the dungeons where human
| skeleton IS were found enclosed in solid
masonr z. The Spanish Cathedral is
more NJ tied for its array Of saints in an
| tlque &C Istumes than for anything else ex-
| cept its antiquity. and / must confess my
| lack of reverence for its old walls for
/ haG to be gently reminded to take off my
hat VIII ch quickly did as the day was
| hot. he light house outside the harboI
| is a pt lint to which many resort but we
were conveyed to the north side Of
the ba rbor when by walk of half mile
across the sandy point of land to the
north coast we had full view of the
break ers and surf and the broad ocean
fit en- lblem of eternity. Special caution
is nee dful for an invalid visiting st. Au
e1rStiT ne in the matter of clothing anC
Wrap :. and more so out of the city alons
thee last for the change of atmosphere
fr0En the interior 10 the sea is very mark
ed nd is hazardous to some. When
| was outside the harbor was glad to pu
| on Il lie negros coat to protect my ches
from chill by the sea breeze. One of the
Alarg est hotels in the country this side o
Wa shington is in process of construction
afe W rods west of the old city gate ane
not far from the fort of which Its position
COZ amants view, and the principal from
an l enteranee is toward the harbor. Th'
{ pa TX is among the places of interest Z
al tn tourist 1t is near the sea wall anC
Z FAC ing the harbor, but ths water throw
4 fro M its artesian well is 50 strongly i'm
nrsagnated with sulphur that its smell i
sickening and IFS taste detestable.
Il have no time to make notes of Jack
yllrrn vile, but it is a live town havin,
b erect cars through its length anS
ithreadti1, its streets are mostly shaded ans
Its business is booming. !. T. W.